Cedar City Events Director Gives Update On Area Happenings

Cedar City recently wrapped up its annual "Love Where You Live" campaign, an initiative aimed at fostering civic pride among young residents. This year’s campaign saw third-grade students from local schools submitting essays on why they cherish their community, with winners recognized in a special ceremony at the City Council meeting.

"We had all of the winners there," said Brandon Burk, Cedar City’s Events Director, during an interview on The Big Picture Morning Show. "They all did just a fantastic job. We gave them some prize money, medals, and certificates, and they got to take photos with elected officials."

The winning essays were penned by Maya Salgado from Iron Springs Elementary, Melly Frankum from the same school, and Creighton Love from Fiddlers Elementary. Burk highlighted the role of the Cedar City Rotary Club, which generously donated the prize money for the young writers.

The campaign also featured the popular "LOVE" letters in front of City Hall, where residents could take photos and share them on social media throughout February. "We had a bunch of competitions on Facebook and Instagram, and local businesses provided some great prizes," Burk noted. "It was a lot of fun." The letters will remain on display for a few more days before being taken down by the Parks Department.

Looking ahead, Cedar City is preparing for its annual Star Search talent competition, scheduled for March 15 at the Heritage Theater. This year’s event will once again support Canyon Creek Services, a nonprofit aiding survivors of domestic violence. "It's typically free to the public, but we do ask people to reserve their tickets online," Burk emphasized. "We’ll also be accepting donations at the door, holding a small auction, and selling concessions to raise funds."

The competition features 12 finalists across four categories: youth, teen, adult, and group performances. Contestants will be judged by a panel that includes Cedar City Mayor Garth Green, Southern Utah University President Mindy Benson, and Julie Krause, founder of the Children’s Musical Theatre.

Burk expressed his admiration for the local talent showcased each year. "It still blows me away," he said. "We have young singer-songwriters, dancers from different cultures—this year, one of our finalists is a Chinese dance group. It’s just something unique that you don’t see every day."

Local businesses play a crucial role in supporting the event, with Clark and Linford Jewelers sponsoring the prize money. "We have such great local businesses who help support what we do," Burk said.

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For those interested in attending, tickets can be reserved at CedarCityUT.gov/starsearch.

Listen to our chat with Brandon Burk in the podcast below.