
It’s summertime, which means Farmers Markets are in full swing all over the Verde Valley. Here’s where you can find fresh local produce in your area and beyond.

Corn Fest has been an annual tradition in Camp Verde for 28 years. The festival, which takes place on July 16 from 11 a.m. until 7 p.m., customarily pays tribute to the Verde Valley’s famous sweet corn, grown at Hauser & Hauser Farms.

Nothing says summer like fresh corn on the cob and, for Verde Valley residents, that means a visit to Hauser & Hauser Farms since 1987.

Näthan Gangadean, known locally and musically as Saith, is celebrating the release of his new album at Club 89 inside 89 Steakhouse in Sedona on June 24 from 7 to 10 p.m.

June 3-5, Sedona Arts Center (SAC) will hold its first Tailgate Paint Out in the outdoor areas of the center. The event will host invited artists as well as community members interested in participating in or observing plein air style painting.

The first time I met John Soderberg, he was dressed in a red Santa suit with a pillow stuffed in the belly and his natural white hair and beard framing his gentle eyes under the Santa hat. Every kid waiting in line to receive a gift from him and tell him their most heartfelt wishes believed beyond a doubt he was the real thing. And, in his life, he has proven them right, with or without the Santa suit.

After suffering significant sun damage during a Grand Canyon trek, Anita Marcus began looking for ways to repair her skin. As she became familiar with laser technology, it sparked a passion.

Long-time Sedona resident Michele Braun has something extra special to celebrate this Mother’s Day. It’s also her 100th birthday.

The Verde Valley Birding and Nature Festival takes place from April 21-24 at Dead Horse Ranch State Park. Festivities include field trips, a family day, guided birding activities and a BioBlitz for recording observations.

March 25 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., the first Verde Valley Stand Down will take place at the Cottonwood Recreation Center and Garrison Park.

The Northern Arizona Blues Alliance has partnered with the Camp Verde Pecan & Wine Festival to present The Verde Valley Roots and Blues Fest. It will take place in Camp Verde on March 19 and 20 at the Camp Verde Pecan and Wine Festival located at 75 E. Hollamon St.

Premier Lab Solutions, out of Phoenix, entered into a partnership with Northern Arizona Healthcare (NAH) to provide free COVID-19 testing and vaccinations at the NAH Medical Centers in Cottonwood and Camp Verde as well as four other Northern Arizona locations.

Tammy Hamada of Cottonwood has started Who Bakes Cookies, a new home-based bakery offering delicious decorative cookies for sale.

World-renowned artist and actor Robert Shields, a resident of Clarkdale, recently joined The Hart of Arizona Art Gallery in Old Town Cottonwood. Gallery owner Viki Norris will host a meet and greet with Shields and other area artists at the gallery on Friday, Feb. 18 from 4 to 6 p.m.

When thinking about weddings, a lot of things may come to mind from exotic destinations to intimate family settings. Many wedding traditions seem timeless while others may come and go. And it’s no secret that the COVID-19 pandemic has impacted the wedding industry with prevailing precautions about travel, vaccinations, available venues and gathering size.

For many Verde Valley musicians, the 2020 COVID-19 closure of bars and restaurants put their music careers on hold.

From staffing shortages to supply chain delays to rising food costs, the COVID-19 pandemic has wreaked havoc on the bar and restaurant industry across the United States. The Verde Valley has been no exception as some businesses struggle to stay alive and others adjust their way of serving the public with both temporary and permanent reforms.

The Verde Brewing Company, established in Camp Verde in 2013, moved to a new location about four years ago that allowed them to have an onsite brewery at their restaurant and bar location. That gave them the opportunity to expand their processing and their brand.

Say goodbye to 2021 and greet 2022 in style. Here’s a sampling of some of the events happening this New Year’s Eve…

The Verde Brewing Company, established in Camp Verde in 2013, moved to a new location about four years ago that allowed them to have an onsite brewery at their restaurant and bar location. That gave them the opportunity to expand their processing and their brand.

Fort Verde State Historic Park in Camp Verde is decorated for the holidays in a Victorian theme representing the era the military encampment was active in the late 1800s.

Wild Tonic, the Verde Valley’s own kombucha company founded in 2015, has gained a national market and wide-spread brand recognition in just six years.

Begun 48 years ago, the Festival of Lights has become a Tlaquepaque tradition, anticipated and enjoyed by Verde Valley residents and visitors alike. This year it takes place on Dec. 11 beginning with Santa’s grand entrance at 3 p.m.

The Blazin’ M Ranch, located near Dead Horse State Park in Cottonwood, has entertained guests in the Verde Valley with their chuck wagon dinners and wild west shows more than two decades.
EF Productions’ Celebration of Christmas returns to Cottonwood this holiday season after the production had to be modified in 2020 due to COVID-19.

The Hope Center at Mingus Union High School (MUHS) will be offering a “Prom Closet” to all students in the Verde Valley this spring.
On Saturday, Sept. 25, the Sedona Composite Mountain Biking Team competed in its second race of the season at Arizona Nordic Village in Flagstaff.

There are many businesses available in the Verde Valley that promote healing and wellness in various forms.