- Aerial View of Lifelight - Civil Air Patrol
Lifelight Christian Music Festival happens every Labor Day weekend in Sioux Falls, SD. The event is so amazing because it is the only totally free Christian music festival in the country. I have personally watched Lifelight grow exponentially since it started in 1998. The first event in 1998 lasted just a few hours in the parking lot of Good News Reformed Church with local bands. Then the event was held at a few different locations such as next to the Wild Water West waterpark and the W.H. Lyon Fairgrounds. Now, Lifelight has a new home on donated land just south of Sioux Falls, SD. Now the event is three days long and attracts different national acts every year. Previous performers include: Michael W. Smith, Phil Joel, Rebecca St. James, Avalon, Salvador, Casting Crowns, Lincoln Brewster, Mercy Me, and Chris Tomlin. The big name artists perform on the main stage.
Information on Festival Music
Lifelight has grown from one stage to several stages with each stage appealing to different musical tastes. The Souled Out Stage features musical acts appealing to youth along with skateboarders and BMX biking. The Triple Shot Café is for night owls as they serve coffee and offer music after midnight. The Kaleidoscope Stage features music for children, inflatables, and other fun activities. There is even a talent search if any local bands want to try to make it big.
Crowds
Words cannot describe how huge the crowds are at Lifelight. Promoters have announced that tens of thousands have attended over the course of the weekend. It is easy to feel swallowed up by the crowds. If you wander off to another stage, a vendor, or to the toilet, good luck finding your place again. Lawn chairs are allowed. Tents and umbrellas are only allowed in the back of the crowd.
Weather
Weather varies for Lifelight. Sometimes it is unbearably hot. Other times it rains and you are in the middle of a mud festival, not a music festival. It is best to bring a canvas to place on the ground under your feet if it is going to be rainy. Lifelight is held rain or shine.
Festival Tips
Since this is a Christian music festival, promoters ask that people dress conservatively, do not smoke, and do not bring alcohol onto the festival grounds. Alcohol is not sold at this event.
For those who like to shop, musical performers do sell their merchandise in a big tent at the back of the crowd. Often the bands will sign autographs before or after their music sets. Additional merchandise is available for sale such as event merchandise, Christian jewelry, and t-shirts sporting Christian slogans. Many food vendors are available as well. In the past, there have been smoothies, pizza, fresh lemonade, and gyros.
With so many people attending, parking is not available for everyone at the festival grounds. Shuttle service is set up from designated points that are announced each year. The shuttle bus service requires a small fee from riders. People from all over the country travel to Sioux Falls, SD for Lifelight.
For information on camping, parking, the artist schedule, and hotels, check out the Lifelight website at www.lifelight.org/festival. See you there!
