The desert rains pounded Camp Verde this weekend and even when it was momentarily dry, the sky was a gloomy overcast that threatened to crack open any minute.
But the crowds at Camp Verde’s annual Fort Verde Days, held on Friday, Oct. 12 and Saturday, Oct. 13, were undeterred. Hundreds came for the event, enjoying a weekend of tradition, community and excitement.
“It’s a historical event and I think it’s helped bind the community together,” said Julie Scott, vice president of the Camp Verde Business Alliance, who was helping to run the event along with Camp Verde Promotions. As a transplant to Camp Verde, Scott said that it is this kind of town event that makes the area special to her. “Coming from a big town to a small town, I love the sense of community that Camp Verde offers,” Scott said.
Scott helped run the OldTime Chili Cook-Off, one of several new events at this year’s Fort Verde Days. Seven different chili recipes were available for tasting by event attendees, who could then vote on their favorite. Rick Chambers, of the United Country Real Estate chili team, was the winner.
Youngsters from Camp Verde and all over the Verde Valley were given the chance to enter a petticoat and britches competition before the event, with the winners displayed prominently in the parade Saturday morning.
Babies were entered into a competition for the funniest, cutest and grumpiest photo, which were voted to be Jace Martinez, Max Gosnik and Wyatt Lotz, respectively.
Those fleeing the sudden and occasional downpours of rain could take refuge in the community center gym, which was decked out by the Camp Verde Quilters. Dozens of crafted quilts hung throughout the room, each with their own designs and style — geometric shapes, animals and sometimes writing telling of a special personal significance.
“Every quilt has a story,” said Betty Rudd of the Camp Verde Quilters. Her own addition to the collection was named “Retirement.” She made it for her son’s friend when he retired from the police department and it featured wild animals such as a deer and wolf alongside its geometric patterns, representing his love of hunting.
The blue ribbon quilt named “Anniversary,” was sewn by Helen Tackitt on her 65th wedding anniversary. When her husband died in 2017, it garnered an extra level of emotional significance. The quilt will be displayed annually in Phoenix as part of the Arizona Quilters Hall of Fame.
Saturday morning featured the annual pancake breakfast, sponsored by the Camp Verde Kiwanis, followed by the parade down Main Street, which escaped the rain until immediately after it ended. Local organizations such as Camp Verde Middle School, the Camp Verde Historical Society and Haven Health rolled 53 floats down the street, boasting music, enthusiastic children and reminders of Camp Verde’s farm and cowboy roots. The Blue Ribbon for Best in Show went to the Assembly of God church.
“It was magnificent,” former Camp Verde Mayor Tony Gioia said. After decades seeing the parade, Gioia said he is still enthusiastic about it. The biggest change he noticed was fewer horses than in the past, but he said that the kids made up for it.
“I have grandchildren at the parade now, so it’s far better,” he said.
A similar change has happened for all parts of the event — Fort Verde Days has become less focused on some of its traditional roots, but added more fun activities — such as the Ferris wheel and rides — to keep the kids excited for longer.
“When I was a kid there was a parade, the kids ran around the street and after dark they’d go to bed,” said Bruce Morrow of the Verde Valley Rangers, who provided beer to those who paid at the entrance to the fair grounds. “Now there’s all sorts of stuff for them.”
Still, many aspects of the town’s tradition remain present. On Saturday night, Fort Verde State Historic Park hosted two storytellers, Betty Kent and Geronimo, named for the famed Apache leader of the Bedonkohe band, who told histories of the area harkening back to the days of pioneer settlers traveling westward and the American Indians they encountered here.
“As time goes on, they’ve lost a lot of their culture,” Geronimo said of the of the American Indians in Arizona. Geronimo was eager to tell the stories of his namesake to anyone who would listen, to connect the area with its roots and tell of the bravery of the Apache chief whose real name was Goyathlay, before he was renamed Geronimo by the Mexican soldiers who cried out for help from St. Jerome, aka Jeronimo, for when they encountered and fought him.
For Camp Verde residents, the event served not only as a connection to that distant past through the fort, but also as a connection to the modern history of the town. “It’s like the best time you can have in this town,” Town Councilman-elect Joe Butner said. “It serves as an informal homecoming for anyone who grew up in Camp Verde.”
Jon Hecht can be reached at 634-8551, or email jhecht@larsonnewspapers.com
