Night of Joy (festival)
Night of Joy is an annual contemporary Christian music festival that takes place at Walt Disney World Resort in Florida. It started in 1983 and normally takes place in the first or second week of September. The event was held at the Magic Kingdom until 2008, when it was moved to Disney's Hollywood Studios for two years. At Night of Joy 2009, it was announced during the MercyMe concert that the event will return to the Magic Kingdom due to popular demand. In 2016, the event will be held at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex.
Night of Joy is one of two current Christian rock festivals held in the Orlando, Florida area each year. The others is Rock the Universe, which is held at Universal Studios Florida, typically on the same nights as Night of Joy. Formerly, Cornerstone Florida, a spinoff of the original Cornerstone Festival, was held in Orlando in May each year
2016 Lineup
Friday, September 9th:[1]
- Stars Go Dim
- Matthew West
- Francesca Battistelli
- Zealand Worship
- Crowder
- Chris Tomlin
- OBB
- MercyMe
- Casting Crowns
Saturday, September 10th:[1]
- VERIDA
- Thousand Foot Krutch
- Hillsong YOUNG & FREE
- RED
- for KING & COUNTRY
- Tim Timmons
- Switchfoot
- Derick Minor
- Newsboys
2015 Lineup
Friday, September 11:[2]
- TobyMac
- MercyMe
- Jeremy Camp
- Colton Dixon
- Big Daddy Weave
- Francesca Battistelli
- Rend Collective
- I Am They
Saturday, September 12:[2]
2015 Lineup
Friday, September 11:[2]
- TobyMac
- MercyMe
- Jeremy Camp
- Colton Dixon
- Big Daddy Weave
- Francesca Battistelli
- Rend Collective
- I Am They
Saturday, September 12:[2]
- Skillet
- Lecrae
- For King and Country
- Mandisa
- Matt Maher
- Jamie Grace
- Seventh Time Down
- Veridia
2014 Lineup
Friday, September 5:[3]
- Matthew West
- Chris Tomlin
- Hillsong United
- Building 429
- Mandisa
- For King and Country
- Matt Maher
- The Neverclaim
Saturday, September 6:[3]
- MercyMe
- Phil Perry
- Casting Crowns
- Skillet
- Colton Dixon
- Britt Nicole
- Israel Houghton & New Breed
- 1 Girl Nation
- We as Human
- Rhett Walker Band
2013 Lineup
Friday, September 6:
- MercyMe
- Steven Curtis Chapman & Michael W. Smith
- Skillet
- Mandisa
- For King and Country
- Audio Adrenaline
- Moriah Peters
- We As Human
- City Harbor
Saturday, September 7:
2012 Lineup
Friday, September 7:
- Casting Crowns
- Chris Tomlin
- NEEDTOBREATHE
- Red
- Francesca Battistelli
- Brandon Heath
- Royal Tailor
- Disciple
Saturday, September 8:
2011 Lineup
Friday, September 9:
- Skillet
- Newsboys
- Jeremy Camp
- Disciple (band)
- Sidewalk Prophets
- Francesca Battistelli
- Group 1 Crew
- Matthew West
Saturday, September 10:
2010 Lineup
In 2010, the event returned to Magic Kingdom, after two years of being held at Disney's Hollywood Studios.
Friday, September 10
- Chris Tomlin
- David Crowder*Band
- Casting Crowns
- BarlowGirl
- Thousand Foot Krutch
- Group 1 Crew
- Tenth Avenue North
- Sidewalk Prophets
Saturday, September, 11
History (1983-2009)
2009
The official 2009 lineup was announced in March 2009. It was notable for featuring far more rock bands than usual. One notable band playing was Skillet, who have played Rock the Universe several times. The 2009 event was also notable because it featured three acts that played both days of the performance, following "Conversations" with acts performing one of the two days.
Friday, September 11:
Saturday, September 12:
Both Days:
2008
In 2008, the event moved to Disney's Hollywood Studios. Previously, it had been held exclusively at the Magic Kingdom theme park.
