The lit pine cone above the Weatherford Hotel shortly before midnight on New Year's Eve
Event · New Year's Eve

The Great Pinecone Drop

Flagstaff rings in the new year by lowering a giant lit pine cone from the Weatherford Hotel. On December 31, 2026 it drops three times: at noon for the kids, at 10 pm, and at midnight.

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Hotels downtown
Checked November 7, 2026December 31, 2026Noon, 10 pm, midnight

Weatherford Hotel, New Year's Eve 2011 · Photo: Gregg Ensminger / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0 · Credits

Drop times

Three drops on New Year's Eve

The noon drop is for families, the 10 pm drop for anyone who'd rather not stay up, and the midnight drop counts down to 2027. December nights in Flagstaff average about 17°F.

Before you book: the Zane Grey Ballroom party at the Weatherford is 21+ only and up the stairs on the third floor, with no elevator. Weatherford rooms for December 31 come with 2 VIP tickets for it; guests must be 21+.

Noon
The family drop, with Noon Year's Eve in Heritage Square from 10 am to 1 pm
10 pm
An earlier drop for anyone who'd rather not wait until midnight
Midnight
The countdown: the lit pine cone comes down from the Weatherford's balcony at the stroke of 2027
The story

From trash can to tradition

Flagstaff has dropped a pine cone since 1999. The first one, in 1999, was a trash can decorated with Christmas lights. Today's cone stands about 6 feet tall and draws thousands of people downtown.

Since
1999, from the top of the Weatherford Hotel
The first cone
A decorated trash can strung with Christmas lights
Today
About 6 feet tall and 70 pounds
Crowd
Thousands of people downtown on New Year's Eve
The hotel
The Weatherford, a historic downtown hotel on Leroux Street
Where to watch

On the street or on the balcony

Watch from the streets of downtown below the Weatherford, or, for a spot right next to the cone, book the Zane Grey Ballroom on the third floor, where it drops from.

The Weatherford Hotel on Leroux Street with its wraparound balcony
The Weatherford Hotel on Leroux Street.Weatherford Hotel, 23 N Leroux St · Photo: Tony Webster / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0
Date
Thursday, December 31, 2026
Where
The Weatherford Hotel on Leroux Street, downtown Flagstaff
Zane Grey Ballroom
The best view, from the third-floor balcony the cone drops from. 21+ only, stairs only, no elevator
Gopher Hole
Party downstairs at the Weatherford, with a cover charge at the door
Hotel package
Rooms at the Weatherford for December 31 come with 2 VIP tickets for the Zane Grey Ballroom; guests must be 21+
Noon Year's Eve

New Year's for little ones

The Downtown Flagstaff Foundation's free Noon Year's Eve ends with the pine cone drop at 12 noon, so younger kids get their countdown in daylight.

When
Thursday, December 31, 2026, 10 am to 1 pm
Where
Heritage Square, downtown
Cost
Free
What
Crafts, games, face painting and pine cone decorating, then the pine cone drop at noon
Hotels downtown

Walk home after midnight

From a downtown hotel you walk back after midnight instead of driving on icy roads. The Monte Vista is a minute's walk from Heritage Square.

  1. Hotel Monte VistaPhoto: Expedia

    1 / 7

    Photos: ExpediaCheck prices on Expedia

    Best historic stayDowntown and Southside 8.0/10 on Expedia

    Hotel Monte Vista

    Parking $50 a day in a nearby lot; limited spaces at the hotelNo petsBreakfast extra

    A minute from Heritage Square and a block from the Weatherford, so you walk back after the midnight drop.

    • Good for Walking to downtown bars and restaurants
    • Good for History: the hotel opened in 1926
    • Skip if You travel with a pet

    Check prices on Expedia Photos, rules and fees

  • Bespoke Inn FlagstaffDowntown and Southside 9.8/10 on Expedia · 426 reviewsFree parkingPets: dogs only, up to 2Check prices
  • Residence Inn by Marriott FlagstaffDowntown and Southside 9.6/10 on Expedia · 1,002 reviewsParking $10 a dayPets: up to 2 petsCheck prices
  • Country Inn & Suites by Radisson, Flagstaff Downtown, AZDowntown and Southside 9.4/10 on Expedia · 1,547 reviewsParking $6 a night, coveredNo petsBreakfast includedCheck prices

Downtown Flagstaff The Weatherford and Monte Vista

Quick answers

What time is the Flagstaff Pine Cone Drop?

Three times on New Year's Eve 2026: at noon, at 10 pm and at midnight, from the balcony of the Weatherford Hotel.

Where is the Pine Cone Drop in Flagstaff?

At the Weatherford Hotel on Leroux Street in downtown Flagstaff.

Is the Pine Cone Drop free?

The family Noon Year's Eve in Heritage Square is free. Inside the Weatherford, the Zane Grey Ballroom is a 21+ event and the Gopher Hole has a cover charge.

Is the Pine Cone Drop kid friendly?

The noon drop is the one for kids, with free crafts, games and face painting in Heritage Square from 10 am to 1 pm.

How long has Flagstaff dropped a pine cone on New Year's Eve?

Since 1999. The first one was a decorated trash can; today's cone is about 6 feet tall and weighs about 70 pounds.

Is the Zane Grey Ballroom 21 and over?

Yes. The New Year's Eve party in the Weatherford's Zane Grey Ballroom is 21+ only, and it's up the stairs on the third floor, with no elevator.