33rd Annual Fall Carefree Garden Art Experience

November 7th & 8th, 2026

Established 1994

The Town of Carefree Signature Event

Admission: Free

Hours 10am - 5pm

Carefree Desert Gardens: 101 Easy Street, Carefree, AZ, 85377

Souvenir Wine Glass with tasting tickets - $30.00 (cash preferred)

*Cash only at the gate for tickets. Discounts available for online tickets purchases. Click link below.

 

For 32 wonderful years, we at Thunderbird Artists have proudly produced the Fall Carefree Fine Art & Wine Festival as one of Arizona’s most anticipated fine art events — a true “Collector’s Paradise™” where exceptional artists connect with enthusiastic collectors in the heart of Carefree.

This year, we’re making an exciting evolution to keep delivering the highest-quality experience for our artists and our patrons. In response to the Town of Carefree’s request to limit street closures to just two per year, we’ve chosen to move the Fall festival to the stunning Carefree Gardens — while keeping our popular Winter and Spring street festivals unchanged in downtown Carefree.

The Carefree Desert Gardens is Carefree’s crown jewel — a lush, 4-acre desert oasis filled with rare and fascinating plant specimens from around the world, graceful water features, fountains, and the iconic 62-foot Carefree Sundial. With existing sculptures and artistic installations already woven throughout the gardens, it offers a naturally elegant, gallery-like atmosphere that beautifully complements fine art. From petite pieces to monumental installations, there’s something for every art lover: eye-catching bronzes, dynamic metal and stone sculptures, luminous glass, intricate woodwork, and bold mixed media creations. You’ll find stunning pottery, captivating photography, handcrafted jewelry, batiks, and distinguished fine crafts. The lineup of paintings is impressive—oils, acrylics, pastels, watercolors, charcoal, etchings, and fresh mixed media, spanning every style from classic Southwest and wildlife to vibrant contemporary abstracts.

After soaking in the art and wine, be sure to check out Carefree’s vibrant shops, galleries, eclectic boutiques, inviting restaurants, and charming outdoor cafés—all just steps away.

Join us! Whether you’re a casual browser, a serious collector, or a wine connoisseur, this festival serves up an unforgettable, all-senses celebration for everyone!!

Meet our Featured Artists, Sheko & Sarkis

RECENT AWARDS

2025 John C. Mason Award for Excellence in Jewelry Design

2024 Best in Show, Central PA Festival of the Arts

2024 Best in Jewelry, Old Town Art Fair, Chicago

2023 Award of Excellence, Art on the Square

2022 First Place, St Louis Art Aair, MO

2022 First Place, Under the Aaks, Vero Beach

2020 Best in 3D, Bonita Springs Art Festival

Sheko & Sarkis were drawn together through a mutual admiration of timeless artifacts and a passion for the unconventional. The magical pieces are born from a collectiveendeavor; taking advantage of their diverse and individual skill sets. The team consciously and continuously challenge each other through experimentation and novel approaches to design, setting & fabrication. This push and pull is what makes the work unique.

Sheko holds a Master of Fine Arts degree and is a founding member of the artists’ collective, The Institute for Wishful Thinking. An internationally exhibited sculptor and painter, Sheko has received numerous accolades, including the prestigious Joan Mitchell Foundation Grant.

Sarkis, a traditionally trained jeweler, started his career in his families atelier. In addition, he brings deep expertise from years working with some of the industry's most renowned design houses, including Kwiat, Tiffany, Paloma Picasso, J & H Flyer, and House of Clasps.

In 2015 the artists began collaborating under the name Nyeari, each bringing different skills and ideas to the bench. They blend traditional and contemporary metal-smithing with poetic symbolism, creating exquisite jewelry that empowers and celebrates the connection between all things. The creations are a living bridge between the world of time and the timeless.

Their creations point to something that cannot be merely conveyed on the level of mind. While the work is meticulously crafted, it is simply the outer manifestation of an inner journey. The intention is to inspire you to uncover your own true nature through interacting with the work.