The Town of Camp Verde has begun preparations for the 69th annual Fort Verde Days celebration in October.
Recreation Supervisor Tiffany Smith said that the town is looking for suggestions for a theme for the event as a way of celebrating the area’s “heritage and bring[ing] people together.” They are also accepting nominations for the parade’s grand marshal.
Past themes for the event have included “Verde Gras,” “Verde River: The Life of the Verde Valley,” “Desert Life” and “Go for the Gold: 50th Anniversary of Fort Verde State Historic Park.”
Among previous grand marshals were, in 2021, Houser & Houser Farms owners Dick and Brenda Hauser — a former councilwoman and mayor — Economic Development Director Steve Ayers in 2023 and former Camp Verde Mayor Tony Gioia in 2024.
Town staff are inviting residents to nominate individuals who have made a significant difference in Camp Verde as grand marshal. Nominations should include the reasons for the nomination as well as the nominator’s contact information, and nominations and theme suggestions can be made in person at the Parks and Recreation Office, by phone to (928) 554-0820 ext. 3, by email to parks@campverde.az.gov or online through the Parks & Rec website at campverde.az.gov/departments/parks-recreation or by using the link here: https://forms.gle/XbGAejJmqzL96s3i7.
The deadline for nominations and suggestions is June 20, and so far town staff have received eight nominations.
