LifeLight Draws 263,000 Despite Poor Weather
The LifeLight Music Festival drew a massive crowd of 263,000 despite rainy skies on Friday and having one less day than last year's four-day event. With big names like Pastor Rick Warren of Saddleback Church, Newsboys, Casting Crowns, Rebecca St. James and Go Fish, LifeLight made no stops this past weekend in Sioux Falls, S.D., and embraced larger crowds on the final day of the festival.
Kutless frontman Jon Micah Sumrall sings to thousands at LifeLight Festival in Sioux Falls, S.D. during Labor Day weekend. The three-day festival drew 263,000 despite rains the first day.
The free Christian event featuring more than 100 bands and speakers on six different stages saw a record one-day turnout of 120,000 on Sunday. LifeLight spokesperson Nathan Schock said the wet day on Friday made people come later when skies cleared up the following days.
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"Attendance-wise, we had a fantastic festival, considering we had some of the poorest weather we've ever experienced," said Mike Samp, co-director of LifeLight, according to Sioux City Journal.
Some 275,000 people had stood through hot temperatures at the 2005 festival but this year, muddy grounds and continuous rains had delayed the opening until mid-afternoon. One participant said in a blog, "When the rain started this afternoon, I thought when I got out to the waterpark, I'd be one of just a few people here. Well, wrong! I was amazed at the size of the crowd, even in the rain."
The rain didn't keep 50,000 people from bringing their umbrellas and ponchos to the outdoor festival grounds.
Alan Greene, the festival's founder and president, had said the weekend's plans would not change unless lightning was in the forecast. "We operate on faith, and God," he said. The sun peered out on the final two days of the festival.
Meanwhile, weather conditions weren't any better for the thousands that attended Revelation Generation in Frenchtown, N.J. Remnants from Tropical Storm Ernesto dropped rains and gusty winds across the 140-acre grounds of Revelation Farms. Revelation Generation is an annual Labor Day concert where attendants enter with the purchase of tickets.
Crowds did not experience the entire original line-up of bands and speakers as the bad weather imposed dangers on the festival stage. Still, a news release indicated that a number of decisions for Christ were made that rainy day.
Revelation Generation announced Tuesday that they are offering all ticketed attendees a free ticket replacement for the Revelation Generation 2007 Music Festival for not having experienced the full line-up they had expected.
Nearly 150 volunteers cleaned up the LifeLight Festival grounds on Monday.
LifeLight Festival costs were estimated at around 800,000 dollars for the three days. The rains also caused festival organizers to use resources outside their budget. Organizers hope most of it would be covered by donations, which primarily come from individuals. Budget and donation figures have yet to be counted.
LifeLight, a nonprofit, faith-based organization, was founded in 1998 and is committed to reaching people with the good news of Jesus Christ through concerts, festivals and family mission's trips. The LifeLight Festival is held annually over Labor Day weekend.
