Spread over 80 acres on the Willmar Senior High School campus and the Willmar Civic Center grounds, this year’s festival boasts activities for the entire family as well as six stages, where more than 100 bands are scheduled to perform during the three day event.

With dozens of Christian festivals scheduled nationwide, Sonshine founder Bob Pope knows what sets this one apart: its rural setting and hometown feel.

The festival began in 1982 on the campus of Ridgewater College with about 1,800 attendees. Four years later it moved to the Civic Center, where in recent years attendance has topped 20,000.

Despite the major growth, Pope said, “Our little town sees it as our own festival. We’re part of the fabric of the community.”

While the main target audience has always been teenagers, the festival has grown into a family event as high school and college students who attended two decades ago return as adults with teenagers of their own.

Well-known national artists like:  newsboys, Relient K, Switchfoot, Casting Crowns, tobyMac, Jeremy Camp, the David Crowder Band, Skillet, Kutless and Hawk Nelson perform on the Main Stage. Stage Two showcases other nationally-touring acts like Thousand Foot Krutch, Red, John Reuben, Falling Up, Needtobreathe, KJ-52, and Sanctus Real, with the schedule starting earlier in the day and ending before acts take the Main Stage.

The Showmobile Stage, a tractor trailer that folds down into a stage, features up-and-coming bands like Lost Ocean, Jackson Waters, The Dig Project, Article One, Eleventyseven, and Seventh Day Slumber. HM Magazine sponsors the hard rock stage, showcasing bands like Flatfoot 56, Stay of Execution, Seventh Star, Maylene And The Sons of Disaster, and Chasing Victory. The Debut Stage features local and regional acts, winners of the Smallman Music “Battle of the Bands.”


New in 2007
New this year is the Hip Hop in the Big Top tent, showcasing regional talent. Winners of the hip hop category of the Club 3 Degrees Tournament will perform on Friday, while winners in other genres hit the Showmobile Stage Thursday. The Club 3 Degrees annual competition has been held by the Minneapolis venue for 17 years and helped launch the careers of groups like PFR, Ace Troubleshooter, Philmore, Mainstay and Casting Pearls.

Near the main stage a team from Crucified Ministries in Pennsylvania will do skateboard demos and supervise skaters in the skate park. R.O.C.K. Ministries returns with entertainment for younger kids, including a game show, magic, kids worship, crafts and drama.

Pope said a highlight this year will be a “black light” puppet show Thursday night. A game area featuring inflatable activities, like the Quad Jump—where participants are attached to a harness so they can do acrobatics on a trampoline—provides even more fun.

Typical festival fare like funnel cakes and onion blossoms, as well as food from familiar chain restaurants Burger King and Dominos Pizza, will be available. A huge Christian retail area offers jewelry, apparel, artist merchandise and information on ministries like Compassion International, as well as an autograph table where, immediately after their performances, most artists will meet and greet fans.

One of the best ways to enjoy the festival is to stay in Tent City. More than half of festival-goers camp for the event, pitching tents and parking RVs on the 50 acres surrounding the Civic Center.

“A majority of our festival attendees are from Minnesota and Iowa,” said Jennifer Smith, advertising and marketing director for the festival. “But I’ve seen people travel from as far away as Ohio, Oklahoma, Wyoming and we even get some from Manitoba and Saskatchewan.”

Camping is an experience she says everyone should try at least once. Camping is free for ticket holders; showers are available at the high school and Civic Center. Reservations are not required. Camping is also available at the surrounding campgrounds, and accommodations are available at nearby hotels and motels.

The music, camping, fun and fellowship underscore the best part of the festival: the ability to share the Gospel in a non-threatening environment.

“[A] young man told me how he brought some non-Christian friends to check out the bands,” Smith said. “Those friends experienced the love of God and accepted Christ into their hearts.”

That’s what makes the festival a success.


ACTION POINT:
Individual day passes are available for $40 for adults. Event passes are available for $71 if purchased by June 30 and $75 after that date.

Children 6-11 are $25; children under 6 are free.

Parking is free. Group ticket prices are available.

Tickets are available online at www.itickets.com, by phone at (800) 965-9324, or at all Northwestern Book Stores locations.