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Salt Lake City can expect a real Charlie Brown Christmas this year as the holiday window display at Macy's City Creek Center will pay homage to Snoopy, Woodstock and the rest of the Peanuts gang.
Over the next week, artists will work feverishly to finish their candy creations before the official unveiling Nov. 19. (See box for details.)
"My mom and I have made gingerbread houses before, but this is by far the biggest candy project we've ever done," said Sandy watercolor artist Kelly Hanks as she glued bright-red jelly beans onto a 42-inch Styrofoam ornament. Hanks, along with acrylic painter Jo Hanks, make up one of six teams of Utah artists selected to participate in this year's display.
The mother-daughter duo has spent at least 60 hours on the installation that, when complete, will resemble a "sparse" Charlie Brown Christmas tree. "We're using brown Twizzlers for the trunk and green apple flavor for the needles, which will be sparse," she said. In all, they plan to use about 150 pounds of candy for the piece.
Visitors can also expect to see Snoopy as the Flying Ace, Lucy's "The Doctor Is In" stand and Schroeder's piano.
Macy's isn't the only Salt Lake City business offering a window display. Grand America Hotel will depict 17 Christmas carols for its "Songs of the Season" installation created by Utah artists and designers. That display will be unveiled Nov. 24. After the opening, guests can take a holiday stroll through the hotel Sundays-Thursdays, 4 to 9 p.m., and Fridays-Saturdays, 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Once the Macy's unveiling takes place, visitors can see the display any time — although most families prefer evenings when the twinkling lights are at their best.
This will be the fourth year that Macy's has created the candy window display, part of a tradition that dates to the 1970s, when the Main Street spot housed ZCMI.
When Macy's opened as part of City Creek Center, store officials "heard over and over about the candy window displays," said Chad Young, the store's visual manager. "We thought it was important to bring it back."
This year, Utah artists were asked to follow the Charlie Brown theme, Young said, adding that Macy's stores across the country are featuring Peanuts displays as part of the 65th anniversary of the Charles M. Schulz characters.
Brian Johnson is the only repeat artist.
One ornament will be created by students in Salt Lake Community College's Visual Merchandising Program. They are led by instructor Matt Monson.
Zach Albrecht, a graphic designer and interior design student at The Arts Institute, is excited to create one of the candy ornaments for the Macy's display.
"The windows," he said, "really energize downtown during the holidays."
Sweet art on display
Macy's City Creek will unveil its holiday candy window display next week. The kickoff includes hot chocolate, face painting, balloon artistry and letter writing to Santa.
Where • Macy's City Creek, 21 S. Main, Salt Lake City
When • Thursday, Nov. 19, 6 p.m.