Annual Christmas light show cancelled due to city regulations

One of Cathedral City’s iconic residential Christmas displays has been canceled, and now FIND Food Bank could be facing the consequences.

The display which was featured on national television in 2013 attracts tens of thousands of people who also make donations to benefit FIND Food Bank in Indio.

The light show creator, Michael Simmons, says he collects enough donations to provide 70,000 meals for hungry families.

Theresa Jewett, Donor Relations Officer for FIND Food Bank says the Simmons family has been a long-time contributor.

“We have a community problem, but it has a community solution, so when someone like Mr. Simmons steps up to the plate it invites other to do the same. So we not only benefit from the wonderful things that Mr. Simmons has done for us, but it also keeps a conversation of hunger going in the Valley,” Jewett said.

A number of disturbance calls reported to Cathedral City has prompted councilmembers to require Simmons to obtain a Special-use permit.

“The show was, apparently, set up in such a way that it encouraged people to stop and spend some time there, so there were issues with people parking, blocking driveways, there were issues with the length of time it went, people leaving garbage,” Cathedral City Manager, Charlie McClendon said.

Now Simmons’ is looking for an alternate way to collect donations.

“We work with find food bank on a yearly basis, so we’ll find other ways to help raise money,” said Simmons.

And FIND Food Bank says they hope people will remember his cause and donate anyway.

“We do see that there can be a challenge this year and hope that people that have been there in the past, who have enjoyed the show in the past will remember it in another way and say, ‘you know what even though its not here, we still want to give back to the community’,” said Jewwett.