The Cedar City Council revealed a new flag to represent the city on Feb. 14. Plans for a new one had been in progress since August 2023 after the Cedar City Youth Council raised a concern that the previous flag was outdated.
As part of the Flag Redesign Project, the council hosted a competition where Cedar City residents could submit their own redesigns. Over 60 potential options were then narrowed to six finalists that residents could vote for.
Kenten Pope, a graphic designer and event manager at Southern Utah University, won the competition and received $250. His flag was finalized in December 2023 and found a home in the council building shortly after the reveal. 
The new flag highlights what is unique to Cedar City. Gold pennants in the design represent the Shakespeare Festival, while their lightning bolt shape represents the SUU Thunderbirds.
Pope’s original design contained red pennants, a shout-out to the Red Hill in Cedar City, which is known for its hiking and biking features. However, the red was changed to gold.
Additionally, the flag stands have a sharp point to represent the Cedar City mountains, and the star symbolizes the five bands of the Paiute Indian Tribe of Utah.
“It’s just a symbol of the city, and I hope that the citizens and the future citizens of Cedar City look at it as that and appreciate the work that went into it and celebrate everything that is Festival City USA,” Pope said.
Author: Maggie Whipple
Photo courtesy of Alysha Lundgren/Cedar City News
Editor: Anna Mower
news@suunews.net
