Verde Valley AZ (January 15, 2013) – Join the Buffalo Soldiers, as they provide living history presentations at Fort Verde State Historic Park. The event is Saturday, February 16, 2013 from 9am to 5pm and on Sunday, February 17, 2013 from 9am to 1pm.
Bring your special someone or all of your loved ones to Fort Verde State Historic Park and learn about history with the Buffalo Soldiers. Enter your favorite pecan pie recipe in the Pecan Pie contest on Saturday with a chance to win 1st, 2nd, or 3rd place prize money. All entries must be received by Friday, February 15th. There will also be flag raising and lowering ceremonies, presentations and a vintage baseball game.
At Fort Verde, the Buffalo Soldiers will be dressed in period replica uniforms and equipment issued by the United States Army during the 1870s Indian War period. The first Buffalo Soldiers troop serving at Fort Verde was Troop I, 10th Cavalry of the Buffalo Soldiers. It was organized in 1866 and came to Fort Verde in 1885, following a distinguished record of military service during the Indian Wars of the Western frontier.
The Wine, Pecan and Antique Festival will be held in the neighboring community center the same President’s Day weekend. It will feature wines from the Verde Valley and Arizona, pecan pies and desserts, booths loaded with antiques and collectibles, agricultural demonstrations, a car show, art, vendors, music, a nut contest, and more.
For more information about the activities at Fort Verde State Historic Park call (928) 567-3275. For more information about the Wine, Pecan and Antique Festival contact the Camp Verde Chamber of Commerce at (928) 567-9294. Fort Verde State Historic Park is located in downtown Camp Verde, Arizona. Take I-17, Turn Right onto Hwy 260 (east), Turn left onto Finnie Flat Rd. which becomes Main St, Turn left onto Holloman St. to 125 E. Holloman St. Main entrance is two blocks on the right side.
Park Entrance Fee is $5 per person for children and adults aged 14 & up. Youths aged 7 to 13 years of age will be charged $2 per person. There is no charge for children 6 years of age or younger. Arizona State Parks offers a free Annual Pass to disabled veterans living in Arizona for those qualified at 100% disability.
For information about all 27 Arizona State Parks, the Trails and Off-Highway Vehicle Programs and State Historic Preservation Office call (602) 542-4174 (outside of the Phoenix metro area call toll-free (800) 285-3703), visit the website and online camping reservations at AZStateParks.com, Twitter/Facebook AZStateParks.
