The organizers behind the upcoming 54th annual Fort Verde Days are hard at work behind the scenes to ensure the success of one of the town’s oldest traditions, and they want help from anyone in the community who’s willing to pitch in.

In fact, “Fort Verde Days Traditions” is the theme of this year’s weekend event, scheduled for Friday to Sunday, Oct. 8 to 10.

“It really is a tradition,” said Carlie Androus with Camp Verde Promotions, a local nonprofit behind Fort Verde Days.

For years, the celebration was organized by residents, but eventually the Town of Camp Verde took on the responsibility of running the event.

With the recent downturn in the economy, the town found it was becoming harder and harder to justify being in the business of sponsoring public events like Fort Verde Days. Fortunately for the events, groups like Camp Verde Promotions stepped up to keep traditions alive.

This will be the second year the group has put on Fort Verde Days, and Androus said organizers have learned a lot since last year.

The group also promotes the annual CornFest, but a successful Fort Verde Days is the jewel in the organizers’ crown.

“We’re getting all the forms ready right now,” Androus said. “We’re really working on the planning.”

The group held its most recent organizational meeting this week after press time, and is still looking for people with ideas and a desire to attract people to Camp Verde for Fort Verde Days.

The next meeting will be in September, but in the meantime anyone interested in helping can call Androus at 300-7077.