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New Year's Eve Pinecone Drop

Today
downtown
Flagstaff

The Weatherford Hotel’s giant Pine Cone will take what has become its place for the last 10 years high above historic downtown Flagstaff, hanging like a super-sized holiday ornament from the top of the three-story building.

What started as a celebratory symbol commemorating the Weatherford Hotel’s 100th anniversary has become a much-anticipated New Year’s Eve icon. “When we rang in the New Year and the new century, we were commemorating the building as a historic treasure,” said Weatherford hotel owner Henry Taylor. “We didn’t know it would become a Flagstaff tradition drawing thousands into the downtown streets every year!”

“The Weatherford Hotel’s New Year’s Eve Pine Cone Drop has become such a draw to our community that hotel rooms are booked in January for the next year!“ said Weatherford Hotel owner Pamela “Sam” Green.

From its meager beginnings as a decorated and lighted garbage can in 1999, the 200+ petal metal cone has undergone yet another transformation to make this holiday season the brightest and greenest yet for Flagstaff.

“We’re lighting the Weatherford cupola and inside and outside the Pine Cone with LED lights for a more dynamic show,” said AVDomotics CEO Andy White. “Like New York’s New Year’s apple, we’ll be able to flash the lights in different colors and add excitement to the event.”

In addition, the computerized light show will use a fraction of the energy of standard lights.

“This is a large upfront investment for the hotel, but one that will improve the celebration,” said Taylor. “Eventually, we plan to run LED lights the length of the wrap-around balconies. This is our holiday gift to Flagstaff residents and visitors.”

Downtown Business Alliance secretary Leslie Connell says community members may sponsor a decorated lamppost for $50. “Each of the 19 lampposts will have a holiday gift tag hanging from it with the sponsors’ names. It will read like a gift to the community from those individuals or businesses.

Those interested in sponsoring a lamppost may send a check to the Downtown Business Alliance at P.O. Box 1546, Flagstaff, Ariz., 86002 or call 928-526-2146 for more information.

Flagstaff Vice Mayor Al White and City Councilmember Coral Evans have launched this season of giving with personal commitments to pay for the city permit required to hang the Pine Cone.

“This is a symbolic gesture for the City Council to show support for the downtown event and for what Sam and Henry have done year after year after year in hopes that one of these days we as a city can do better to match their investment,” said White.

The six-foot, 70-pound Pine Cone will be lowered twice on New Year’s Eve, at 10 p.m. and midnight. An eclectic mix of holiday music will pour from the hotel’s balcony as the crowd counts down to 2010. Inside the hotel, the popular local rock ‘n’ roll band Buckit will be performing.

In the meantime, souvenir long-sleeve Pine Cone Drop T-shirts are on sale at the Weatherford Hotel for $20. Proceeds will help fund the New Year’s Eve celebration.

Also, commemorative Weatherford Hotel ornaments, sponsored by the Flagstaff Branch of the American Association of University Women are on sale at the hotel. Proceeds from the $20 ornaments help send local women to Coconino Community College, Northern Arizona University, Northland Pioneer College and Diné College.

For more information, contact Green at 928-779-1919, ext. 411.

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http://www.FlagDBA.com
Phone: 928-607-2347