Sheldon, Iowa — With performances that audience members called “amazing” on Friday night, and hopes held high that the weather would hold, nearly 14,000 people turned out for the myriad of festivities that took place on Friday and Saturday at Risefest, the annual Christian music festival in Sheldon.
Gates opened at 11:00 a.m. Saturday and Battle of the Bands winner Maddie Rey opened on the main stage with an 11:30 a.m. performance. There were tents set up for younger children with face painting and a balloon artist, a tween teen, and a separate teen tent, all with games and activities geared for the entire family.
RiseFest goers got to hear several Christian groups in the early part of the day on the main stage, including Set For The Fall, For All Seasons, Love & The Outcome and Building 429. It was during the 5:00 p.m. performance Tenth Avenue North that the clouds decided to break with rain. Their set was stopped for a short time and they were eventually able to finish. However, shortly after 6:00 p.m. the announcement of a severe thunderstorm was relayed and everyone was ordered to seek shelter in their vehicles or in surrounding buildings because of the threat of lightning.
There was a delay while the all clear for storms passed, and then Crowder went on at 8:00 p.m., an hour later than originally scheduled. The night closed out with a performance by artist TobyMac that RiseFest founder Rob Roozeboom called, “phenomenal.”
