The Verde Valley is full of holiday events each week offering festive fun for all ages. Here’s the upcoming lineup for Cottonwood and Camp Verde:
Cottonwood
- The Cottonwood Police Department will be hosting its 20th annual Shop With a Cop event at noon on Friday, Dec. 8. This program allows selected children from the community to spend a day with a local law enforcement officer shopping, sharing a meal and being a part of a procession of emergency vehicles.
- The Verde Valley Voices will be hosting their winter concert “Bring on the Snow” on Sunday, Dec. 10, at 3 p.m. at the Immaculate Conception Catholic Church located at 700 N. Bill Gray Rd.
- United Way of Yavapai County will be hosting a “Share the Warmth” warm clothing drive on Saturday, Dec. 9, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Walmart. The group seeks new or gently-used coats, hats, gloves, scarves, blankets and sleeping bags for all ages for those in need this winter.
- The Verde Valley Humane Society is at capacity and is offering half-price adoption fees for dogs over 1 year old from now through Dec. 15. Help a dog find a forever home this holiday season.
Camp Verde
- On Saturday, Dec. 9, the Kiwanis Club of Camp Verde will be hosting a pancake breakfast with Santa at the Redinger Ramada located at 75 E. Hollamon Street from 9 to 11 a.m. Children can take photos with Santa and Mrs. Claus. The ramada will be furnished with heaters. Donations will be accepted to benefit their programs for kids.
- The Camp Verde Christmas Craft Bazaar and Parade of Lights will take place on Saturday, Dec. 9. The Craft Bazaar will take place from 10 a.m.to 4 p.m. at the Community Center Gym located at 51 E. Hollamon Street. There will be over 40 craft vendors. Santa’s Workshop will take place from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. in the kitchen off the community gym. Kids 12 and under can make fun crafts to take home for free. A new addition to this year’s festivities is the Gingerbread House Decorating Contest. Kids can drop off a homemade gingerbread house on Friday night between 4 and 7 p.m. at the gym. The competition will be judged by the public on the gym’s stage during the Craft Bazaar. Judging closes at 2 p.m. and winners will be announced at 3 p.m. The Parade of Lights will start at 6 p.m. and will run down Main Street from Ace Hardware to the Camp Verde Feed Store. Kids will have an opportunity to take photos with Santa following the parade. There will be a Candy Cane Forest and Christmas Barnyard in the park next to the historical museum that visitors can view while waiting to meet Santa.
- The Camp Verde Community Library will be hosting “Holiday Crafts with Ms. Sally” for children ages three to 10 at 1 p.m. at the children’s library on Dec. 9 and 16. The kids will have the opportunity to make holiday cards during the first session and pinecone bird feeders during the second.
Donations
- During the day, Jackpot Ranch will be hosting a dropoff spot for new, unwrapped children’s gifts and books for the Toys for Tots program of the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve.
- The Verde Valley Archaeology Center is partnering with the Kiwanis Club of Camp Verde for a holiday toy drive. Residents are asked to bring a new toy for a child aged 1-15 to the museum’s lobby to benefit a child in the Camp Verde area. The drive runs from now until Dec. 14.
