Photo: Courtesy of the City of West Palm Beach
Could it be a Christmas miracle?
But the city came together to make sure one person’s grinchy prank didn’t spoil their holiday centerpiece.
“The city came to Sandi’s rescue quickly and efficiently,” West Palm Beach Mayor Keith James tells PEOPLE. “We patched her up and she is as good as new, ready to rock and illuminate the entire city with holiday spirit.”
The vandal has not been caught.
West Palm Beach Police Department
The one-of-a-kind tree, which is made entirely of sand, had its eighth annual lighting last week in downtown West Palm Beach. People of all ages and backgrounds gathered together to delight in seeing the Florida-appropriate creation.
The lighting team then synchronizes and choreographs nightly light shows, which continue through December 31.
Previously, the city of West Palm Beach contracted with a company to cut down a tree in the Carolinas each year, which would be decorated in traditional style.
But in 2011, the city brought in Team Sandtastic, a group of sand sculptors from the Sarasota area, to create various sculptures throughout downtown. The sand sculptures added unusual beauty and generated such a buzz that officials wanted more.
They asked if the team could create a sand-sculpted, 35-foot-tall “fir tree” – like the real one they had on display – and the sculptors fully embraced the challenge. In 2012, Sandi was born as the star of West Palm Beach’s holiday show.
Every season, Sandi’s backstory expands, always maintaining what the city calls her “sassy slant.” This year the tree’s theme, “Surf’s Up” has a focus on two important issues: sustainability and ocean conservation.
“This is Sandi’s most beautiful year,” Clemente says. “Her sassy personality expressed through the Surf’s Up theme, always shines through.”
In addition to Sandi, West Palm Beach offers additional free attractions surrounding her, all part of the collective “Sandi Land” experience.
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“Downtown West Palm Beach is known for being ‘always original’ and it was time we came up with a holiday theme that was unique and also reflected our tropical location and culture,” Mary Pinak, the city’s community events manager and the unofficial “mother” of Sandi, tells PEOPLE.
“We have built an entire holiday in paradise campaign around her ‘real trees have curves’ personality—and her domain of Sandi Land, which encompasses all of our fun, free, family-friendly holiday activities.”
It is estimated that more than 100,000 people make the trek to the West Palm Beach waterfront to view Sandi as part of their annual “must-see” holiday list of things to do.
“It’s incredible how many people see Sandi especially when you consider the city of West Palm Beach has a population of about 110,000,” says Bill Newgent, a city resident, and Vice President of Great Cities For All, a national company offering leadership training and government relations services for cities.
“We owe it to a constant creative energy that gave birth to an amazing artisanal Christmas sculpture.”
source: people.com
