At a glance
• What: Forsyth Family Fest
• When: Sept. 12, morning worship at 10:30 a.m.; festival starts at 1 p.m.
• Where: Cumming Fairgrounds, 235 Castleberry Road
• Online: www.forsythfamilyfest.com
• What: Forsyth Family Fest
• When: Sept. 12, morning worship at 10:30 a.m.; festival starts at 1 p.m.
• Where: Cumming Fairgrounds, 235 Castleberry Road
• Online: www.forsythfamilyfest.com
For the second year, more than 20 local churches will join together for a full day of worship, fun and music at the Cumming Fairgrounds.
Last year's Forsyth Family Fest brought between 10,000 and 12,000 to see nationally-acclaimed acts.
This year's free festival is expected to be even bigger, said Pastor Bob Jolly, organizer of the event and pastor of First Baptist Cumming.
"It's a great time to see believers cooperate together," he said.
The day begins with a morning worship service at 10:30 a.m., where five of the churches will hold their Sunday service together.
Evangelist and Woodstock Pastor Tony Nolan will be the featured speaker in the morning and evening.
Atlanta singer Canton Jones and bilingual group Hugo Zaldana & Banda Juda will perform for both the morning worship and the nighttime concert.
A family festival including food, arts and crafts, inflatables and other activities will start at 1 p.m.
Brad Bennett and the Real Encounter outreach team will do three afternoon performances showcasing off their BMX and motorcross stunts.
The day will conclude with a concert featuring Christian musician Charlie Hall.
While plenty of entertainment is lined up for the day, Jolly said the event is primarily about bringing the community together, especially in faith.
"We want to see churches working together and we want to see the message of Jesus spread in our community," he said.
Jolly dreamed up the event for just that purpose about two years ago.
The inaugural festival took more than a year to plan, he said.
Preparations for this year began about halfway through the first fest, as guests asked if it would become an annual event.
Pastor Robbie Mathis of Freedom Tabernacle, one of the area organizers, said he hopes to make the fest a yearly tradition.
The gathering is a great example to the area of working together for the Lord, he said.
"Being a native of the county, that's my calling for the community," he said. "I grew up, was raised here. I want to see people reach for the Lord and for it be a godly place.
"We certainly were excited about joining in and helping out."
Last year's Forsyth Family Fest brought between 10,000 and 12,000 to see nationally-acclaimed acts.
This year's free festival is expected to be even bigger, said Pastor Bob Jolly, organizer of the event and pastor of First Baptist Cumming.
"It's a great time to see believers cooperate together," he said.
The day begins with a morning worship service at 10:30 a.m., where five of the churches will hold their Sunday service together.
Evangelist and Woodstock Pastor Tony Nolan will be the featured speaker in the morning and evening.
Atlanta singer Canton Jones and bilingual group Hugo Zaldana & Banda Juda will perform for both the morning worship and the nighttime concert.
A family festival including food, arts and crafts, inflatables and other activities will start at 1 p.m.
Brad Bennett and the Real Encounter outreach team will do three afternoon performances showcasing off their BMX and motorcross stunts.
The day will conclude with a concert featuring Christian musician Charlie Hall.
While plenty of entertainment is lined up for the day, Jolly said the event is primarily about bringing the community together, especially in faith.
"We want to see churches working together and we want to see the message of Jesus spread in our community," he said.
Jolly dreamed up the event for just that purpose about two years ago.
The inaugural festival took more than a year to plan, he said.
Preparations for this year began about halfway through the first fest, as guests asked if it would become an annual event.
Pastor Robbie Mathis of Freedom Tabernacle, one of the area organizers, said he hopes to make the fest a yearly tradition.
The gathering is a great example to the area of working together for the Lord, he said.
"Being a native of the county, that's my calling for the community," he said. "I grew up, was raised here. I want to see people reach for the Lord and for it be a godly place.
"We certainly were excited about joining in and helping out."