Prescott brings historic events to town

STAFF REPORT ~6/22/2011

Over the next two weekends Prescott will be home to a pair of events that have long histories with the town.
This weekend the historic Courthouse Plaza will host the 30th annual Prescott Bluegrass Festival.
At least 13 different groups will take the stage over the free two-day event, which gets under way at 10:30 a.m. Saturday.
Groups throughout the day will perform sets ranging from 45 minutes up to an hour leading up to Saturday’s headliner, Blue Highway, which will perform from 7 – 9 p.m.
The day’s events also will include a workshop at 1 p.m. conducted by Tim Stafford and Rob Ickes of Blue Highway at the Hassayampa Inn.
The music starts at 11 a.m. on Sunday with Triple L. Band. The afternoon will also include Just 4 Mama and Lonesome Otis before the Thomas Porter Copper River Band puts a wrap on the festival by performing from 2 -3 p.m. For a complete list of acts during the weekend go to prescottbluegrassfestival.com.
As soon as the music from the Bluegrass Festival winds down Prescott turns its attention to preparations for their 124th annual Rodeo. Known as the World’s Oldest Rodeo in the Cowboy Capital of the American West, action will get under way Tuesday and run through July 4.
During the course of the week there will be eight performances with top professional cowboys competing for big prize money. Along with the rodeo action itself the week includes other festivities including a rodeo parade and Kiddie parade, a fine arts and crafts show, a street dance as well as a 4th of July fireworks celebration.
For information go to prescott.org, or worldsoldestrodeo.com.
Tickets, ranging in price from $12 – 25, are available by phone (866-407-6336) on the website (listed above) or at the gate. Purchasing tickets in advance is encouraged but not required, as there are sell-outs.