Carefree Truth

                  Issue #446, December 10, 2015

 

 

 

Mayor Les Peterson complimented Jo Gemmill on the fantastic job she has done in developing and pulling together the Carefree Christmas Festival.  He then turned the floor over to Mrs. Gemmill for her status report on the upcoming 2015 Festival.  Her update noted that the Carefree Christmas Festival will take place on December 11th-13th (this weekend). 

 

 

 

Mrs. Gemmill reported that this will be the Festival's 8th year.  8 years ago, Carefree celebrated Christmas with an inflatable Santa tied to a tree.  It is now quite different.  The Carefree Christmas Festival includes the entire community, from the schools and churches, Boy and Girl Scout organizations, to businesses both local and corporate, as well as our neighboring communities of Cave Creek and Scottsdale.  The majority of the Festival is volunteer led, and she is proud to be a part of that Committee, which begins to work on the Festival in March.  She thanked the Council for their participation, particularly Councilman Glenn Miller, who has been on the Committee for many years, performing invaluable services.  We do what it takes, as a team, to get the Festival "on the map", and it has become the signature event for Carefree. 

 

 

 

Mrs. Gemmill also thanked the Council for the recent initiatives taken in the town that have "really stepped up what I think is a more vibrant merchant district".  As a merchant in Carefree for 14 years, she has noticed a difference in the last 2-3 months.  The Enchanted Garden Pumpkin Festival was a huge success and produced the busiest October on record.  The weekend of the Magic Bird Festival in November saw record sales at the English Rose Tea Room.  She again thanked the Town for pursuing the types of festivals that are proving to be very successful. 

 

 

 

 

There are several new corporate sponsors this year, including Butte Properties/Easy Street Development, the Boulders Resort, Toll Brothers, and Keystone Homes, as well as our traditional sponsors Chris Mellon & Company, Magic Bird Festivals, National Bank of Arizona (the local sponsors), APS, and Sanderson Lincoln.  Together, they assured that the target of $24,000 in corporate sponsorships to help fund the Festival have been met.

 

 

 

Many of the local businesses also gave donations to the Festival.  Mrs. Gemmill  especially appreciates the local merchant donors because she realizes money is a lot tighter on the local level.  She thanked "tenacious team member Lyn Hitchon", who goes door-to-door to the local merchants.  "I'm not sure if taking the wolf with her does make a difference.  I've heard it might", elicited laughter from the audience.  At the moment, we're looking at about $6,000 from the local businesses, which is huge given the difficult times some have had.  (That total to date is $9,350!  Our local businesses have been very generous, and we thank them from our hearts.)

 

 

 

The new entertainment includes "Rock the District", the Cave Creek Unified School District's fantastic rock program for singers and songwriters, as well as some new dance companies.  An adult special needs company will perform the "Nutcracker" in a production called "Mixed Nuts".  The Phoenix Valley Youth Theater will be performing the "Nutcracker" on Sunday afternoon, as well.  Mrs. Gemmill thanked Councilwoman Melissa Price for organizing some new decorations, including the 2 large nutcracker props flanking the stage in the Sanderson Lincoln Pavilion.  Let There Be Light will be installing the red nose on the Rudolf reindeer positioned by the Santa House for fun photo opportunities.  Laura Mahoney spent the weekend putting new ornaments on the new wreaths and garlands adorning the gas lamp posts.  

 

 

 

The Christmas Festival Preview Night is new this year, and will take place on December 3rd, from 6:00-7:30 PM.  The intention of this is to bring residents into town.  We have been a victim of our own success.  About 20,000 people show up for the Christmas Festival, which is a wonderful event for children and families, but some of the Old World charm is lost because of the crowds.  The Preview Night provides an opportunity for friends and neighbors to come into town to see the beautifully lit Gardens, thanks to the Streets Department, Councilman Miller, and an organization employed to help them. 

 

 

 

The Christmas lights throughout the town, which were intentionally left off, will be switched on at the beginning of the Preview Night celebration.  Entertainment will include guest singers from the elementary and middle schools, a miniature horse, dogs from Foothills Animal Rescue, excerpts from the "Nutcraker", and of course a visit from Santa.  Carefree's Santa has become quite famous with his "ZZ Top" style long gray beard.  The beard is real, and gets tugged on regularly by kids who are thrilled to see that it doesn't come off.  Mrs. Gemmill thanked Images AZ magazine for the 4 page coverage in the December issue, which includes photos of Santa.  (The event was fun and very well attended.  Here are a video and some photos of the Preview Night, courtesy of Herbert Hitchon.)

https://vimeo.com/user18676056/review/147925783/b28632a952

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mrs. Gemmill encouraged people to take a stroll through the Gardens and the town after the event to see how beautiful everything looks, saying this will help extend the Christmas season.  Mayor Peterson thanked Mrs. Gemmill for all she has done for the town with the Festival and otherwise.  He also thanked Council members Miller, Price, and Orrico for their help with this wonderful event.

 

https://vimeo.com/user18676056/review/148304483/a76d64fe83

 

 

(Below are videos Herbert put together with his photos of the 2014 Christmas Festival Electric Light Parade and the fireworks afterwards.  Click on the link below the boxes to watch the videos and get a feel for what will be happening this Saturday night.  Enjoy, and we hope to see you this 

weekend!  Merry Christmas!)

Carefree Christmas Parade: 12/13/14

 

"This video is about Carefree Christmas Parade: 12/13/14"

http://vimeo.com/user18676056/review/115244316/497317bb05

 

Carefree Christmas Festival Fireworks

"This video is about Carefree Christmas Festival Fireworks"

http://vimeo.com/user18676056/review/115140348/980788b35f

 

 

Lyn Hitchon

 

 

 

Prepared by Carefree Truth

Visit our website at www.carefreetruth.com  If you know anyone who would like to be added to the Carefree Truth email list, please have them contact me.  Feel free to share Carefree Truth with others on your list. Visit www.carefreeazbusinesses.com to see more info about businesses in Carefree.  Please support our merchants.