Sand Sculpting for Sandi Tree to Commence

WHO:              The City of West Palm Beach
                        Sandi, West Palm Beach’s 35-foot-tall, 700-ton holiday sand tree

WHAT:             800 tons of sand is in the process of being delivered to the West Palm Beach Waterfront, and now it’s time for Sandi to start to take shape! Starting on November 14, 2022, the sand will be transformed into the main attraction of the city’s annual Holiday in Paradise presented by FPL (HIP).

Notable Items:

Team Santastic, the sand sculptors that create Sandi’s final form, will transform Sandi into a star, beginning Monday, November 14.

• The team will work daily for more than a week to finalize Sandi’s curves and intricate design.
• On Monday, November 14, Sandi will go into her “form” – a staircase funnel that is removed as Team Sandtastic sculpts its way down the tree. Sandi is 100 percent sand!
• Sandi will account for 700 tons of sand while the rest will be used to create additional friends with which she celebrates the holidays.
• Tentatively, Sandi will be topped off with her signature star on Tuesday, November 15 or Wednesday, November 16.**

  **please check with media contact if this particular visual is of interest for more specifics 

  The sand sculpting prepares Sandi for her debut in the Clematis by Night            Holiday Tree Lighting on Thursday, December 1 from 6 to 10 p.m.

• Special for 2022, and in honor of Holiday in Paradise’s recognition as the “Best Public Holiday Lights Display” in 2021, Sandi’s upcoming 11^th annual return to HIP will feature a visit from Ferris powered by Land Rover Palm Beach, a Ferris wheel.
• With the addition of Ferris to this year’s activities, guests will have a new, aerial view of HIP and Sandi.

VISUALS:         Media are invited to capture visuals of Team Santastic completing the impressive task of shaping Sandi. Visuals include: Sandi going into her form (Monday), the star going on top (mid-week), lights being strung, sand being sculpted, and more throughout the week.

WHERE:           Great Lawn, 100 N Clematis Street.  

WHEN:            Monday, November 14 – Wednesday, November 23, 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.

WHY:               HIP was recognized in 2021 as the USA TODAY 10Best Readers’ Choice for “Best Public Holiday Lights Display.” Since her debut in 2012, Sandi has received numerous international and regional awards and accolades, including “Best New Event” and “Best Event within an Existing Festival” by the International Festivals and Events Association, “Most Innovative Project” by the Florida Festivals and Events Association and a Henry Award from VISIT FLORIDA.  Sandi has been featured in/on The Huffington Post, Thrillist, CNN, Martha Stewart, Travel + Leisure, and The Ellen Show. She also has her own closely-followed social media accounts @Sanditreewpb.

Sandi is currently in a nationwide competition to defend her title and win the 2022 USA TODAY 10Best Readers’ Choice recognition for “Best Public Holiday Lights Display.” The competition is now open, and the public can vote once per day until 11:59 a.m. on Monday, December 5. Votes can be submitted HERE.

MEDIA CONTACT: Meredith Westheimer – Moore Agency |meredithw@themooreagency.com| (561) 213-8192 

PUBLIC INFO/CONTACT: Public parking is available in the City of West Palm Beach garages. The closest garages to the sand sculpting site are Evernia, on the corner of Evernia St. and Olive Ave, and Banyan, on the corner of Banyan Blvd. and Olive Ave.

For more information about Holiday in Paradise and other City of West Palm Beach events, please visit wpb.org/events, call (561) 822-1515 (TTY: 800-955-8771) or follow the City of West Palm Beach on Facebook @CityofWPB and on Twitter and Instagram @westpalmbch. Follow Sandi on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook @Sanditreewpb.

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Holiday in Paradise presented by FPL Sponsors/Partners to date include Land Rover Palm Beach, Joe DiMaggio Children’s Health Specialty Center, Dunkin’, Discover The Palm Beaches, NewDay USA, 97.9 WRMF, SUNNY 107.9, New Country 103.1, X 102.3, PARTY 96.3, News Talk 850 WFTL, FOX Sports 640 AM, WPBF 25 News, West Palm Beach Downtown Development Authority, Best Western Palm Beach Lakes, Hawthorne Suites by Wyndham West Palm Beach, WPB Magazine, West Palm Beach Community Redevelopment Agency, The Palm Beach Post, West Palm Beach Marriott, Raymond F. Kravis Center for the Performing Arts, Historic Northwest Neighborhood, Northwood Village, Mandel Public Library of West Palm Beach and Florida Power & Light.