CEDAR CITY — Cedar City rang in the New Year with a night of family friendly musical entertainment, capped off by a fireworks show.
Approximately 500 people gathered at Heritage Center Theater Friday evening for the inaugural “Cedar City New Year’s Bash,” which featured pop singer and native Utahn David Archuleta performing in concert.
Opening for Archuleta was a five-member local band called “The 8eez,” which played several favorite hits from the 1980s, including “We Built This City,” “Beat It,” “Sweet Dreams are Made of This” and “Sweet Child O’ Mine.”
Archuleta then took the stage backed by a keyboardist and a drummer, and he performed several of his more popular hits, including “Movin’,” “Just Breathe” and “It’s Christmas Everyday.” He also sang a rousing cover of Cyndi Lauper’s “True Colors.” Intermittently throughout the performance, several fans approached the stage to greet Archuleta, who acknowledged them with appreciative fist bumps.
Following Archuleta’s performance, audience members went back out into the lobby for cupcakes and other refreshments and waited for midnight to arrive.
Shortly before 12 a.m., everyone went outside to count down the final seconds of 2021 and watch a short but spectacular fireworks show that wrapped up the evening with a bang.
Brad Abrams, the city’s outgoing events director, said he and other organizers are hoping the “Cedar City New Year’s Bash” will become an annual anchor event to attract people to Cedar City. The event also had the support of the Visit Cedar City-Brian Head Tourism Bureau, which paid for the fireworks show.
Photo Gallery
Revelers at "Cedar City New Year's Bash," Cedar City, Utah, Dec. 31, 2021 | Photo by Jeff Richards, St. George News / Cedar City News
Revelers at "Cedar City New Year's Bash," Cedar City, Utah, Dec. 31, 2021 | Photo by Jeff Richards, St. George News / Cedar City News
Revelers at "Cedar City New Year's Bash," Cedar City, Utah, Dec. 31, 2021 | Photo by Jeff Richards, St. George News / Cedar City News
Revelers at "Cedar City New Year's Bash," Cedar City, Utah, Dec. 31, 2021 | Photo by Jeff Richards, St. George News / Cedar City News
Local band "The 8eez" performs at "Cedar City New Year's Bash," Cedar City, Utah, Dec. 31, 2021 | Photo by Jeff Richards, St. George News / Cedar City News
Local band "The 8eez" performs at "Cedar City New Year's Bash," Cedar City, Utah, Dec. 31, 2021 | Photo by Jeff Richards, St. George News / Cedar City News
Local band "The 8eez" performs at "Cedar City New Year's Bash," Cedar City, Utah, Dec. 31, 2021 | Photo by Jeff Richards, St. George News / Cedar City News
David Archuleta performs at "Cedar City New Year's Bash," Cedar City, Utah, Dec. 31, 2021 | Photo by Jeff Richards, St. George News / Cedar City News
David Archuleta performs at "Cedar City New Year's Bash," Cedar City, Utah, Dec. 31, 2021 | Photo by Jeff Richards, St. George News / Cedar City News
David Archuleta performs at "Cedar City New Year's Bash," Cedar City, Utah, Dec. 31, 2021 | Photo by Jeff Richards, St. George News / Cedar City News
David Archuleta performs at "Cedar City New Year's Bash," Cedar City, Utah, Dec. 31, 2021 | Photo by Jeff Richards, St. George News / Cedar City News
David Archuleta performs at "Cedar City New Year's Bash," Cedar City, Utah, Dec. 31, 2021 | Photo by Jeff Richards, St. George News / Cedar City News
David Archuleta performs at "Cedar City New Year's Bash," Cedar City, Utah, Dec. 31, 2021 | Photo by Jeff Richards, St. George News / Cedar City News
David Archuleta performs at "Cedar City New Year's Bash," Cedar City, Utah, Dec. 31, 2021 | Photo by Jeff Richards, St. George News / Cedar City News
David Archuleta performs at "Cedar City New Year's Bash," Cedar City, Utah, Dec. 31, 2021 | Photo by Jeff Richards, St. George News / Cedar City News
David Archuleta performs at "Cedar City New Year's Bash," Cedar City, Utah, Dec. 31, 2021 | Photo by Jeff Richards, St. George News / Cedar City News
David Archuleta performs at "Cedar City New Year's Bash," Cedar City, Utah, Dec. 31, 2021 | Photo by Jeff Richards, St. George News / Cedar City News
David Archuleta performs at "Cedar City New Year's Bash," Cedar City, Utah, Dec. 31, 2021 | Photo by Jeff Richards, St. George News / Cedar City News
David Archuleta performs at "Cedar City New Year's Bash," Cedar City, Utah, Dec. 31, 2021 | Photo by Jeff Richards, St. George News / Cedar City News
David Archuleta performs at "Cedar City New Year's Bash," Cedar City, Utah, Dec. 31, 2021 | Photo by Jeff Richards, St. George News / Cedar City News
David Archuleta thanks audience as he finishes his performance at "Cedar City New Year's Bash," Cedar City, Utah, Dec. 31, 2021 | Photo by Jeff Richards, St. George News / Cedar City News
Volunteers prepare to serve cupcakes and other refreshments at "Cedar City New Year's Bash," Cedar City, Utah, Jan. 1, 2022 | Photo by Jeff Richards, St. George News / Cedar City News
Fireworks at conclusion of "Cedar City New Year's Bash," Cedar City, Utah, Jan. 1, 2022 | Photo by Jeff Richards, St. George News / Cedar City News
Fireworks at conclusion of "Cedar City New Year's Bash," Cedar City, Utah, Jan. 1, 2022 | Photo by Jeff Richards, St. George News / Cedar City News
Spectators watch fireworks at conclusion of "Cedar City New Year's Bash," Cedar City, Utah, Jan. 1, 2022 | Photo by Jeff Richards, St. George News / Cedar City News
Fireworks at conclusion of "Cedar City New Year's Bash," Cedar City, Utah, Jan. 1, 2022 | Photo by Jeff Richards, St. George News / Cedar City News
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Jeff Richards, a native of Salt Lake City with family roots in Panguitch, lived in Moab for 20 years before joining St. George News in 2017. Jeff is a longtime journalist and secondary school teacher. He and his wife Penny are the parents of five daughters. They also have three young grandsons. Jeff and his family enjoy swimming, camping, sightseeing, reading, and taking pictures.