34th Annual Winter Carefree Fine Art & Wine Festival
January 15th, 16th & 17th, 2027
Established 1994
The Town of Carefree Signature Event
Admission: $5.00*
Hours 10am - 5pm
101 Easy Street, Carefree, AZ, 85377
Souvenir Wine Glass with tasting tickets - $30.00 (cash preferred)
Wine Tasting for Two - Two Tastings, Two Admissions - $60.00 (This package includes two free admissions, two souvenir Thunderbird Artists wine glasses and 20 tasting tickets to sample fine wines)
*Cash only at the gate for tickets. Discounts available for online admission ticket purchases. Click link below.
The award-winning Carefree Fine Art & Wine Festival returns to the heart of downtown Carefree, showcasing the exceptional talent of 155+ juried fine artists from across the nation.
From bold oil paintings and delicate watercolors to breathtaking sculptures in bronze, stone, metal, and wood—the festival is a feast for the senses. Watch light dance across hand-blown glass, discover one-of-a-kind jewelry, and explore stunning photography that captures timeless moments.
Set against the beautiful backdrop of Easy and Ho Hum Streets, the festival immerses visitors in a weekend of creativity, live music, great food, decadent chocolates, and fine wine. Whether you’re an avid collector or simply love to be inspired, you’ll find something here that speaks to your soul.
Don’t miss the Town of Carefree’s Signature Event—a vibrant celebration of art, flavor, and community. Mark your calendar for a weekend you’ll never forget!
Meet our Featured Artist, Jennifer O'Cualain
My work explores and simplifies the intricate relationship between humanity and a complex world. Driven by a desire to understand how diverse human lifestyles emerge from the universal baseline of survival, I use wild animals as avatars to illustrate fundamental human behaviors. By placing these subjects adjacent to their natural habitats, I invite viewers to observe a subtle exchange of thoughts, goals, and intentions.
My compositions use strategic narrative groupings that guide the eye across the pictorial plane, weaving a silent story. By positioning the viewer at eye level with my subjects, I offer an intimate, fleeting glimpse into their world—a brief moment where the line between observer and observed blurs, and the animal becomes a mirror for human nature.
Rooted in classical realism, my technique is traditional and meticulous. Every piece begins with extensive preparatory sketches and value studies before the drawing is transferred to canvas. I build up the painting using a burnt sienna value study, followed by multiple thin, translucent layers to establish atmospheric depth. I reserve thicker paint application for the final layers, creating tangible volume and texture. My practice is deeply informed by the dramatic chiaroscuro of Caravaggio and Rembrandt, as well as the anthropomorphic animal sensibilities of Arthur Wardle and François Furet, whose works continually inspire my dedication to the timeless power of realistic oil painting.
These are the artists scheduled to join us. Each one is an independent maker, and studio deadlines, travel, and life sometimes rearrange their calendars. If there's someone you're hoping to see, email us a few days ahead and we'll confirm.
Scheduled Artists
Mari Abbott
Janet Ahrens
T & M Alexander
Marie Barbera
David Bodell
Dona Bollard
Nathalie Boisvert
Elisabeth Brentano
Jessi Brooks
Steve & Calisse Browne
Bob Buhmann
Ans Carnes
Skylar Chang
Timm Chapman
Viktoria (Viki) Ciesiul
Richard Curtner
Mimi Damrauer
Jeff Davison
Jennifer Defoe
Dave Dilli
Johanna Dozer
Miriam Dubinsky
Elizabeth Dunlop
Rick Elkin
Susan Elliot
Frank Falk
Sarah Foster & Robert Hughes
Swann Freslon
Julio Garcia
Oriana Gerez
Julie Glassman
Holly Glenn
Sangeetha Gopalakrishnan
Sarah Graves
Karla Hackman
Harut Hakobyan
Minas Halajian
Eyal Harel
Jay Hall
Meg Harper
Dave Hatton
Barbara Heard
Christopher Heede
Karen Heuton
Tracy Hill
Mary & Al Hone
Kathy Immekus
Rey Jabbar
Erik Jacobson
Mark Jimenez
Clare Johnston
Alicia Jones
Paul Jones
Debbie Kaiser
Ron Kaminski
Miro Kenarov
Ben Kinne
Tanya Kirouac
Ed Kolle
Boubakary Konseimbo
Tom Kuhn
Heidi Leavitt
Chulyong Lee
James Lee
Travis Lemons
Qing Li
Katherina Lipscomb & Tracy Crocker
Jerry Locke
Harold Lujan
John Manley
Mark Mahorney
Bill Manson
Michael & Stephen McCullough
Michael McKee
Mel Mendez
Greg & Patrice Meyerdirk
Don Mitchell
Aaron Montgomery
Robyn Mosier
Donald Mundorff
Liette Murphy
Jason Napier
Jackie Nipper
Michael Nisperos
Paul Nzalamba
Randy O'Brien
Jennifer O'Cualain
Jennifer Rae Ochs
Ming-Chu Oye
Scott Palmer
Lucas Perez
Matthew Perrin
Ashley Ravidas
Deborah Rees
Mel Richter
Christopher Roche
Jonathan Rose
Kevin Russell
Diane Russelavage
Kristin Ryan
Leon Sadlo
Kristin Schillaci
Steven Schneider
Tim Sears
Lyn Sedlak-Ford
Moss Shacter
Elena Shakuto
Charles Sherman
Christine & Ron Sisco
Jayne Smoley
Elfried Somberg
Carolanne Stalteri
Steve Stento
Terry Stolz
Martin Taber
Cindi Terry
Craig Terry
Joah Thiele
Toni Tischer
Lou Ann Townsend & Mary Filapek
Andrea Van Wyk
Ramon & Rosa Velasquez
Jon Watson
Jason Weiss
Don Wilson
Bob Wilfong
Douglas Wodark
Larry Yazzie