The Carefree Town Council voted July 1 to approve the street closures requested by the Thunderbird Artists for the 2025–26 festival season, covering November 2025, January 2026 and March 2026 dates presented in the meeting packet. Staff told the council the request used the same closure footprint the festival has used historically and that the festival and the town revised the fee structure to replace gate‑dependent fees with a fixed fee to reduce variability in town revenue.

Councilmembers expressed general support for continuing the long‑standing relationship with Thunderbird Artists and discussed the festival organizers’ suggestion to pilot a different venue for a November 2026 date to gauge merchant and public reaction. The council opened and closed public comment with no speakers and approved the closure maps by motion; council members thanked the festival organizer.