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Lifest

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Lifest
Crowd at Lifest 2018
GenreChristian music
Datessecond weekend of July
Location(s)Sunnyview Expo Center
Oshkosh, Wisconsin
Years active1999–2019, 2021–
FoundersBob Lenz
Websitelifest.com

Lifestis an annualChristian music festivalthat takes place inOshkosh, Wisconsin,at theSunnyview Expo Center.Lifest has the slogan "A Party with a Purpose."[1]It is one of the largest Christian music festivals in America.[2]

History

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Lifest started as a walk/run in 1990.[3]Lifest became a music festival in 1999 and was attendance by 7000.[4]It became five days long for the first time in 2006.[2]Starting in 2013, it was shortened to four days. It is held on or around the second weekend of July.[2]In 2013, Lifest had an average of 20,000 attendees per day. The event had 23,000 attendees in 2017.[5]As of 2018, Lifest featured around 150 artists on seven stages.[6]The festival is a member of theChristian Festival Association.

TheWinnebago Countyfairgrounds board approved allowing Lifest to build a $750,000 permanent main stage.[7]The stage was built on the former site of the fairground's grandstand andstock car racingtrack.[7]It was unveiled for the 2018 event.

TheCOVID-19 pandemiccaused officials to scrap Lifest in 2020. It returned in 2021.[8]

Performers and speakers

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Matthew West playing in the rain at Lifest 2014
Bob Lenz closing 2014 Lifest

Musically, Lifest has featured a wide range of groups such asToby Mac,Casting Crowns,Skillet,Newsboys,Steven Curtis Chapman,For King & Country,Matthew West,Family Force 5,Kutless,Downhere,Tenth Avenue North,Fireflight,FM Static,Sanctus Real,Building 429,Thousand Foot Krutch,4th Point,Superchick,Matt Redman,The Letter Black,Needtobreathe,Matt MaherandJimmy Needham.Superchickhad their first concert at Lifest;[9]they held at 2016 reunion concert at the venue.[10]

Lifest also has speakers[2]and seminars as an integral part of the festival. Speakers have included founder Bob Lenz,Luis Palau,John Ortberg,Tony Campolo,Scott Spencer, Ken Davis, and many more.

Lifest has approximately 3000 primitive and electric campsites available. Activities include dodgeball, 5K Fun Run, volleyball, inflatable games, prayer journey and KidZone. Lifest is run by Life Promotions[11]and requires over 1000 volunteers.[12]

References

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  1. ^"Lifest Gets Ready to Open".Northwestern Media.Oshkosh Northwestern.July 5, 2017.RetrievedMarch 8,2018.
  2. ^abcdLoohauis-Bennett, Jackie (February 6, 2012)."Lifest announces Christian music headliners".Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.RetrievedMarch 8,2018.
  3. ^"Lifest Announces New Additions to Summer Music Festival".24-7 Press Release Newswire.
  4. ^Sadler, John."Two decades, over 100 acts and one new stage: five things to know ahead of Lifest 2018".The Oshkosh Northwestern.Retrieved2022-02-12.
  5. ^Sadler, John."Two decades, over 100 acts and one new stage: five things to know ahead of Lifest 2018".The Oshkosh Northwestern.Retrieved2022-02-12.
  6. ^"Lifest".TravelWisconsin.RetrievedMarch 8,2018.
  7. ^abZimmerman, Jason."Lifest to expand, as race track's future in Oshkosh now in doubt".WBAY-TV.RetrievedMarch 8,2018.
  8. ^"Lifest canceled for 2020; moved to next year".WGBA.2020-06-16.Retrieved2022-02-12.
  9. ^"Superchick Facebook post".Facebook.RetrievedMarch 8,2018.
  10. ^"Reunion Show!".Facebook.RetrievedMarch 8,2018.
  11. ^Girl's death casts somber tone over last day of Lifest;Bethany K. Warner; July 15, 2007Green Bay Press-Gazette,Retrieved July 15, 2007[dead link]
  12. ^"Archived copy"(PDF).Archived fromthe original(PDF)on 2006-05-16.Retrieved2006-05-08.{{cite web}}:CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
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