Lifest

Last updated
Lifest
Lifest 2018 new Grandstand Stage.jpg
Crowd at Lifest 2018
Genre Christian music
Datessecond weekend of July
Location(s)Sunnyview Expo Center
Oshkosh, Wisconsin
Years active1999–2019, 2021–
FoundersBob Lenz
Website lifest.com

Lifest is an annual Christian music festival that takes place in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, at the Sunnyview Expo Center. Lifest has the slogan "A Party with a Purpose." [1] It is one of the largest Christian music festivals in America. [2]

Contents

History

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. [4] As of 2018, Lifest featured around 150 artists on seven stages. [5] The festival is a member of the Christian Festival Association.

The Winnebago County fairgrounds board approved allowing Lifest to build a $750,000 permanent main stage. [6] The stage was built on the former site of the fairground's grandstand and stock car racing track. [6] It was unveiled for the 2018 event.

The COVID-19 pandemic caused officials to scrap Lifest in 2020. It returned in 2021. [7]

Performers and speakers

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

Musically, Lifest has featured a wide range of groups such as Toby 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 Maher and Jimmy Needham. Superchick had their first concert at Lifest; [8] they held at 2016 reunion concert at the venue. [9]

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 [10] and requires over 1000 volunteers. [11]

References

  1. ↑ Sienkiewicz, Joe (July 5, 2017). "Lifest Gets Ready to Open". Oshkosh Northwestern . USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin. Retrieved March 8, 2018.
  2. 1 2 3 4 Loohauis-Bennett, Jackie (February 6, 2012). "Lifest announces Christian music headliners". Milwaukee Journal Sentinel . Archived from the original on 2018-03-08. Retrieved March 8, 2018.
  3. ↑ Pieper, Leah (June 13, 2012). "Lifest Announces New Additions to Summer Music Festival" (Press release). 24-7PressRelease. Archived from the original on 2025-04-05.
  4. 1 2 Sadler, John (July 11, 2018). "Two decades, over 100 acts and one new stage: five things to know ahead of Lifest 2018". The Oshkosh Northwestern. Retrieved 2022-02-12.
  5. ↑ Oshkosh Convention & Visitors Bureau. "Lifest". Travel Wisconsin. Archived from the original on 2025-07-11. Retrieved March 8, 2018.
  6. 1 2 Zimmerman, Jason (November 21, 2017). "Lifest to expand, as race track's future in Oshkosh now in doubt". WBAY-TV . Retrieved March 8, 2018.
  7. ↑ "Lifest canceled for 2020; moved to next year". NBC 26 (WGBA). June 16, 2020. Retrieved 2022-02-12.
  8. ↑ Max (August 11, 2013). "To anyone who heard our music: I'd like to say thank you. To the 20,000 people at Parachute in New Zealand, to the kids at the first Lifefest, to all the crowds who sang our lyrics back to us: thanks for helping us tour the world. [...]". Facebook . Posted by Superchick. Archived from the original on 2013-08-12. Retrieved March 8, 2018.
  9. ↑ Superchick. "Reunion show!" (video, recorded live). Facebook . Retrieved March 8, 2018.
  10. ↑ Warner, Bethany K. (July 16, 2007). "A somber day at Lifest: Accident victim identified; festival-goers show sympathy / LIFEST: Ride operators put up signs saying they were sorry". Oshkosh Northwestern. pp. A1, A3. Newspapers.com 364882785, 364882819. ProQuest   440575096. Republished via Gannett Wisconsin Newspapers as: Warner, Bethany K. (July 16, 2007). "Girl's death casts somber tone over last day of Lifest". Local/State. Green Bay Press-Gazette . p. A-6. Newspapers.com 361119013.
  11. ↑ sstanley (April 6, 2006). "Lifest Fact Sheet 06" (PDF). Lifest website. Appleton, WI: Life! Promotions. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2006-05-16. Retrieved 2006-05-08.
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