Proposed Article:
The 26th Hi Jolly Daze Parade will be held on Saturday, January 10, 2015 at 10 AM. VFW
Post 769 in cooperation with the Town of Quartzsite and many sponsors are planning the
best parade in years!
The theme this year is “Veterans Rock”, Honoring our Viet Nam Veterans their spouses and
families. Enter your ‘Patriotic Themed’ float, walk, dance, play your music, ride your bike,
drive your car, or walk the dog, but bring the whole family and your friends for a fun time in
Quartzsite!
The Hi Jolly Daze parade and activities afterwards at the VFW, 120 S. Palo Verde Ave., brings
the residents, businesses, organizations and our Winter Visitors together to celebrate our winter
season and pay tribute to the man who made our area his home for fifty years, and the Men
and Women who have kept it free.
In the mid 1850’s Hadji Ali, better known as Hi Jolly, came with his camels to our desert area.
He served the United States Army in an experiment to use the camels as beasts of burden.
However, the camels were not compatible with the Army mules and the experiment was
cancelled in 1864.
But, Hi Jolly remained in our area serving as an Army Scout for many years prior to his death
in 1902. In 1935 the Governor of Arizona dedicated a monument in his honor, at the site of his
Quartzsite grave. This monument, known as “Hi Jolly’s Last Camp” is one of the most visited
spots in Southwest Arizona. Quartzsite is still to this day one of the most visited spots in
Arizona.
The parade will start at 10 AM. The parade starts at the corner of Plymouth and Quail Trail,
heads South on Plymouth to B-10, then East to Mesquite and then south around the southern
side of the QIA ending at the QIA East parking lot across for VFW Post 769.
Parade Entry Forms may be picked up & dropped off at: Quartzsite Business Chamber of
Commerce, VFW Post 769 or the Town of Quartzsite. Please turn in entries by Wed. Jan. 7,
2015.
For additional information visit the website: www.vfwpost769.org. Or email:
vfwdad1011@hotmail.com Or you may call Dennis Dole, Parade Coordinator at 928-580-1741.