Town of Carefree -

⛳ #ThrowbackThursday: Let’s take a swing back in time to 1962, when Desert Forest Golf Club opened its doors right here in Carefree, AZ. Often called the world’s first “desert golf course,” this trailblazing design embraced the natural beauty of the Sonoran Desert rather than altering it. 🌵 Architect Robert “Red” Lawrence crafted the course with a minimalist philosophy, letting the rugged landscape dictate the layout. 🏌️‍♂️ No lush fairways or forced water features here—just authentic desert terrain, making it both a beauty and a challenge for golfers. ✨

✨ Business Highlight: Bosco's Biscuits ✨ For over two decades, Bosco's Biscuits has been a cherished part of our community, delivering heart, passion, and premium pet products. 💖 Founded by Alison, Bosco's story began in New Jersey when her own dog needed homemade food for health reasons. After moving to Arizona in 2000, she opened her first retail space in Cave Creek, where she sold healthy dog treats and other pet supplies. As her business grew, she relocated to Carefree, creating a go-to spot for pet lovers in the area. In 2022, Bosco's Biscuits expanded once more, taking over the adjacent space in the Carefree Marketplace to better serve its loyal customer base, including snowbirds who eagerly stock up on treats and food for their pets when they return each year. Alison’s favorite part of being a business owner? The incredible pets and people she gets to meet every day. 🥰 Thank you for 25 amazing years, Bosco’s Biscuits! 📍 Stop by and treat your furry friends to something special.

🕯️ Last Saturday, the Carefree 40th Anniversary celebrations ended in style with an unforgettable VIP Cocktail Party! ✨ 🌅 As the sun set, the glow of thousands of candles around the Sanderson Lincoln Pavilion created an enchanting atmosphere. Guests enjoyed small bites, wine, bourbon, and more, while a talented string quartet filled the evening with beautiful classical music. 🎻 💬 Heartfelt speeches by past Mayors and integral members of our history shared what Carefree means to both them and reflected on the incredible journey we've taken as a community over the years. 🙌 A huge THANK YOU to those who attended the event! We are extremely grateful for the committee members & volunteers who helped pull together the details for this event and all the other 40th Anniversary celebrations. This evening was a perfect way to honor our past and toast to the bright future ahead for our amazing Town. Here’s to 40 years of Carefree and many more to come! 🥂✨ THANK YOU TO... Fever for curating and producing the candlelight experience. -Athens on Easy Street -Black Mountain Cafe -English Rose Tea Room -Giordano's Trattoria Romana -Keeler’s Neighborhood Steakhouse -Venues Cafe for providing delicious hors d'oeuvres Basha's for the beautiful flower centerpieces. -Brix Wine Bar -Carefree Spirits Distillery -Grind and Gears for providing and pouring the drinks. Foothills Caring Corp for volunteering and providing excellent service.

🍂🦃 Happy Thanksgiving from the Town of Carefree! 🦃🍂 Today, we’re especially grateful for our wonderful community that makes Carefree such a special place to both visit and call home. Wishing you a day filled with love, laughter, good health, and delicious food! 🧡

#ThrowbackThursday: SkyRanch at Carefree! ✈️ Built in 1961 with just a dirt runway, SkyRanch was and is a vibrant hub for aviation enthusiasts and a cornerstone of our community. It all began with Woody Woods (in the second photo), an avid aviator and visionary, who transformed it into Arizona’s first fly-in residential community, where homeowners could taxi their planes right to their private hangars. 🏡🛬 Over the decades, it’s evolved from bringing guests of the Carefree Inn to becoming a Sonoran desert haven for aviation and automotive lovers . Swipe to see how this historic landmark has soared through the years! 🌵💼

🚗✨ What an incredible weekend! Our Wings & Wheels event celebrating Carefree’s 40th anniversary soared to new heights! Families, couples, and friends gathered to marvel at a stunning collection of planes and cars from our SkyRanch community members. The atmosphere was electric with delicious food, live music, and unforgettable moments. ✈️ A huge thank you to Tommy and Kit for making this event possible! 🎉 Special thanks to the Our Lady of Joy Youth Choir for their moving patriotic performances, and to Eddy Roswell, the Phantom Ranch Band, and Acoustic Habit for bringing the groovy vibes! 🎶 We also want to extend our gratitude to Sanderson Lincoln for their support and for making this day even more special. 🚙👏

