’Tis the season, and no one celebrates it in Camp Verde quite in the way Fort Verde State Historic Park does.

While Arizona was a frontier for the settlers and soldiers in the early history of the territory, those who came, although far from home, no doubt still tried to bring a little Christmas spirit to the desert.

All month long the fort will be decorated in wreaths and ribbons and special events will be held in the Victorian style — a callback to the former military post’s late 19th century origins.

“We’re getting everything ready,” said Sheila Stubler, park manager.

On Saturday, Dec. 8, the fort helped kick off Camp Verde’s day of Christmas season celebrations with a Victorian ornament-making workshop.

The instructors focused primarily on teaching visitors how to make tussy mussies, ornaments created back in the day and hung on trees or around the home.

The ornaments visitors were making Saturday were pyramid-shaped containers, decorated with fabric and other baubles and meant to be hung inverted.

For the full story, see the Wednesday, Dec. 12, edition of The Camp Verde Journal.