OPINION – The feud between the City of St. George and the Heart of Dixie event management and promotion company has worsened to the point that when event coordinator Jared Keddington put together last week’s New Year’s Eve bash, he took the event to a place called The Venue in Mesquite.
The city and Heart of Dixie had a major clash not long ago when the company tried to promote a dance in St. George, only to be shut down by the police over a specious conflict regarding permits.
Heart of Dixie went looking for a new facility for last week’s New Year’s Eve event, which was held in the Washington City Community Center the last two years. They wanted something with a different vibe, classier feel, and fewer restrictions.
Because of what happened with their dance event, Keddington told me, “We didn’t even attempt to do it in St. George.”
And, that’s a shame.
If anything, the city needs more events, not fewer.
St. George, at one time, hosted First Night, a New Year’s Eve celebration that, quite frankly, fell far short of being a full-fledged New Year’s Eve celebration.
It started way too early and ended long before the New Year arrived in Southern Utah. As New Year’s Eve parties go, it was a bust.
The thing is, there was no public input.
The First Night organizers put together a “committee” to oversee the event, but decisions were made before the committee’s first meeting. Instead of planning the event, the city put the arm on the committee members, drawn from local businesses, for sponsorships and donations. The only input the city was looking for was the input of dollars and items to put on the event.
The consensus?
“It was lame,” according to everybody I talked to – both young and old – who attended.
Heart of Dixie tried to put together a community celebration, but let’s face it, a community center isn’t exactly the place to ring in the New Year. Chuck E. Cheese would be more fun.
Now, I realize St. George will never challenge Times Square or Fremont Street when it comes to New Year’s Eve celebrations, but, it can certainly do better, and, by the looks of it, the Heart of Dixie people had a pretty cool event planned, much better than the city’s previous First Night offerings.
Why? Because no matter where they are located, city officials are not good at planning civic events. They just don’t have the creativity or manpower to pull it off, so most hire companies to plan, organize, and execute their celebrations, taking into consideration what would appeal to everybody, and not just a bunch of uptight cronies who happen to hold all the power and have a peculiar take on what is fun.
The city misses the mark by not turning what few major events it hosts into real celebrations.
I mean, why isn’t there a big blow-out celebration when the runners come to town for the marathon? Why are the opening ceremonies for the Senior Games so tame? Our neighbors to the north in Cedar City know how to host a decent party and they do so each year when they throw a nice bash for the opening of the Utah Summer Games. It’s a big deal with bands and guests people have actually heard of and one of the best fireworks displays I have seen anywhere, period.
But, where Cedar City is smart is that it turns the event over to people who have experience at doing such things, a crew that has worked for years at putting on a good show that has something for everybody. I know those folks and respect the effort they put into their event each year.
St. George isn’t Mayberry any more, it is a growing metropolitan community, gaining in not only size but diversity, yet the city insists on serving up vanilla events.
Marc Mortensen, assistant to the St. George City Manager, says the city isn’t opposed to big events, but that it just doesn’t want events that create parking issues or impact neighbors.
Know what? Keep putting on lame events and there is no need to worry about that because there won’t be enough people in attendance to create a parking problem or impact the neighbors.
I have to suspect that Keddington is right when he says there is some “political discrimination” that has made it so difficult for Heart of Dixie. I know of four major musical acts that, over the last 20 years, put out feelers to perform in Southern Utah – Bruce Springsteen, Ringo Starr, Eric Clapton, and Bob Dylan. The artists were looking for intimate venues in places they had never performed, but never signed for a variety of reasons ranging from a university president’s disdain for rock ‘n roll music to people in charge of one facility not knowing who Dylan was when his road manager called while Dylan was on tour and looking for a pickup gig.
That’s why the city needs to look outside of its narrow scope and turn over event planning to those capable of making better decisions.
Tuacahn got the message and has broadened its scope in recent years, bringing in a wider range of entertainment – a vast improvement over the time when it played “Utah!” for several successive years. The plays offered there now are more entertaining, more artistic in nature, have more substance. Though not quite at the level of their long-established neighbors at the Utah Shakespeare Festival, they are upping the bar.
