For the 8th year, Chanukah in Carefree will host its nightly holiday celebration including lighting our 6 ½ foot tall Chanukkiah (menorah) and singing Chanukah songs for all eight nights of Chanukah. The event will take place from Wednesday December 25th to Wednesday January 1st starting each night at 5:30 pm in the Sanderson Lincoln Pavilion in Carefree, AZ. Each evening, there is a program hosted by a different organization and many nights will feature Chanukah delicacies like latkes (potato pancakes) and sufganiyot (jelly donuts). Coffee, hot chocolate and hot apple cider will be served every night.
Chanukah in Carefree will be collecting food items and raising money for Foothills Food Bank each night by selling raffle tickets and holding a silent auction for wonderful items donated by the business community. Winners will be announced every night with the largest ticket items, including a two-night hotel stay/use of facilities at Civana Wellness Resort, beautiful jewelry from Grace Renee Gallery and a fantastic stay in Hammock Cove in Antiqua, all to be announced on the last night of Chanukah, Community Night, led by the Carefree Cave Creek Chamber of Commerce.
We are thrilled to announce some very special happenings on our schedule. Please join us in thanking Cantor Wolman as this will be his final Chanukah in Carefree before his departure from Temple Chai. Cantor Wolman has been an integral part of our annual celebration and Temple Chai Musical Night (12/26) promises to be a very special night! Also on Temple Chai Night, State Senator John Kavanagh of District 3 will be joining us. And on Holocaust Night (the 5th Night of Chanukah (12/29), Maricopa County Supervisor Thomas Galvin, who was instrumental in securing funding for the new Hilton Family Holocaust Education Center, will be joining us. Our full schedule is below:
- 1st Night (12/25)
Foothills Shevatim Social Night with a special program of readings, songs, and comedy. - 2nd Night (12/26)
Temple Chai Musical Night with Cantor Ross Wolman and the Temple Chai Adult Choir, including delicious Chinese food by Jade Palace. - 3rd Night (12/27)
Temple Kol Ami Shabbat with Temple Kol Ami Rabbi Schneider, Cantor Noa, the Temple Congregational band and the Bauman Family - 4th Night (12/28)
Congregation Kehillah Havdalah with Rabbi Bonnie Sharfman of Congregation Kehillah - 5th Night (12/29)
Phoenix Holocaust Association with featured Holocaust survivor and speaker, Jack Adler - 6th Night (12/30)
Valley Of the Sun JCC and The Center for Jewish Philanthropy Family Night with Erez Kessler who will lead an evening of music, games, arts & crafts, and more for all the kids in the community. The Scully Learning Center Foundation is also excited and looking forward to joining in and bringing more games and fun to this evening. - 7th Night (12/31)
Desert Foothills Jewish Community Association, a special Chanukah celebration bringing in the new year with music and a special New Year’s Eve toast - 8th Night (1/1)
Carefree Cave Creek Chamber of Commerce Community Night, featuring Cave Creek and Carefree small businesses (a percentage of proceeds will be donated to the Foothills Food Bank and Resource Center). Our largest raffles will be held on the last night.
This year Chanukah in Carefree is generously supported by the Center for Jewish Philanthropy, Kiwanis, Humana, APS, Spirit in the Desert and Temple Chai. Please go to our website ChanukahinCarefree.com for more information on the event, our sponsors, our contributors, live streaming links, how to donate, and details on the complete schedule. This is an outdoor event, is free to attend and open to attendees of all denominations and faiths. Enhanced security measures will be in place.
WEBSITE: ChanukahinCarefree.com
About the Town of Carefree: Carefree, a picturesque community of over 3,700 residents nestled in the serene Sonoran Desert Foothills, is known as one of Arizona’s friendliest small towns. Since its incorporation in 1984, Carefree has embraced a unique desert lifestyle, blending harmonious architecture with a vibrant culinary scene, a thriving art community with numerous galleries, and a commitment to health, wellness and sustainability. The town hosts a variety of events year-round, from art festivals and farmers’ markets to outdoor concerts and non-profit fundraisers, all fostering a welcoming and engaged community. Whether you’re looking to live, visit or explore Carefree offers a peaceful yet enriching experience. Learn more about Carefree’s culture, events and opportunities by visiting carefree.org or call 480-488-3686
