Each Independence Day, Prescott, Arizona — a Western city with roughly 47,000 people that still feels like a small-town haven — erupts with vibrant fireworks, the thunder of the rodeo, and parades that fill the streets with Americans waving the Stars and Stripes in celebration of the nation they hold dear.
Located approximately two hours north of Phoenix in Yavapai County, far from Arizona’s urban sprawl, Prescott stands firm as a defender of traditional values. Faith, family, and love of country are central to the town’s July Fourth celebrations, which extend over the week.
‘And to play good country patriotic songs at this event in front of the entire town … makes my soul shine!’
Some of those festivities include a spectacular fireworks show at the town’s beautiful Watson Lake and the Annual Whiskey Row Boot Race, where kids and adults put on their cowboy boots for a Western-spirited dash.
John Heiney, communications outreach manager for the city of Prescott, told Blaze News, “Events in Prescott, specifically for the Fourth of July, bring residents out and visitors to our destination from miles away. Not only do we get to celebrate the 249th anniversary of our country, but we get to celebrate the freedom, beauty, and wonders of our destination. Tourism is the heartbeat of our community, and having a holiday to celebrate with our neighbors and visitors is something we look forward to year after year.”
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Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images
The rodeo
The World’s Oldest Rodeo is arguably the town’s most notable event during the week of Independence Day. This year, from June 30 through July 6, Prescott Frontier Days will host several traditional rodeo performances and “Mutton Bustin’ Competitions,” where young cowboys and cowgirls ride sheep to compete for a gold belt buckle.
The town’s Depot Marketplace serves as the venue for rodeo dances, where attendees can enjoy country music performances by “Lonesome Valley,” a band led by one of Prescott’s most well-known musicians, Sky “Daddy” Conwell.
‘The tradition runs deep!’
Conwell told Blaze News, “This is the third year we played at this historic event,” adding that he feels “blessed, honored, and humbled” to be a part of it.
“For a small town, Prescott has many amazing musicians and bands, and that they chose us this year makes me smile ear to ear. I’ve been smiling from the time I got the news!” Conwell said. “And to play good country patriotic songs at this event in front of the entire town (and cowboys and cowgirls from all over the state who always make the trek here for July 4) makes my soul shine!”
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Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images
The parades
The Kiwanis Club of Prescott, chartered 101 years ago, will put on the Kiwanis Kiddie Parade during the annual Prescott Frontier Days celebration.
Jim Tilley, the president of the Kiwanis Club of Prescott and a local veterinarian, told Blaze News that this Fourth of July marks the 84th year of the kids’ parade, the local club’s oldest continuous project.
Approximately 800 children, ages 12 and under, are expected to participate in this year’s event, wearing Western and patriotic costumes. Those with the most star-spangled outfits and floats can win prizes.
Image Source: Kiwanis Club of Prescott
Tilley said, “Kiwanis members and townspeople alike take delight in seeing the smiles on the kids’ faces as they walk behind an official police escort in their own downtown. Many of the parents bringing their children reminisce about walking in the Kiddie Parade themselves when they were kids. The tradition runs deep!”
All of the winners of the children’s parade are invited to ride on the Kiwanis float in the rodeo parade the following day — the event’s 138th annual parade, described as a “wonderful tradition that celebrates our rich Western history.”
Honoring first responders
As part of the annual Independence Day celebrations, the Prescott Firefighter’s Charities hosts the Hose Cart Races, which originated in the late 1800s as a rivalry between the two hose cart companies before the arrival of fire engines in the 1920s.
‘I looked forward to watching him!’
First responders — including firefighters, police officers, and ambulance crew — and their immediate family members are invited to participate in the event, where they race against an opposing team. The challenge involves wheeling historic hose carts to a water source, connecting to a hydrant, and turning on the water to knock down the rival’s cone.
Image Source: Prescott Firefighter’s Charities
Amy Seets, the vice president of the PFFC and chair of the Hose Cart Races, told Blaze News that the competition is an event that the entire community eagerly anticipates each year.
“When my son was in high school, he was a [Prescott Fire Department] cadet and looked forward all year to competing on the PFD Cadet hose cart team,” she said. “I looked forward to watching him! As an adult, after he came home from the Army, he went to work for Prescott Fire and was back competing in the hose cart races every year, and I still couldn’t wait to watch.”
Seets explained that the event pays tribute to history and tradition while connecting the community with their local first responders.
Prescott Firefighter’s Charities
Glory to God
Pastor Dale Partridge, the lead pastor of Prescott’s King’s Way Reformed Church, described the Fourth of July celebrations as a “big moment to remind the nation who we are and who we were.”
‘It’s driven by the moral law of God, the Ten Commandments.’
“We just want to figure out a way that we can engage in any way to help the nation remember that we were founded as a Christian nation,” he told Blaze News. “We’ve taken that position to be engaged, especially on events that are going down downtown with a patriotic tone.”
Partridge’s church prioritizes remaining active in the Prescott community, upholding the principle that freedom demands stewardship of the sacred values of liberty.
Last year, the church participated in the annual rodeo parade, playing patriotic country music while carrying a large banner and signs reading, “Christ is King.”
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Image Source: Pastor Dale Partridge
“There seems to be more patriotism that is driven by Christianity,” he explained. “It’s driven by the moral law of God, the Ten Commandments. It’s driven by scripture in the Bible.”
This faith-first spirit permeates Prescott’s celebrations, uniting families and churches in gratitude for God-given freedoms.
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Image Source: Pastor Dale Partridge
As the week’s Fourth of July festivities wind down, the rodeo grounds host Cowboy Church on Sunday, where worshippers gather to praise the Lord and reflect on the blessings of liberty, a fitting capstone to a week rooted in devotion.
In Prescott, Arizona, the Fourth of July celebrations symbolize enduring values that define America. As the fireworks fade over the town’s lake, the flame of liberty continues to burn bright.
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