Our 15th Annual Veterans Celebration was a powerful and emotional tribute! ✨ Filled with honor, respect, stories, music, and community spirit—it had us all crying, cheering, and dancing! 🥰 A heartfelt thank you to Army Master Sergeant David Allwine & U.S. Marine Corps Captain Sophie Ripa for your inspiring stories along with Preston Westmoreland for being the MC. 🎤 We are always grateful for the support and participation of the Cave Creek Boy Scout Troop #603, the Daughters of the American Revolution (Black Mountain Chapter), Honor Flight Arizona, and Imprints of Honor. 🪖 Thank you to Annalyn Abraham from Cactus Shadows High School, the Carolyn Eynon Singers, and the Main Event band for bringing the event to life through music. 🎼 Last but not least, we appreciate Carefree Coffee Roastery for providing the coffee for the event. ☕

Carefree events aren't slowing down! 🍁 November is here, and we’ve got a full calendar of exciting events you won't want to miss! Enjoy 40th Anniversary events, our annual Veterans Day Celebration, holiday festivities, theater performances, Sanderson Lincoln Saturday Concerts, and so much more! ✈️🎉🎭🎶 Mark your calendar and make sure you don’t miss out! SAVE & SHARE this post so you and your friends are in the know! 📨 Let’s make some memories this November! ✨

A huge thank you to all the concierges who joined us for our annual Carefree Concierge Tour! 🏨 We strolled through town, visiting several restaurants to enjoy small tastes of their amazing food, sip on delicious drinks, and revel in their unique atmospheres. 🍷 It was a night full of great food, good vibes, and happy, satisfied guests. Carefree truly appreciates you spending the evening with us and giving our incredible restaurant owners and their staff a chance to shine! ✨ Thank you to the Foothills Caring Corps for providing the transportation for the night! 🚌

Check out this new mesmerizing sculpture in Carefree! 🧑‍🎨 Marilyn and Terry Alexander unveiled their latest 11-foot steel and fused glass sculpture, Mariposa, at Carefree's first Art Night of the season. 🎨 Displayed outside the Thunderbird Artists Gallery, Mariposa beautifully showcases the “softer side of steel” and was warmly celebrated as the Alexanders’ season-opening feature. The evening brought together art enthusiasts who enjoyed the unveiling and themed refreshments, making it a memorable event. 🍰

We’re thrilled to announce that the Carefree Water Consolidation Project has earned the prestigious ACEC Arizona Engineering Excellence Award! 🏆 Former Councilmember Tony Geiger represented the Town of Carefree / Carefree Water Company and was joined by Tracy Grunden, Director of Water/Wastewater at Coe & Van Loo Consultants, Inc. (CLV), and other members of the CVL staff on October 18. This award is a testament to our commitment to sustainable water solutions for our community! 💧

There’s nothing quite like a Carefree sunset! 🌄 The sun shines through desert trees and cacti, casting a stunning glow through our iconic 65-year-old sundial. As the sun dips below the horizon, a peaceful calm fills the air, inviting you to stroll through the gardens and soak in the beauty. 🌵 Come experience the magic of our small-town for yourself! 😉

🍂 Last Saturday, we kicked off our first-ever Fall in Love with Carefree event, and it was the perfect way to celebrate fall as a community! 🎃 Big thanks to the YMCA for hosting the costume contest and to the Kiwanis Club of Carefree, Foothills Food Bank, Foothills Caring Corps, and Rural Metro for being part of the fun. 👻🍭 Families filled our streets, enjoying fun activities around town, while kids impressed us with their incredible costumes. It was a day brimming with laughter, fall spirit, and the charm of small-town magic. 🧡