St. George City?
Not so much.
Since the conflict over a dance permit not long ago, the St. George City Council has worked to change things. It needs to step in here and settle this nonsense with Heart of Dixie.
There is no reason why entertainment dollars should go out of town and, besides, St. George could use a good party.
Related posts
- Ring in the new year at Heart of Dixie’s 18+ New Year’s Eve party, Mesquite
- The Heart of Dixie, Washington City Community Center hosts New Year’s bash; dancing and family fun
- To dance, or not to dance? Council considers changes to event permit process
- Protesters fight for their right to dance; STGnews Videocast
- On the EDge: Let those young people dance
Ed Kociela is an opinion columnist. The opinions stated in this article are his and not representative of St. George News.
Email: [email protected]
Twitter: @STGnews, @EdKociela
Copyright St. George News, SaintGeorgeUtah.com LLC, 2015, all rights reserved.
Excellent Article!!! The thing that was funny about First Night was every year when I went there were fewer and fewer people there yet the newspaper would report from City Officials that the event had grew its attendance. I went every year and I saw very clearly that it was NOT anywhere close to where it was in attendance.
The city needs to recognize and seize opportunities not shun them. They should have monetized spring break back in the day…
First Night sucked. Another kiddies only event.
I was laughing at how fast and unpopular first night got and the city leaders would put out statements of how busy and successful it was LOL..
Wow, I’m glad I’m not dependent on parties and decadence in order to feel like I have a good life here in Southern Utah.
The need for occasional decadence and spending of money is our biggest economy driver in So. Utah. No one is suggesting that New Year’s Eve and hospital fundraisers need to happen on a daily/nightly basis. Balance…just try to imagine living in a community that allows for the pendulum to naturally sway, allowing for societal balance. It’s not scary…it’s honest.
Emily it seems were not all as boring as you are
I think that the city could do lots more events. This is one of the most boring places to live. They don’t even do parades to celebrate holidays like independence day or Christmas. The only events celebrated are the rodeo and Pioneer day. It is really sad when people are asking what kind of fun things there are to do around here and the answers are always go hiking or visit the national parks.
You are so right, Ed.
Ed, I laughed so hard I snorted at this note: “…people in charge of one facility not knowing who Dylan was when his road manager called while Dylan was on tour and looking for a pickup gig.” Downright hilarious. And such a perfect way to describe St. George. I now know how to describe where I live to distant friends. It’s been hard to put it into words. One friend on the east coast reports that the Utah “life elevated” campaign is throwing ads out on television to the point that people are sick of them.
But back to the events question – the biggest problem I’ve seen is that the locals, aka the Mormon militia who run everything around here are very reluctant to allow any newcomers (non-militia) to be seriously involved in what they do. I offered to help one group who were specific about needed this help – and I had the experience – and was told over and over that I’d be getting a call after I put together solid information for them – all as a volunteer. I wasn’t looking for a job. I was looking for a way to participate in the community. Still waiting for that call.
My take is that it’s a sluggish kind of passive/aggressive behavior that limits what happens in St. George and nobody has any real desire to change it. If they do, they’ll get blocked at any number of levels in any number of ways. Actually, I think the people of St. George has just what they want and don’t want anything more. So be it.
“aka the Mormon militia who run everything around here are very reluctant to allow any newcomers (non-militia) to be seriously involved ” ….. you’ve repeated what others have repeatedly repeated only to be dismissed by those who repeatedly won’t listen.
