Arizona city ready to toast morning tradition on Saturday
Oct 14, 2016, 7:28 AM | Updated: 12:22 pm
(Facebook Photo)
(Facebook Photo)
PHOENIX — A Flagstaff tradition that delights many and exasperates others will wake up the northern Arizona city this weekend.
The Arizona Daily Sun reported that more than a dozen Flagstaff bars will open their doors at 6 a.m. Saturday for the Tequila Sunrise drinking party.
The pub crawl coincides with homecoming at Northern Arizona University. Thousands have made the walk through downtown to celebrate ahead of the parade and other pregame activities.
Temperatures were expected to be in the low 40s when the event begins.
Dry & occasionally breezy across northern Arizona for the next 7 days. Daytime temperatures a few degrees above average for mid-Oct. #AZWX pic.twitter.com/83jbeBzYO1
— NWS Flagstaff (@NWSFlagstaff) October 12, 2016
The revelry is not without its drawbacks. Police arrested 41 people and closed some downtown streets last year.
“We train our employees to know when an individual is too intoxicated—when to offer water or food, but not alcohol,” Anisa Yamada, with Majerle’s Sports Grill told the NAU campus newspaper last year.
Deputy Chief Walt Miller said establishments were within their rights to serve alcohol that early.
City Manager Josh Copley said 24 police officers, four liquor control officers and one state officer will patrol the event.
Last year, Tequila Sunrise cost the city $1,000 in extra police pay and other expenses.
The homecoming parade was set for 11 a.m. on campus.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
