Christian music festival draws 1,000 to fairgrounds for weekend of praise

This article is brought to you by the Winding Creek Music Festival. The Winding Creek Music Festival returns Aug. 15-18, featuring some of the best in bluegrass music, with performances from Nothin’ Fancy, The Baker Family, Booze Hounds Bluegrass, Bahler Golden Age, and many more on a beautiful backdrop of wooded western Howard County. There will be plenty of food and fun for all. Don’t miss Gospel Day on Aug. 18, which will include a church service and a 5K walk/run. For more information and to purchase tickets in advance, visit www.windingcreekmusicfestival.com.

It’s all about planting a seed. This was the theme that was repeated all weekend as A Mighty Noise Gospel Music Festival took place at the Howard County 4H Fairgrounds. In its first iteration, the event attracted more than 1,000 people to Greentown for music, praise, and worship.

Performers throughout the weekend sang to cozy crowds, expressing their faith and celebrating their salvation. And more often than not, they showed excitement for the festival, predicting its future growth.

No voice was more prominent in that proclamation than that of national Christian recording artist Billy Ballenger. The Indiana native, best known for his hit songs “Tree and the Nails” and “Leaving the 99,” evoked the seed analogy as he ministered to the crowd on Saturday evening.

“What you’re doing here is planting the seed,” said Ballenger. “This festival is going to grow.”

Those who attended over the two days were able to hear local praise and worship teams from Chapel Hill Christian Church, Jerome Christian Church, Northview Christian Church, and Fuel Church, along with artists Madigan, Joni DeLon, Phil Petty and Nancy Olsen, Amanda and Mattea Foust, the Medicinal Bluegrass Band, and Keyton Romero.

Away from the stages, Josiah White’s Foster Care presented a Family Fun Zone which featured a petting zoo, inflatable games, spin art, and performances from Ms. Kate. Narrow Gate Horse Ranch was on hand to provide demonstrations of its equine assisted learning. And nearly two dozen vendors offered their wares, resources, and food to those who visited the festival.

The organizers of A Mighty Noise expressed their appreciation to the community for attending and to the participating singers and vendors for helping launch the festival’s inaugural year. An announcement will be made shortly concerning the 2025 edition of the event.

See additional photos from A Mighty Noise on the Kokomo Lantern Facebook page or group.