Well, if you’re inside the golden circle, you just can’t see it. I’m glad to know it wasn’t just me (I bathe and brush my teeth) but I’m sorry for others who also want to be involved. Another non-militia person had some great ideas, but she didn’t get a call either.
correction: last full line: “have” just what they want…
I usually roll my eyes at the snarky comments trolls post on here about religious bias but it seems to be in play. If an event is scheduled at a local LDS meeting house then there is no problem, dancing or not, adequate parking or not…and we have all seen parking spill into nearby neighborhoods at ‘mutual’ events. If the event is community based and described in similar terms, at secular venue, then permits are denied. From the cheap seats it seems the LDS church is deciding local events, not an unbiased city government which has been elected by the entire constituency. There is an understanding among ‘followers’ that is unspoken, but you can hear the change in dialect when they speak to one another (and I am one of them so this is not conjecture). It’s just understood….short skirts, late hours, questionable music, suggestive dance moves, unmarried people leaving the site together….it’s the stuff of the devil!
I don’t know much about the whole “footloose” fiasco. But what I do know is that most of St. George’s entertainment events consist of booths, bounce houses & a stage for amateur hour. Dicken’s Festival: booths & a stage. Fourth of July Celebration: booths & bounce houses. First Night: booths & bounce houses. Marathon expo: booths. What Women Want: booths. Apparently, the general consensus seems to be that St George residents must love buying cheap crap, paying $1 per inflatable slide ride and listening to the local elementary school choir. I don’t think you need rock bands and alcohol to have a good time, but certainly some creativity in event planning wouldn’t hurt.
You forgot those exciting Latch On events! Who’d want to miss those?
Well we know your a member of Mormon cult
AMEN!!!
Your just another Mormon that thinks because you pay your 10 percent that gives you the right to go around and throw. Your cult and sick lifestyle in everybody’s face
What are you talking about? What does any of this have to do with religion? I was agreeing with the author that a bit more variety and flavor in city events would be helpful and warranted. Are you just here to troll and post hateful and bigoted comments with no relevance? That’s what the SLTrib is for.
Here is what i think… This city is being ran by the same people that have ran it. The “Good Old Boy” crowd that wants to keep STG the way they want it. STG could be a really happening spot if the city only allowed other types of people (you know what im talking about) to do their thing. I remember when spring break used to go down here, and Im sure business in the city boomed for that week. But the city probably will talk about bring a bad name to town, and partying, and drugs, but let me ask you… since they put an end to that have your streets become more safe and drug free? No.. Stg George has one of the worst names for drug overdose, depression and suicide then anywhere else in the country, and i bet you a million dollars if kids had more to do, with out being shut down because of what some 100 years old fools think, then I bet we could all call this place home without a weird taste in our mouths. ALot if these same people lived in the 60’s and had their fun ahah and i bet that they still enjoy a closed door or two. Let us be free! Just cuz we don’t fit the same stereotypical mold that has been assigned to our age group, doesn’t mean we are terrible people. If You don’t create fun in a controlled environment, then you choose to let if run wild unchecked. Whats more responsible “good old boys”? maybe you can attend the next time one of our friends goes in a box then maybe you will open up.. d***
*Ed. Ellipses
Well said!!!
It all boils down to each persons definition of Party. The majority of local folks think the way it is, is just fine. The city folks cater to the majority. Transplants (myself included), are use to a different standard of whats cool. like– when does the DOO DA parade go down main street? Why does the Rose parade floats have to have flower all over them? Don’t they know I don’t like flowers? Where’s a place to go to get smashed at in this town? Didn’t St. George KNOW–I was moving here? This isn’t the fun things I grew up & used to. How dare they NOT know that I was coming.
Bottom line, if you don’t like it here,, Don’t let the door hit you in the (a–), backside Buckaroo!
The part that gets me is, Why can’t the city just be honest? OH! wait a minute,,,
Discrimination ligation complaints.
(note) It sounds like Ed is from the same type area that I’m from. Want to Party?
Hey Idiotguy, not everyone who goes out gets smashed, just as not everyone who goes out drinks the church koolaid. Why do you stupidly group people into that category? Are you that narrow-minded in your though process? Not everyone who moves here puts on the religious underwear, either. Are they supposed to?
@herd, it’s a free country. If you choose to go underwearless, that is up to you. Ain’t this country great.
