First Creation Festival Tour Set to Kick Off in October

By Aaron J. Leichman, Christian Post Reporter Tuesday, September 30, 2008

The first-ever Creation Festival tour kicks off next month, set to hit more than 30 cities across the Northeast, Midwest and South with performances from some of the top names in Christian music as well as local outreach.

Patterned after the Creation Festivals, the nation's largest Christian music festival and the premier name in Christian music events, the "mini Creation on wheels" will be headlined by BEC Recordings band, Kutless, with special guests, Thousand Foot Krutch and Pillar.

"I think Christian rock needs this tour," explained Pillar frontman Rob Beckley in the tour's announcement. "It is a great effort from Creation to have the guts to put this together."

Founded in 1979 in Pennsylvania, the Creation Festival has become the largest event of its kind, adding a second event on the west coast in 1998. In 2005, Creation branched out internationally, giving birth to the Friendship Fest in the Muslim country of Morocco and later to festivals in Canada, Iceland, Switzerland, and France.

In 2008, the plan for the "30+ city Creation Festival: The Tour" was launched to allow fans across the country to experience a taste of the annual 4-day events held in June and July in one night of music, teaching and fun.

"Christian rock needs the tour," commented Beckley, "one, for the strength of the line up and two, because this generation needs the masses to come together and be encouraged every night through music and leave stronger than they came in.

"Pillar is excited to be a part of the tour, and I'm excited to see the other bands!"

In addition to the music, world-renowned speaker, Bob Lenz, will share the gospel each night, with Pastor Harry Thomas, Creation Festival director and co-founder, and Teen Mania's founder, Ron Luce, also joining the tour on select dates.

The Tour will also present an opportunity for believers to impact the local community through outreach. Each city will partner with a local ministry, such as a food bank or clothing drop and attendees are asked to bring a can of food, thick socks or a warm blanket to donate to the cause.

"The center purpose and mission of what we do at the Creation Festivals and now thru this tour is to give 'Tribute to our Creator,'" explained Nick Kulb, executive producer of the Tour, in a statement.

"This tour is extremely ministry and community active," he added. "[W]e are looking forward to seeing thousands of lives changed as they accept Christ in the nightly altar call."

In keeping its founding principal from 30 years ago at the forefront of our operations, Creation Festival has teamed up with Compassion International and also launched the "It Starts With You" campaign.

"This tour is so much more than the artists performing nightly," Kulb stated. "[C]ollectively, each of the bands and speakers are heading out on a united front with the Good News of Christ Jesus and to see lives radically changed for Him."

Creation Festival: The Tour – Fall 2008 Routing
*Dates and venues to be added, all are subject to change without notice.

10/9 Cincinnati OH
10/10 Charleston WV
10/11 Cullman AL
10/12 Ozark AL
10/16 Sterling Heights MI
10/17 Hoffman Estates IL
10/18 Green Bay WI
10/19 Kalamazoo MI
10/22 Lacrosse WI
10/25 Bloomington IL
10/26 Burlington IA
10/30 Grove City OH
10/31 Rochester NY
11/1 Bethlehem PA
11/2 Elmira NY
11/5 Altoona PA
11/6 Fayetteville NC
11/7 Knoxville TN
11/8 Chattanooga TN
11/14 Albuquerque NM
11/15 Greenwood Village CO
11/16 Dodge City KS
11/17 Council Bluffs IA
11/20 Tulsa OK
11/21 Austin TX
11/22 Corpus Christi TX
11/23 Lindale TX