From Gabbie Costello, Public Information Officer
CEDAR CITY, UT – The magic of the holiday season begins in Historic Downtown Cedar City on Saturday, November 30th, 2024, with Cedar City Events’ Annual Holiday Lighting Ceremony and the opening night of the Holiday Tree Jubilee fundraiser.
With plenty of experiences for all ages, this year’s festivities will begin at 10:00 a.m. with our second annual Christmas Market filled with a curated collection of artisan crafts. Afternoon and evening activities will again include professional dance performances by world-renowned choreographer Mic Thompson, fireworks sponsored by Visit Cedar City Brian Head, and of course Santa’s grand arrival by helicopter sponsored by Southern Utah University (SUU) Aviation! The event will end at 9:00 p.m.
“Our Downtown Lighting Ceremony is one of the most exciting holiday events I’ve ever experienced – it truly feels like a Hallmark movie,” shared Cedar City Events Director Brandon Burk. “We’ve added a few enhancements this year that we think everyone is going to love, including moving our Christmas Market into a new indoor location.” The Christmas Market will be held in The Venue (formerly the Cedar City Movie Theatre on historic main street) and will be open from 10:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. and roads will close to set up for the event at noon.
Starting at 3:00 p.m. the outdoor activities will begin including food vendors, kid’s crafts, Santa’s Stables with live reindeer, photo opportunities, carriage rides and more. Live performances will begin in front of the City Offices at 5:00 p.m., followed by Santa’s arrival, lighting of the holiday lights, and fireworks. There will be a large LED screen showing the live stage performances to make it more visible for all attendees! After the live stage show, there will be a live nativity performance by the Cedar Area Inter-faith Alliance in front of The Old Rock Church on Center Street.
As part of the production, one lucky child and their guardian will have the opportunity to arrive in style alongside the Big Man himself and SUU Aviation as part of the 2nd Annual Fly with Santa contest.
Follow Cedar City Events and the Holiday Tree Jubilee on Facebook, Instagram, or the website for contest details.
Once the holiday lights are brought to life, guests will linger downtown enjoying the festive atmosphere and activities, following Santa to Festival Hall (105 N. 100 E., Cedar City) for the kick-off of the Holiday Tree Jubilee where everyone can enjoy free hot chocolate, a children’s area, $5 photos with Santa, dozens of Christmas trees for prize drawings, and more!
This multi-day fundraising event contributes thousands of dollars to local charities every year like the Iron County Care and Share, Cedar City Police Department’s Shop with a Cop program, and Iron County homeless and at-risk teens during the holiday season.
“In its 7th year, The Holiday Tree Jubilee is a beloved Cedar City tradition,” shared Executive Director and Founder of Holiday Tree Jubilee, Laura Albrecht. “In 2023, thanks to the generous support of the community, we were able to donate over $60,000 to local teens, children, and families in need at Christmas time. We look forward to another year celebrating the magic of the holidays and the peace of family and community. We love partnering with Cedar City Events to kick off the season! It’s a natural partnership as we all focus on gathering the community and spreading holiday joy.”
This year, the community is also encouraged to bring non-perishable food items to the Downtown Lighting in support of the Iron County Care and Share food bank. 1,000 Community members will be able to exchange one of these items for our special light up magic wand, provided by State Bank of Southern Utah.
“Gathering as a community is one of the most joyous ways to kick off the holiday season,” said Cedar City Mayor Garth O. Green. “We love that our Downtown Lighting has become a family tradition for residents and visitors. We’re looking forward to another evening of supporting those in need through our partnership with the Holiday Tree Jubilee and the Iron County Care and Share food drive.”
Jump into the holiday season with a spectacular downtown tradition sure to create lasting memories for you and your loved ones! Festivities begin as early as 10:00 a.m. and will continue through the evening on Main Street in Historic Downtown Cedar City until 9:00 p.m.
For more information about the schedule of events and the Fly with Santa contest details, visit www.cedarcity.org/downtownlighting. Follow Cedar City Events and the Holiday Tree Jubilee on Facebook and Instagram to stay connected this holiday season. You won’t want to miss this unforgettable event!