It’s a free country and I choose to see you as an idiot. Ain’t this country great
There Mormon. Mafia is in charge around here. Who do you think sent the police to Fiesta Fun Center. Don’t be fooled people the city Leaders are not in charge. They do and say exactly what the LDS church or Mormon Mafia. Tell them to do? . same thing. The only the LDS church cares about is spreading its hate and disgust for non members and money.. You know money..the root of all evil. There now them bigot Mormons can add us to their hate list… LOL like we care
I can’t help but smile as I read your post @fanclub. What must it be like to live in your clouded, angry and hostile world? Have you considered adjusting your meds? That might just help in calming you down and bringing you back to reality. Your “reality” is clearly out in left field. Please post more comments though or reply to this one. It just makes my day such a delight. This world is a tough place and your comments add something to chuckle at. Thanks.
Did you contribute to the fundraiser for mom forgot baby in hot car because she didn’t go to gym and was out of her normal routine who was not charged with anything, not even neglect because she suffered enough and the bishop and Mormon church said so?
This was a miscarriage of justice and a bias in the legal system influenced by the Mormon church and the prosecutor was too scared to do the right thing for fear of going against the bishop, the Mormon church, the followers and he bowed down to no charges based on fear of retaliation of what might happen to him and his family…I say this with confidence because I know without that influence a person like myself, a law abiding citizen with a job, a husband, a roof over my head would have been charged because I’m not Mormon. Just like she wasn’t charged because she is.
Wrong, false, and wrong again. The “Mormon Church” took not stand in that case. So keep digging there. And I don’t know how many Bishops you know, but I know many, many and many more. And I don’t know of a single person afraid of their Bishop. They are ecclesiastical leaders and no more. They do not control members, they do not exert influence on the courts or the prosecutors. You have simply imagined they have such great control or power. Average men, humble, big hearts, concerned about their flock. They most likely find it fascinating that you think they are so mighty and powerful, but they are not.
Wrong, false, and wrong again. The “Mormon Church” took not stand in that case. So keep digging there. And I don’t know how many Bishops you know, but I know many, many and many more. And I don’t know of a single person afraid of their Bishop. They are ecclesiastical leaders and no more. They do not control members, they do not exert influence on the courts or the prosecutors. You have simply imagined they have such great control or power. Average men, humble, big hearts, concerned about their flock. They most likely find it fascinating that you think they are so mighty and powerful, but they are not.
I think fan club comment did what it was supposed to and that was to get a reaction. and it seems your the only one that fell for it. I just all that BS for a laugh but I never respond to it.. you just fed the troll
I grew up in Vegas and I don’t mind a good party, but I’ve been bored for 23 years. I can’t wait to move. P.s. First Night was a joke. Thank you for the article, I was entertained, but I’m pretty easy to please after two decades here.
Love these articles, free speech?? You could never express yourself with the Spectrum, unless you subscribe, then things were read and approved or disapproved..the. They stopped, I read about the venue, know where it is, looked nice in the pics too,knew it would be good for first night..looks like St George lost out on New Year’s Eve..
Families I talk to say they have so little for families… Talk about parking issues, look
At th rodeo downtown, the money to keep that opened do a small event. But Mormons are in control again.. Maybe as the town grows fewer will be coming here and things have changed since new mayor.. But we will see who controls what,, dress code, length of skirtswhat about tatoos, rings in eardrums, nose, elelids, I have seen it all, when I volunteer in schools..
I thought this article was great and well written..thanks..
Wow, you volunteer in schools? This scares me. Hope you aren’t volunteering in my school…you should keep your negative opinion about Mormons in control to yourself. Don’t you realize how many of our students and parents are Mormon? If you post it here, trust me it shows in person with comments, body language, etc…Show us you are educated and spell/grammar check before you submit. Perhaps your opinion will be more respected. One of the first things I learned in English class was that whatever you write is a reflection of you…
Ed, you’re my hero!! Such a breath of fresh air to know we have at least a local news editor instilling some mainstream, real world views into today’s diversifying Metro STG. Keep on it. You’ll keep STGnews well ahead of the competition…and perhaps even strike the right nerve of someone to bring in some urban entertainment southern Utah is so deprived of .
