Walt Disney Resort to Host 23rd Annual Night of Joy
Headliners this year include Casting Crowns, Nicole C. Mullen, MercyMe, and Steven Curtis Chapman.
The Magic Kingdom will be hosting some of Christian music’s most recognized and highly acclaimed stars during the 23rd Annual Night of Joy, which will take place Sept. 9-10 at the Walt Disney Resort in Lake Buena Vista, Fla.
Headliners this year include one of the Gospel Music Association’s most-honored performers, Steven Curtis Chapman, and recent GMA Music Award winners Casting Crowns (Group of the Year), Nicole C. Mullen (Female Vocalist of the Year), and MercyMe (2004 Artist of the Year).
Other big name artists included this year are Matthew West, Mark Schultz, Big Daddy Weave, Vicky Beeching, newsboys, Donnie McClurking, CeCe Winans, Kutless, Tree 63, Superchic[k], Further Seems Forever, Stellar Kart, Kierra “Kiki Sheard, Audio Adrenaline and tobyMac.
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In addition to CCM’s finest, two special acts will be performing at the Night of Joy, including a four-sister group from Washington called Witherspoon and 27 youngsters from Chicago’s Evangel Assembly of God.
Witherspoon was selected as the overall Grand Prize winners at the GMA Music in the Rockies seminar, which was held from late July to early August, and the Evangel Assembly of God was the overall winners in Kellogg’s Gospel Youth Choir Competition, which finished last week. The Evangel Assembly of God youth Choir will perform at the Night of Joy on stage with Kierra “Kiki” Sheard, who was also a spokesperson for the Kellogg event.
“From time to time we’ve looked to introduce some fresh ideas to the Night of Joy event, a definitely a fresh idea this year is the relationship we have to GMA and to Kellogg,” said Night of Joy spokesperson Dave Herbst.
Another special feature at this year’s Night of Joy will be an “information station” for the upcoming Christmas film release The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe.
At the station, guests will be able to access exclusive content about the film including the latest updates, behind-the-scenes footage and “sneak peek” movie clips, and a preview of Buena Vista Games console games inspired by the movie.
Other Narnia features offered at Night Of Joy are “The Chronicles of Narnia – Audio Magazine” and an “Official Narnia Passport” (with special information on the movie), both of which will appear as tracks on a complimentary CD given to every Night of Joy guest.
Walt Disney World Resort has presented Night of Joy annually since 1983. More than 100 Christian music artists have performed before a combined audience of more than 800,000 people in the Magic Kingdom.
For more information or to purchase tickets for Night of Joy 2005, click here or call 407/W-DISNEY.
