Night of Joy (festival) facts for kids

Night of Joy festival logo

Night of Joy was a yearly contemporary Christian music festival. It happened from 1983 to 2017 at Walt Disney World Resort in Florida. This fun festival usually took place at the Magic Kingdom in early September.

The event was stopped in 2018. It was replaced by a different concert series called "Eat to the Beat." Some Christian pop rock artists like MercyMe and Tauren Wells joined that new lineup. Night of Joy also inspired two other Christian rock festivals in the Orlando area. These were Cornerstone Florida (from 2003 to 2007) and Rock the Universe at Universal Studios Florida (since 1998).

Where the Music Happened

Most of the concerts were held at the Magic Kingdom. The stage was often right in front of the famous Cinderella Castle.

Other places where Night of Joy concerts took place included:

• Disney's Hollywood Studios for the 2008 and 2009 events.
• ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex for the 2016 and 2017 events.

Six artists performed at all three of these locations. They were Casting Crowns, Chris Tomlin, MercyMe, Newsboys, Red and tobyMac. Many other artists played at two of these venues.

Later Years (2010-2017)

2017: A Stormy End

The 2017 event was planned for the ESPN Wide World of Sports. It was supposed to last two nights. However, the show on September 9 had to be cancelled. This was a safety step because of Hurricane Irma. People who bought tickets for September 9 could use them on September 8 instead. Or, they could get all their money back.

Here are some of the artists who were scheduled to perform:

2016: Back at ESPN

The festival continued at the ESPN Wide World of Sports. Many popular Christian artists performed.

2015: Two Nights of Music

Night of Joy 2015 featured a wide range of Christian music artists over two nights.

2014: Popular Performers

Many well-known artists returned to the Night of Joy stage in 2014.

2013: A Mix of Styles

The 2013 festival brought together different styles of Christian music.

2012: Rock and Worship

The 2012 lineup included both rock bands and worship artists.

2011: Many Favorites Return

Many popular artists returned for the 2011 Night of Joy.

2010: Back to Magic Kingdom

After two years at Disney's Hollywood Studios, the event returned to the Magic Kingdom.

Early Years (1983-2009)

2009: More Rock Bands

The 2009 lineup was announced in March. It featured more rock bands than usual. This was the last Night of Joy held at Disney's Hollywood Studios.

Friday, September 11: Chris Tomlin P.O.D. Newsboys Kutless Needtobreathe Superchick

Saturday, September 12: Compilation album from Night of Joy 2009. MercyMe Flyleaf Skillet Jars of Clay Family Force 5 Mandisa

2008: First Time at Hollywood Studios

This was the first of two years that Night of Joy was held at Disney's Hollywood Studios. Before this, it was always at the Magic Kingdom.

A Look Back at Earlier Years (1983-2007)

Night of Joy began in 1983. Over the years, it hosted many of the biggest names in Christian music. Artists like Steven Curtis Chapman, Michael W. Smith, Amy Grant, Petra, Newsboys, and Kirk Franklin were regular performers. The festival grew from a single night to a multi-day event. It became a very important gathering for Christian music fans.

The 1985 event was special because it was the only time Night of Joy happened outside of September. It took place in May that year.