Chamber gearing up for seasonal visitors
by Brian DiTullio

DESERT FOOTHILLS – Summer is winding down and the business community is gearing up for the annual return of fall and winter visitors.

The Carefree/Cave Creek Chamber of Commerce held a strategy session last week to discuss the best ways to attract visitors to the area and make the most of what the two towns have to offer–especially on Super Bowl weekend.

Cave Creek Councilwoman Kim Brennan would like to see more cooperation between the two communities, including town governments, merchants’ associations and schools in order to create a more cohesive image to market to the public.

“I want to do more relationship building,” Brennan said. “I think things have been moving forward very quickly with (Carefree Mayor Wayne) Fulcher. He’s building a strong relationship with (Cave Creek Vice Mayor Gilbert) Lopez.”

Ian Ellison, executive director of the chamber, noted that he gathered representatives and heads of various committees to analyze how best to “maximize business opportunities during the high season,” with a focus on the Super Bowl.

“We have to try and coerce some of the many visitors to come up here that weekend,”  Ellison said.

Carefree Councilman Bob Gemmill advised he will try to get the town to concentrate on increasing attendance at the concert series and art festivals.

“We have to put more emphasis on marketing to get more of our residents out to these things,” Gemmill said.

The councilman added he will be heading up a new town signage advisory group and will be working on creating more efficient and attractive signs to place along the three “gateway” entrances to Carefree and the seven entrances to the town core.

“We want improved, naturally aesthetic signage,”  Gemmill said. “They won’t be metal signs. They’ll be very natural and earthy.”

Of more immediate interest is Halloween. According to Ellison, the chamber is in the process of organizing a public “trick or treat” around Easy Street on Oct. 31.

Jackie Dean, head of the events committee, said the idea is to have all the merchants in the Easy Street area open and handing out candy to the kids on Halloween beginning around 4 p.m. There also would be a costume contest. Registration for the contest is scheduled for 4:30, with the contest getting underway at 6 p.m.

Dean said there are two age categories, 0‑6 years old and 6‑12 years old.