Join us for "Wings and Wheels," a celebration of Carefree's 40th anniversary at SkyRanch on Saturday, Nov. 9, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. ✈️ 🚗 This family-friendly event features a flag-raising tribute to veterans, live music, a thrilling flyover by The Falcon Warbirds, and displays of 20 planes and 50 vehicles. 🪖 Enjoy food from local favorites, remote control plane demos, and more. 🍔 Don't miss this day of aviation, automotive history, and community spirit in the scenic Sonoran Desert. Learn more at www.carefree40.com. 🌵

Introducing Gallery Michele, who has been a vibrant part of Carefree since 2019! 🎨 Michele Hutchins's artistic journey began at the age of six, but her path was interrupted when she spent 3 years battling a chronic illness. After regaining her health, she took the opportunity to open a gallery with the support of Joy and Ted, the previous owners whose artwork still graces the space today. 🖼️ Despite challenges, Michele and her husband Todd have grown the gallery into a haven for art lovers, showcasing a curated collection that includes Michele's own acrylic and oil paintings, along with pieces in metal, wood, glass, jewelry, and ceramics. Their artist pool is intentionally kept small to remain loyal to their base and one artist even has a work featured in the Louvre. ✨ Gallery Michele, located near the Post Office and Sundial in Carefree, is a must-visit for art enthusiasts. The gallery will soon be launching an online shopping component, be sure to check out their website at www.gallerymichele.art.💻

#ThrowbackThursday - Back in the 1960s, the Desert Forest Inn, soon renamed the Carefree Inn, emerged as the social hub of Carefree. 🌵✨ Originally envisioned as a charming desert retreat, it quickly became the go-to spot for community gatherings, family get-togethers, and business events. It was the home of a synchronized swimming group named the Aqua Maids. 🧜‍♀️👙 The Inn was also a popular choice for hosting conferences, and the investors' wives famously used the town's 20-page phone book to invite residents to spontaneous 'TGIF' parties, making it the heart of local life. 🏨🎉 Today, the it is lived on as the CIVANA Wellness Resort, focusing on wellness, connection, and relaxation in the desert. Do you have fond memories of the Carefree Inn? 🌞✨ #Carefree40 #TownOfCarefree #CarefreeAZ

🎶 Sanderson Lincoln Saturdays are back, adding to the lively atmosphere of the Carefree Town Center on select Saturdays! Check out our October and November lineup. Enjoy casual concerts featuring talented local musicians and bands. These performances 1 - 3 p.m. add a charming touch to our small-town, creating the perfect background for a leisurely stroll through the streets, shopping, or enjoying lunch at a restaurant. 🥙 Don't forget to explore our local shops offering art, jewelry, western goods, lunch, and more while you're here! 🛍️

Early voting is here! 🗳️ Ballots were mailed out on Oct. 9, and the official drop box at Town Hall is now OPEN! 📬 Did you know? Voting by mail saves our county 68¢ per ballot in tax dollars. 💸 You can track your ballot online through your voter dashboard at BeBallotReady.Vote. The deadline to request a mail-in ballot is Oct. 25. Stay tuned for more updates, including when the in-person voting center at the Town Council Chamber opens. Learn more at carefree.org/elections. ✅

🐾 It's #WildlifeWednesday here in Carefree, and we’ve got some big visitors! Check out this majestic buck cooling off in the shade. Did you know Arizona is home to tho types of deer? The Rocky Mountain mule deer is the most common, but we also have white-tailed Coues deer in the southeast! 🦌 Bucks shed their antlers in winter and grow them back in spring. After breeding season, they lose their antlers to make way for a larger set next year. ❄️ With excellent hearing and a 310-degree field of view, these graceful animals are always alert. Keep your eyes peeled for these beautiful creatures and make sure to give them space! 👀

Our Stargazing Event had us all star-struck! ⭐ We had an amazing crowd of 200+ stargazers join us to celebrate Carefree’s 40th Anniversary under the stars last Saturday. ✨ Big thanks to astronomy expert Mark Johnston for sharing his incredible knowledge about the stars – we were all blown away! 🚀 Thank you to and Bruce Arlen from Cave Creek Dark Sky for helping organize the event. Thanks to everyone who came out and made this night unforgettable. (Including the shooting star that made an appearance! 🌠)