Early on the morning of Nov. 2, the arena at the Verde Valley Fairgrounds in Cottonwood held goats, horses, cows and a few people who had left their homes ahead of the floodwater. The fairgrounds director, Coleen Gilboy, told The Verde Independent that her team had opened every barn by 9 a.m. Sunday, after Emergency Equine Evacuation called asking for room for 19 horses.

On Saturday, Dec. 5, Cottonwood's 72nd Annual Christmas Parade leaves from that same fairgrounds parking lot.

The Verde Valley's holiday season is built on its Main Streets: Cottonwood's Old Town, Hollamon Street in Camp Verde and the old Army post at Fort Verde. The flood hit the river side of the valley. The season's dates are still on the calendars, and some of the buildings that sheltered people in early November are now hosting them.

What the river did, in numbers

On Sunday, Nov. 1, the Verde River reached major flood stage. According to The Verde Independent, it rose nearly 25 feet at Camp Verde and nearly 24 feet at Clarkdale.

The same report gave the county Board of Supervisors' early count of affected homes across the valley, which was still waiting on official damage assessments: 233 in total, including 136 in Cottonwood, 40 in Camp Verde, 29 in Rimrock, 16 in Sedona and 12 in Cornville. Cottonwood alone accounts for more than half of that count, and it also has the busiest December calendar in the valley.

Over that first week, the shelters showed where the community gathered. In Camp Verde, evacuees first went to the Parks and Recreation gym at 473 Main St. Cottonwood's shelter was at the American Legion, 480 S. Calvary Way. At the fairgrounds, Gilboy explained that the nonprofit gets no municipal funding and lets evacuees camp for free. "We don't want to penalize our public," she told the paper. "It's our community and we care."

Three Saturdays, two towns

The season runs on three Saturdays, a week apart, one in Cottonwood and two in Camp Verde.

The Visit Cottonwood holiday calendar still lists all three Cottonwood events below a notice that the city is open and asking people to support local businesses. Check with each organizer the week of the event.

Dec. 5 in Cottonwood, from the fairgrounds to Cactus Street

This year's parade theme is "Christmas Traditions," and Lori and Dan Mabery are the grand marshals. Entries check in at 9 a.m. at the fairgrounds and need to be in line by 10:30. The parade steps off at 11.

The route goes east on Cherry Street, turns left onto Main Street and runs into Old Town. The judges' stand is at Mingus and Main, and the parade ends at N. Cactus Street. A business can enter a float for $50, and nonprofits, schools and clubs pay $30, according to the Cottonwood Chamber's parade listing.

About an hour after the parade ends, Old Town starts its second event of the day. Chocolate Walk ticket and bag pickup opens at 3 p.m. at the Civic Center and Cottonwood Community Club House. The Old Town Chocolate Walk page says tickets not picked up by 6 p.m. may be resold and are non-refundable. If you're staying for both, go to the Civic Center before you sit down for a late lunch. The 6 p.m. pickup deadline is the one time that can cost you money.

The Friday-night VIP Wine & Chocolate Pairing on Dec. 4 is sold out at $55. Old Town's ticket page notes that the Saturday Chocolate Walk is a separate purchase.

Dec. 12 in Camp Verde, all day on Hollamon Street

Camp Verde Parks & Recreation runs Christmas Magic on Main, the same department whose gym became the town's first flood shelter. The day starts with the Kiwanis of Camp Verde Breakfast with Santa at 9 a.m. A craft bazaar with up to 50 vendors fills the Community Center gym and the grounds outside, and there's a gingerbread-house contest during the bazaar. The event listing gives both 9 a.m. and 10 a.m. as the bazaar's start, with a 4 p.m. close, so call Parks & Recreation if you plan to arrive at opening. The bazaar draws about 1,000 people a year, and only service animals are allowed.

The Parade of Lights runs from 6 to 7 p.m., and entering it is free. An older Visit Camp Verde page still lists Dec. 13 for the parade. That was the 2025 date. This year's parade is Saturday, Dec. 12.

Dec. 19 at Fort Verde, by luminaria

The last of the three Saturdays is the longest, and much of it happens after dark. The Fort Verde Interpretive Association hosts A Victorian Christmas at Fort Verde State Historic Park from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Living-history volunteers show what an Army camp's Christmas looked like. Visitors can make old-time ornaments and crafts, and carolers join a tree lighting at dusk. Luminarias light the fort so visitors can tour the buildings until 8. A special guest from the North Pole is also expected.

The event costs nothing beyond regular park admission, according to Arizona State Parks.

Where the river parks stand

Main Street is open for the season, but many of the valley's usual winter walks along the river are not. Plan around these closures as they stood in the second week of November:

• Riverfront Park, Cottonwood. The city closed the park on Nov. 2, including its amenities, trails and all public access, and gave no reopening date. The Visit Cottonwood site still shows it as temporarily closed.
• Dead Horse Ranch State Park. The park is open, but its page lists Owl Road as closed and bars access to the Jail, Blackhawk, River Loop, Hickey Ditch, Forest Loop, Canopy, Arroyo Nature, Verde River and Tavasci Marsh trails.
• Verde River access on Yavapai-Apache Nation land. The Nation's closure notice closes all river access points, boat ramps and shorelines until they are inspected and declared safe, and it prohibits river crossings.
• Roads around Camp Verde and Cornville. In the first days after the flood, the Camp Verde Marshal's Office closed Montezuma Castle Highway from Hauser Farms to Camp Lincoln Road because the infrastructure was compromised. The Yavapai County Sheriff's Office closed the bridge at Cornville Road and Windmill Park. Check AZ511 before you drive across the valley to a parade.

The Town of Camp Verde's flood recovery page asks local businesses to report flood losses, including lost revenue with no physical damage.

Bringing something besides a lawn chair

Many people helped with the flood response. Here's where to find current needs:

1. Verde Valley Flood Relief at the fairgrounds. On Nov. 8, the hub listed weekday volunteer hours of 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. It asked for mops, buckets, cleaning products, brooms, pet food, heavy-duty trash bags, flashlights, latex gloves, first aid kits, floor fans and toiletries. It said it had enough clothing, blankets, sheets and towels.
2. American Red Cross, Camp Verde Town Gym Shelter. On Nov. 8, the shelter needed volunteers for its evening and overnight shifts. Sign up through the Red Cross volunteer portal.
3. The Old Corral Bar, Cornville. A pop-up resource site at 11375 East Cornville Road.

Volunteer Sedona and the Verde Valley keeps a single list of these groups and updates it as needs change. Mountain View United Methodist Church also published a Nov. 4 roundup of donation drop-offs, free meals and cleanup services. Check either page the week of an event before loading donations into the car. Then drive to the fairgrounds lot on Dec. 5 and find a spot along Cherry Street before 11.

At Cindy Chapman Group, we've lived and worked in the Verde Valley long enough to know the volunteers, small businesses and nonprofit fairgrounds that make December happen here. We'll see you on Main Street. If you have questions about your home or property as the valley recovers, schedule your complimentary Sedona home consultation and we'll talk it through with care.