Electric Light Parade and Holiday Fireworks Extravaganza December 10, 2011

Electric Light Parade and Holiday Fireworks Extravaganza
Begin at 6 p.m., Saturday, December 10

Most events are FREE and take place along Easy Street in Downtown Carefree.

Presented by the Town of Carefree, the Carefree Business Association and
the Carefree/Cave Creek Chamber of Commerce. Information and schedule of events: www.carefreechristmasfestival.com.

“Let it snow,” says Carefree Christmas Festival Director founder Jo Gemmill. Experience real snow as the town of Carefree is transformed into a winter wonderland.

CAREFREE/CAVE CREEK/N. SCOTTSDALE – (August 28, 2011) – Imagine a quaint town named Carefree set high in Arizona’s Sonoran Desert, transformed into a lighted Christmas winter wonderland.

Experience it yourself at the 4th Annual Carefree Christmas Festival, taking place along Easy Street in downtown Carefree, Friday, December 9 through Sunday, December 11.

Holiday events for the entire family take place throughout the weekend and include a Saturday evening Electric Light Parade and Holiday Fireworks Extravaganza, live music, a gift and food market and 25 tons of real snow.

The Electric Light Parade, sponsored by the Carefree Resort & Conference Center, features more than sixty lighted entries. The parade begins at 6 p.m. on Saturday, followed by the Holiday Fireworks Extravaganza at 8 p.m. Parade attendees are encouraged to arrive early and bring lawn chairs to get a prime viewing spot.

The Carefree Christmas Gift Market by Magic Bird takes place throughout the weekend and features 100 gift vendors offering a wide array of holiday gift shopping and seasonal food and drink favorites.

Real snow is the highlight of the Kid’s Zone, open throughout the weekend. More than 25 tons of snow, a snow slide, bounce house and other activities are available for children of all ages. Boots, hats and gloves are recommended. Rural-Metro firefighters will host a marshmallow roast and Toys for Tots donation drive Friday and Saturday evenings from 5 – 9 p.m.

Sunday’s events include Doggies of the North Pole, featuring comedic canines that were once rescue dogs and are now the stars of the show. A pet parade begins at 10 a.m. with prizes going to the pets with the best holiday costumes. Also on Sunday, an art auction will be held to benefit pet rescue organizations.

The Carefree Resort & Conference, 37220 N. Mule Train Road, Carefree, will host an ice skating rink and other special holiday festivities throughout the month of December. Overnight and weekend stay packages are available for out of town guests. Resort and ice rink information is available at www.carefree-resort.com or by calling 480-488-5300.

Other Carefree Christmas Festival activities include Nutcracker Ballet excerpts, horse-drawn carriage rides, a farmers market, a North Pole mailbox and much more.

“Let it snow,” said event creator Jo Gemmill, a Carefree resident and owner of the English Rose Tea Room. “This festival was created so that every child could experience the beauty of a holiday winter wonderland.”

Nearly 20,000 people are expected to attend the holiday festival in a town of only 3,400 residents.

Festival hours are 10 a.m. – 9 p.m. on Friday and Saturday, and 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. on Sunday.

For information and a full schedule of events, visit CarefreeChristmasFestival.com.