Illumination Festival features MercyMe concert and youth program

Top: MercyMe, Middle: Sanctus Real and Citizen Way
Bottom: The Neverclaim and Everfound

On Sept. 22, the seventh annual Illumination Festival will take place at the Darke County Fairgrounds. This year’s event will feature two top names in contemporary Christian music with MercyMe and Sanctus Real. Also performing will be Citizen Way, The Neverclaim and Everfound. Also returning to the event is The Splat Experience, an incredible artist who can create a masterpiece in the time it takes to play one song.

Although the concert will take place during the evening of Sept. 22, events will begin on Sept. 21 with Day One at the Youth Building on the fairgrounds. Day One was added in 2012 and is geared toward junior high and high school students. A worship service begins at 6 p.m. and will feature Amplified. This is a multi-church youth group based in Covington that has more than 200 kids. They will be bringing music and a speaker with a message directed to the youth. Admission to this event is $5 per person or five cans of food that will be donated to the local F.IS.H organization. New to Day One and Illumination is a 5K run. The Light in the Darke 5K Run (nighttime race) will be held on the fairgrounds at 8:30 p.m. The cost is $25. Registration forms are available at www.goodtimesraces.com. Run as an individual or run as a team. Awards will be given. Electronic chip timing will be used during this event.

A dance party will follow the 5K at 10:30 p.m. in the Youth Building. Josiah Freebourne, one of the most sought after Christian DJ’s will be hosting the party. He has played many concerts, conferences and music festivals across the United States.

Events kick off on Sept. 22 at 9:30 a.m. with a worship service. New Creation, a band from Tipp City, will be providing the worship music and a minister from Upper Room Church in Tipp City will be speaking.

The annual coffeehouse featuring local and regional bands will be playing throughout the afternoon in the Youth Building. Other activities taking place on the fairgrounds is a volleyball tournament, corn hole, air soft, bouncy houses and plenty of food will be available. Attendees are encouraged to bring non-perishable food items to donate to F.I.S.H.

The main concert will begin at 5 p.m. with gates opening at 4 p.m. Tickets for the concert are available at itickets.com, Bread of Life Christian Bookstore, Darke County Fairgrounds, and McCabe Painting in Greenville, The Christian Bookstore in Union City and Trinity Gifts and Books in Richmond, IN. Tickets are VIP tickets (next to the stage) are $50, Box Seats (includes Track) and Track (standing only) is $30, and General Admission is $25. Add $5 for all tickets on the day of the event. More information and contact information is available at www.illuminationfestival.org.