The Town of Camp Verde and other businesses and organizations are gearing up for the first of what they hope will be a long and successful series of events designed to get people out-and-about downtown.
Friday, Jan. 27, marks the first of the planned Fourth Friday events, from 5 to 8 p.m.
Camp Verde Town Manager Russ Martin said the idea behind the monthly events is to get people interested in attending to see a constantly changing slate of attractions. The town worked with several other groups to brainstorm how things would run.
That includes partners like Camp Verde Promotions, the group that runs the annual CornFest and Fort Verde Days, and the Verde Valley Archaeology Center, which opened last year as a repository for the region’s rich history.
Some of the activity will be centered around Fourth Friday at Fort Verde State Historic Park, which will be keeping the old 19th century military building open. That’s just the backdrop for a program of events planed by Hold the Fort, a nonprofit group dedicated to the support of the local historical attraction.
It will include a large display of firearms from the 1800s, along with a presentation and explanation of these period guns by their owner, according to Hold the Fort’s Carole Dvorak.
Park Manager Sheila Stubler said that lamps will be lit along the sidewalks, similar to what the fort does during its annual candle-walk events.
Admission to the fort will be free, along with admission to other area attractions like the Verde Valley Archaeology Center where a presentation about ancient potsherds will be given.
The Hance House — the home of one of the town’s early Anglo pioneers — will be open, and if you want to briefly imprison yourself, the meticulously restored 1930s jail will be open on Hollamon Street.
Even if potsherds aren’t one’s priority interest, the family-friendly event will include hayrides and hot chocolate. Other restaurants have also agreed to stay open during the event.
Planning is already in the works for future events, every fourth Friday hereafter.
Martin said there will be different events each month, so if one month’s schedule wasn’t appealing to someone, maybe the next one will be.
The event’s organizers are also open to anyone who has any ideas for future events and attractions to get the town to keep from rolling up the sidewalks early at least one night a month.