It is afterall a fact we are far from Mayberry, as we are the seventh largest city in Utah, consistantly one of the fastest growing metropolitan areas in the United States and sporting a fast growing university (bigger than SUU). The local growth machines wanted growth, well, it came and is still coming. Now, it’s time to catch the entertainment and other offerings up with all the growth. It’s all part of being a city. Get used to it!
I’m from Grand Jct, CO and we have rock shows, country shows, oldies, hiphop concerts at area venues, haunted houses at Halloween, holiday strolls on Main Street…fun shtuff for all ages, all colors and all walks of life. Weird thing is, I moved here knowing it was a bigger (and warmer) town, aside from it being in Utah, I automatically assumed a city this size would have a decent variety of things to do. NOT. I’m bored as hell. There is NOTHING I have to look forward to…not even an innocent family friendly fireworks show on new years eve LOL. Can’t we get an annual battle of the Bands or something big at the regional park or old airport or something? Metal, blues, ska, even country?!! And what;s wrong with an upscale bar/pub downtown, where maybe you had a dress to impress atmosphere?
You moved from a very liberal place to a mostly conservative place. You won’t find what you had in Colorado here at all. It’s more fun for kids here, they seem to cater more to kids, with face painting, bounce houses, etc.., at the few events they do have. You can always venture out to Ivins to Tuacahn, and see the Beach Boys on Mother’s Day if you’re lucky. They seem to be a little more progressive in Ivins. I noticed at the Kayenta Art Show two years ago that they were serving beer and wine, I was very surprised. I’ve been going to that show for ten years, and that was a first.
The crazy part about this whole discussion is that in order to have change people need to get out and vote, run for office and make change. It seems that most of the complainers just want to moan and groan but that is all the effort they are willing to make.
Is dancing on the streets legal yet?
You forgot to mention the two airshows.
Both were well attended, food, music, parking, security, crowded, etc.
In my opinion, both of them were awesome and “a big event”
Other thought, the majority of you have moved here because of how it is in St. George. Then you moan and groan about everything you want to change. Go back to where you came from! LMAO
I actually love the scenerary of st George. Ive only been here 3 years so I’m still in the learning process of what goes on. Its not that I want to change st Georgians, its that I don’t want st Georgians to change me. And this is the year and the time is nearing where ladybugavenger will move. (and the crowd cheers)
I moved away from St. George last year, to another state, but not where I came from. There are a lot of good people in St. George, it just wasn’t for me. That is good advice when people say ‘if you don’t like it, leave’. The airshow was a great event. I wasn’t there, but saw some of the first show from my front yard. The Blue Angels are amazing.
Everyone who keeps blaming the LDS for what is happening obviously don’t know us and have obviously NEVER left Utah.
You can’t have a party in UTAH. The Mormons will not allow unless it’s a church function and you pay your 10 percent
First Night had promising beginnings with several,albeit early, events if only St. George people weren’t so cheap to pay the ultra cheap $5 button to get in. The live music was a good representation of St. George, although The Jets and country artists only known in Utah are not favored in the book of cool cultured events.
St. George City should take note of SXSW, granted St. George brats are too cheap to pay a $300-$900 pass ($40 – $120 a day), anyone who has been to a real party, not a little High School party, knows the ticket to get the atmosphere and music comes with a price. Sure St. George could use a free countdown with a video board detailing updates of other St. George events; but charge anyone who lives in a planned community and those who “don’t want to be bothered” quadruple for the other events.
The biggest success in SXSW is scheduling international bands that no one has heard of and are extremely talented. Popularity contests and local-centric events should remain for the brain-dead high schoolers who will never go to college and barflies who prefer to bully those who are different.
MEANING: How cool could it be to say you saw an act from Australia FIRST at St. George’s First Night?
On another note, I spoke to the promoters of the more recent “Lassie” film starring Samantha Morton (a name you should know) and the late Peter O’Toole (yes THAT Peter O’Toole.) This is a film families and animal lovers of Utah should of been able to see.
