WPB's Famed Sand Tree Starts to Take Shape for the Holiday Season
Published on November 17, 2025
IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Kathleen Joy, Director of Communications
Phone: (561) 822-1411 (TTY: 800-955-8771)
Email: kjoy@wpb.org
Contact: Meredith Westheimer
Phone: (561) 213-8192
Email: meredithw@themooreagency.com
*** MEDIA ALERT ***
City of West Palm Beach’s Famed Sand Tree, Sandi, Starts to Take Shape for the Holiday Season
Sand sculpting starts on Monday, November 17 in preparation for West Palm Beach’s month-long Holiday in Paradise celebration
WHO: The City of West Palm Beach
Sandi, the World’s only 35-foot, 700-ton holiday sand tree
WHAT: Holiday in Paradise Presented by FPL will be a “Symphony of Lights” this December! The sand delivery of Sandi’s structure is complete, and now it is time for Sandi to start taking shape for her epic holiday spectacle.
The City of West Palm Beach has received 850 tons of sand on the Great Lawn. Sandi’s sand sculptors will begin shaping 700 tons of sand into the holiday sand tree. The team will work daily for over a week to finalize Sandi’s intricate design. Once their work is complete, Sandi’s lighting team will work on programming her dynamic synchronized light and music show.
In total, it takes about one month to ensure Sandi, and the surrounding area, are ready for the big debut during the Clematis by Night Holiday Tree Lighting on Thursday, Dec. 4, 2025.
About this year’s Holiday in Paradise:
The City of West Palm Beach is preparing for its Holiday in Paradise Presented by FPL. At the center of the month-long celebration are Sandi, the world’s only 35-foot, 700-ton holiday sand tree, and Ferris, a 50-foot Ferris wheel. The Ferris wheel debuted as part of Sandi’s cast of characters in 2022. The annual celebration features tons of free and affordable entertainment, 100 tons of other sand sculptures, nightly music and light shows, and daily things to see and do, along with special activities throughout the month. All daily activities will debut on the Great Lawn during the Clematis by Night Holiday Tree Lighting on Thursday, December 4, starting at 6 p.m.
New to the scene this season: Visitors can join Sandi for an extra special and festive celebration as she welcomes the new year on New Year’s Eve! The Great Lawn will transform into a rocking New Year’s Eve celebration with a live musical performance, DJ Reflex spinning top hits, delicious food and drinks available for purchase, and at midnight, a short but explosive grand-finale-style fireworks display will ignite over the Intracoastal Waterway! Fireworks are sponsored by the Downtown Development Authority.
WHEN: Sand sculpting will take place daily from 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. from Monday, Nov. 17, 2025, through Wednesday, Nov. 26, 2025
WHERE: Great Lawn: 100 N. Clematis Street, West Palm Beach, FL 33401
WHY: Holiday in Paradise 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.
Holiday in Paradise is again in the running as the “Best Public Holiday Lights Display” in the U.S. The Readers’ Choice poll by USA TODAY 10Best is accepting votes now through Monday, December 1 at 11:59 a.m. Friends and fans of Sandi can vote once per day by visiting wpb.org/events or by clicking here.
For more information about Holiday in Paradise or other City of West Palm Beach events, visit www.wpb.org/Events, call (561) 822-1515 (TTY: 800-955-8771), or follow the City of West Palm Beach on social media: Facebook @CityOfWPB, Instagram @TheCityOfWPB, and X (formerly known as Twitter) @TheCityOfWPB. To keep up with the City’s event news, follow @eventswpb on Instagram and Facebook. To stay up to date with the star of the show herself, follow Sandi @sanditreewpb.
PHOTO / VIDEO OPS: 7 sand sculptors from carving out Sandi’s curves over 10 days. Visuals include climbing on Sandi’s form while they work their way from the top down, using various tools, etc.
MEDIA CONTACTS: Meredith Westheimer, reachable at meredithw@themooreagency.com or 561- 213-8192, and Lauren Eissey, reachable at laurene@themooreagency.com or 561-797-1413.
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Holiday in Paradise sponsors and partners to date include: Florida Power & Light Company, NewDay USA, West Palm Beach Downtown Development Authority, Journey Church West Palm Beach, The Palm Beaches, Cultural Council for Palm Beach County, 97.9 WRMF, SUNNY 107.9, New Country 103.1, X 102.3, News Talk 850 WFTL, FOX Sports 640 AM, WPBF 25, Best Western Palm Beach Lakes, Hawthorn Suites by Wyndham West Palm Beach, WPB Magazine, Hilton Garden Inn at the Outlets, Chick-fil-A, The Ben West Palm, Visit Palm Beach, and Kravis Center for the Performing Arts.
About the City of West Palm Beach:
The City of West Palm Beach is a vibrant and dynamic City located on the Atlantic coast of Florida. With a rich history, a thriving arts and cultural scene, and a commitment to sustainability, the City of West Palm Beach is a great place to live, work, and play. As one of the three largest cities making up the South Florida region, and the central City of Palm Beach County, West Palm Beach is a vibrant, growing, waterfront City that seamlessly blends the business advantages available in the region with a more refined and relaxed environment for living and working, making it an exceptional destination for both residents and professionals alike. To learn more about the City of West Palm Beach, visit us on our official website, or follow us on our social media: Facebook, Instagram, X (formerly known as Twitter), and/or LinkedIn. To keep up with the City’s event news, follow @eventswpb on Instagram and Facebook.