Third Day

Matthew West

Switchfoot

Skillet

Back-to-back Christian music events make the upcoming weekend a must-see

BY ANNETTE JONES

Date published: 9/4/2008

BY ANNETTE JONES

CHRISTIAN MUSIC fans will want to circle the weekend of Sept. 13-14 on their calendars and clear their schedules.

Awakening Music Festival at Bull Run Special Events Center on Sept. 13--and The Music Builds Tour at Nissan Pavilion on Sept. 14--will bring some of the biggest names in Christian music to the area.

The fifth annual "Awakening Fest" will be headlined this year by the Newsboys. When the music starts, the sounds of Britt Nicole, Echoing Angels, Matthew West and Skillet will carry through the festival area.

A wide range of activities for all ages begins at 11:30 a.m. and runs through 6:30 p.m., including rock climbing walls, jousting, moon bounce and petting zoo.

Awakening Fest began in 2003, after a few friends read Rick Warren's "The Purpose-Driven Life." They decided to do something to change the community. The festival has grown exponentially over the past few years.

The second night, The Music Builds Tour will bring Third Day, Switchfoot and Jars of Clay to Nissan Pavilion.

While it is not unusual for Christian concerts to include a plea for child sponsorships or donations to some cause, Switchfoot's Jon Foreman says this is a bit different.

In promotional material for the tour, Foreman says that Habitat for Humanity provides a way for all fans to give back to the community. Even those who don't have money can give of themselves to a Habitat building project.

A dollar from each ticket sold will be donated to Habitat for Humanity as well. The tour is part of Hollywood for Habitat for Humanity. The organization, founded by screenwriter Randall Wallace, is an entertainment industry partnership to support Habitat's goal of eliminating substandard housing.

Annette Jones: 540/368-5046
Email: abjones@freelancestar.com

AWAKENING FEST SCHEDULE 11:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. Assorted activities 11:30 a.m. to 12:25 p.m. Run Kid Run 12:40 to 1:35 p.m. Nevertheless 1:50 to 2:45 p.m. Britt Nicole 3 to 4:05 p.m. Echoing Angels 4:20 to 5:40 p.m. Matthew West 6 to 6:30 p.m. Speaker Justin Lookadoo 6:40 to 8:10 p.m. Skillet 8:30 to 10 p.m. Newsboys WHAT: Awakening Music Festival WHEN: Sept. 13. Gates open at 11 a.m. WHERE: Bull Run Regional Park--Special Events Center, 7700 Bull Run Drive, Centreville. COST: Tickets are available on line at awakeningfest.com or by phone at 703/669-5550. All tickets are general admission. Ticket prices are $22. Children under $6 are free. INFO: awakeningfest.com WHAT: The Music Builds Tour, featuring Third Day, Switchfoot, Jars of Clay WHEN: Sept. 14. Gates open at 5 p.m.; show starts at 6 p.m. WHERE: Nissan Pavilion, 7800 Cellar Door Drive, Bristow. COST: Ticket prices range from $19-$49. INFO: musicbuilds tour.com

Date published: 9/4/2008