With only a few weeks before the event, the largely volunteer staff of Creation, the largest East Coast Christian music festival, was told that the event would be moved from Agape Farm in Huntingdon County to Hershey Park because of wet grounds due to the spring rainfall.
The staff didn’t disappoint the 75,000 campers because they were organized and made everyone feel comfortable with their new surroundings. Hershey Park also hosted Creation in 1996, also due to weather conditions.
Creation is celebrating its 25th Anniversary and has used the Hershey Park Stadium, The Star Pavilion and the air conditioned Giant Center to house the large crowds and the Christian chart-topping bands and speakers that everyone has come to see. Another venue, called the Creation Tent, plays hosts to puppets and other children’s based ministries.
On Tuesday of this week, media including Christian radio stations, newspapers and magazines were the first to get settled in. Fields, located just several yards and in some cases miles from the activities, look like a city of tents as the sun beats down on the Christian campers from all over the country.
“It’s OK to be here, but we prefer Agape Farm and the beautiful surroundings in Huntingdon” said one camper.
The main concerts are held in the Hershey Park Stadium and Star Pavilion, located to the rear of the big stage, including the annual candle lighting service with top Christian performer Michael W. Smith, putting the singer in a Theater in the round, with giant video screens and 100,000 candles lit by the large crowd surrounding him.
The most recent addition to the complex area is the Giant Center, which holds more than 12,000 people in air conditioned comfort. The fringe stage, as its called, features more rock and youth-oriented groups and speakers.
Weather wise, it has been sunny and hot with temperatures in the low 90s and shade near campsites is hard to find. But everyone has been in great spirits and enjoying Christian performers such as Third Day, The Rock and Roll Worship Circus, Lincoln Brewster, Rebecca St. James and many more.
Organizers for the festival, look forward to returning to what they call home next year. Agape Farm will surely be ready.
