The Camp Verde Parks and Recreation Department is pleased to announce that the 68th annual Fort Verde Days parade theme will be “Celebrating our Pioneer Spirit.” This year’s parade Grand Marshal will be Tony Gioia. The parade begins at 10 a.m. on Saturday, Oct. 12.
This year’s theme allows individuals, groups and businesses, young and old, to celebrate the grit and resilience of those who came before, showcasing the rich history and the pioneering spirit of Camp Verde.
Parade Entries
Participants are encouraged to decorate their vehicles, ATVs and motorcycles, tractors, bikes or horses or pull a flatbed trailer with their community group. Award categories for the parade entries will include individuals, community groups and businesses as well as people’s choice.
The parade will kick off on Saturday at 10 a.m. from behind the Bashas’ supermarket on Finnie Flat Road and continue up the hill onto Main Street, passing through the center of town and then out onto General Crook Trail to finish. The parade route is just over a mile. Parade registration is $10 per entry and parade applications can be found at visitcampverde.com at the bottom of the Fort Verde Days page under the Events tab.
Grand Marshal
Gioia has actively served Camp Verde in various capacities during the 30 years he has lived here. He served on the Camp Verde Town Council for 13 years. He was first elected in 1998, served as vice mayor and was then elected mayor for two terms, serving from 2005 to 2009.
“Working on the town council was an amazing opportunity to meet the residents of our town,” Gioia said. “Getting to know them, learn their ideas and concerns, understand, work with and solve issues or needs. It was extremely rewarding and a privilege.”
His love of water conservatorship is also evident in his involvement with the Yavapai County Water Advisory. Friends of the Verde River and the Verde River Basin Partnership. He worked to achieve the Wild and Scenic Congressional Designation for Fossil Creek. One of his favorite things is the Verde River.
“Without it, Camp Verde would not be the green oasis in the high desert that it is,” Gioia said.
Gioia has also volunteered at many of the town’s events including Corn Fest, the Crawdad Festival and Trunk or Treat. His favorite part of Fort Verde Days is seeing friends and neighbors, visiting the Fort and watching the parade.
“Of course, the parade itself is the highlight of the day.”
Vendors
Vendor applications are open on visitcampverde.com under the Events tab at the bottom of the Fort Verde Days page. This year, organizers are excited to have the Quilt Show located in the gymnasium, so there is no inside vendor space available. As always, nonprofits get one space free, so apply now.
Volunteers are also needed to help with the event. If interested, go to the Parks and Recreation homepage and click on the blue Volunteer With Us button.
For more information, contact the Camp Verde Parks and Recreation Division at 395 S. Main St., email parks@campverde.az.gov or call (928) 554-0820 ext. 3.
