Between 3,000 and 4,000 people are expected to join the “Christmas Magic on Main” celebration in downtown Camp Verde on Saturday, Dec. 14, featuring crafts, pancakes and Christmas lights.
The celebration will start off with the Kiwanis Club’s free Pancake Breakfast with Santa Claus from 9 to 11 a.m. in the Community Center Kitchen. The Kiwanis will be holding a free raffle for two bikes that the kids in attendance will be eligible to enter.
Make sure to bring your own camera for two opportunities during the day to get your photo taken with Santa, during the breakfast and again starting at 7 p.m. after the Parade of Lights is complete. The Parks and Recreation Division posted on Facebook that photos would be available “until the final picture is taken.”
The Christmas Craft Bazaar in the Community Center Gym at 51 E. Hollamon Street will be open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. with 65 vendors in attendance who will be offering a wide variety of handmade crafts and holiday gifts for sale.
The Gingerbread House Contest will take place during the bazaar from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The public will have the chance to vote on Christmas bakers’ creations and prizes and trophies will be presented to the winners.
The Parade of Lights will take place from 6 to 7 p.m., and prizes will be given for the best entries in the individual, group and community categories.
“I love the parade. We’re, I think, the only community that does a light parade in the Verde Valley, and it’s one of my favorite Christmas [activities],” acting Parks and Recreation Manager Shawna Figy said. “We have 22 parade entries; I anticipate that to go up to at least 30.”
Residents can register for free to take part in the parade through Friday, Dec. 13, and can sign up online at campverde.sportsites.com/player. The only requirement is that an entry have lights. Main Street will be closed to vehicles from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. to accommodate the parade.
“Parking in downtown Camp Verde can be an issue whenever we have an event going on,” Figy said, who encouraged attendees to carpool and reminded everyone that parking is first-come, first-served.
For more information, contact Camp Verde Parks and Recreation at (928) 554- 0820 ext. 3 or at parks@campverde.az.gov