This is what the promoters did: They placed tiny little ads in papers/net around the country, and the towns that RESPONDED were the ones where they released the film. Do you think they wasted their time to release the film in Southern Utah where people are generally UNAWARE and need a big ugly neon white-trash-Vegas sign before they respond to advertising? Of course not, I saw it in California where adults and families weren’t so anti-social to go to a premiere. Even though families in California are smaller, the cost of living is not. “We can’t afford to take the whole family to a 100 min. premiere” is just an excuse — after all that same unaware family will spend $30 on… ice cream that lasts a whopping 10 minutes.
I am reading a lot of complaining and finger pointing at the LDS church and people. While I am not LDS, I appreciate the area (Southern Utah) and most of the good moral values that are tenant to the LDS religion. Sure, we could use some fun activities. But there are a lot of activities that are out there. If you want to throw a party for you and your friends with music, dancing, drinks (alcoholic), food, games… go ahead! Have fun! Find a friend with a pool and do some swimming too. We schedule events with our friends frequently and rotate between homes. Sometimes, its a pretty large crowd (especially in the summer when the pool is cool and refreshing). Most of our friends are “empty-nesters” or have kids that are older. Sometimes we even plan a group trip back east or to the Bahamas.
The Rattlin’ D dinner playhouse is great. Tuachan has great productions and entertainers (Brian Regan is coming!). Mesquite is just down the road. Take the boat out, take the ATV’s out, make a day out of it.
If you’re bored, try volunteering somewhere. Make a difference in someone else’s life. Don’t depend on a government entity to orchestrate your leisure activity. Go out and plan something yourself! Odds are you’ll have more fun anyway.
As for the good “gentile” folk… please stop bashing the LDS people. They have every right to worship however they please, just as you do. Now, if you want to “minister” or “evangelize” to them, punching them in the face won’t work. Be nice, be polite. Be kind BUT be ready to gently explain why you disagree with their belief and have some hard data ready to back it up (and not just labeling them as a cult).
As for the “10%” everyone (@LBA) is so up in arms about… I’ll take 10% with God than 100% on my own! And @LBA, if you’re the “Christian” you profess to be, you should know that!
Excellent response Betty. I’m not LDS but some of my friends are and I get tired of reading all the bashing. The posters say more about themselves than anyone with their rude posts. I was SHOCKED to read LBA’s beliefs because usually people who profess that are Christians and no true Christian is so rude, defensive and mean. The bible says “by their fruits you will know them” I very rarely see good fruit in her harsh scacastic comments….
Alot of people are offended by the truth…the mormon church is a cult…http://mormoncult.org….
I added that link so maybe peolle could see a different perspective…. Thank you for judging me by my comments on st George news…look, I like some people, what I don’t like is the person cheating on their husband and saying their mormon as if it means something. Because I think that goes against the church. Embarrassing
Let me put it this way, if I was cheating on my husband, I wouldn’t be calling myself a christian.
And I have not once called myself a christian…but you insinuated that I am…my fruits have been judged 🙂 thank you
Right on Ed, would of rather drank battery acid, then go to a lame ass 1st night when technically, it was over before the 1st day of the new year, can only imagine a party where the S.G.P.D pulls out there swat team, drug task force, no holds barred, aresting teenagers for curfew violations!!!! Or my favorite dancing, with violations, Why would a captain be on duty at ten o’clock at night? When we know they get off at 5, Mr Keddington, they wanted you, targeted you, and there actions, well make me sick……. Now I wonder how Mr Keddington feels? I can only imagine that because of the city of no fun, a drug overdose problem, perscription pill addicts, he is a bad dude……
Sure Ed, let’s turn St. George into the dumster fire that is Fremont Street and New York City. There is plenty of room to enhance entertainment in southern Utah and that a good idea to do it little by little…..but not by the standards of Fremont St. and Times Square (aka NYC), two poster children for dumster fires.