The arrival of Santa Claus in Cedar City took an unexpected turn during the city’s annual downtown lighting ceremony this past Saturday. The festive event, which traditionally sees Santa landing by helicopter, was disrupted when an unidentified object got caught in one of the helicopter’s rotors as it descended approximately 50-75 feet above ground.
City officials confirmed that the helicopter had to change its course and land in a different area away from the crowd. Local resident Steve Holm reported that the atmosphere was already filled with excitement, but the wind was causing some issues, as leaves were blowing into people’s faces.
While the exact nature of the object that caused the incident remains unclear, Holm noted that a piece of plastic fell from the air during the chaos and unfortunately struck an attendee’s camera, injuring their hand. The individual required stitches for their wound.
Despite the helicopter mishap, Holm expressed that the overall Christmas ceremony was a joyful experience, as the community gathered for festivities, a market, and a nativity display. This event remains a cherished tradition for the city, contributing to the holiday spirit and fostering community spirit even in the face of unexpected challenges. The determination to keep the Christmas cheer alive was evident, with Santa ultimately being driven to the event to ensure that the celebration could continue as planned.