Friday, September 5:
- Chris Tomlin
- MercyMe
- Rebecca St. James
- BarlowGirl
- Matthew West
- Rush of Fools
- Brandon Heath
- Britt Nicole
Saturday, September 6:
- Casting Crowns
- tobyMac
- Music in the Rockies (Best of Show winner from GMA)
- Fred Hammond
- Marcos Witt
- Mandisa
- Aaron Shust
- Red (band)
- pureNRG
2007
Friday, September 7:
- Third Day
- Chris Tomlin
- David Crowder Band
- Jaci Velasquez
- Brian Littrell
- BarlowGirl
- Leeland
- Jessie Daniels
- Sanctus Real
Saturday, September:
- Newsboys
- Steven Curtis Chapman
- Salvador
- Mark Schultz
- Smokie Norful
- Kutless
- Red (band)
- Mary Mary
- Flyleaf
- Music in the Rockies (Best of Show winner from GMA)
2006
Friday, September 8:
- BarlowGirl
- Casting Crowns
- MercyMe
- Rebecca St. James
- David Crowder Band
- Vicky Beeching
- Matthew West
- Todd Agnew
- Building 429
Saturday, September 9:
- BarlowGirl
- TobyMac
- Kirk Franklin
- Smokie Norful
- Jeremy Camp
- Crystal Stark
- The Afters
- ZOEgirl
- Hawk Nelson
2005
Friday, September 9:
- MercyMe
- Casting Crowns
- Audio Adrenaline
- Steven Curtis Chapman
- Mark Shultz
- Big Daddy Weave
- Nicole C. Mullen
- Matthew West
- Vicky Beeching
Saturday, September 10:
- Newsboys
- CeCe Winans
- Donnie McClurkin
- TobyMac
- Kutless
- Superchick
- Further Seems Forever
- Tree63
- Stellar Kart
- Kierra Sheard
2004
Thursday, September 9:
- Michael W. Smith
- Avalon
- Jars of Clay
- Point of Grace
- FFH
- 4HIM
- Mark Shultz
- Across the Sky
Friday, September 10:
- Third Day
- Skillet
- Stryper
- Rebecca St. James
- SONICFLOOd
- Steven Curtis Chapman
- downhere
- Warren Barfield
Saturday, September 11:
2003
Friday, September 5:
- Petra
- Jars of Clay
- Michael W. Smith
- Stacie Orrico
- Rebecca St. James
- Nicole C. Mullen
- Switchfoot
- downhere
- Daily Planet
Saturday, September 6:
- The O.C. Supertones
- Point of Grace
- ZOEGirl
- Kirk Franklin
- Rachael Lampa
- Salvador
- Freddie Colloca
- Yolanda Adams
2002
Friday, September 6:
- Plus One
- Kirk Franklin
- Benjamin Gate
- Mary Mary
- Steven Curtis Chapman
- ZOEgirl
- Natalie Grant
- Phat Chance
Saturday, September 7:
- Petra
- Audio Adrenaline
- Michael W. Smith
- Jaci Velasquez
- Stacie Orrico
- Plus One
- Joy Williams
- Jump 5
2001
Friday, September 7:
- Kirk Franklin
- Jars of Clay
- Plus One
- Jaci Velasquez
- Staci Orrico
- Rachael Lampa
- Salvador
Saturday, September 8:
- Michael W. Smith
- Jars of Clay
- Plus One
- Anointed
- Rebecca St. James
- Whisper Loud
- Salvador
2000
1999
1998
1997
1996
- dc Talk
- Michael W. Smith
- Newsboys
- Hezekiah Walker
- Rebecca St. James
- Clay Crosse
1995
1994
- dc Talk
- Twila Paris
- Geoff Moore & The Distance
- Point of Grace
- Richard Smallwood Singers
- Whiteheart
1993
- Carman
- Steven Curtis Chapman
- 4HIM
- Shirley Caesar
- Bruce Carroll
- Susan Ashton
1992
1991
Friday & Saturday, September 6 & 7:
1990
Friday & Saturday, September 7 & 8:
1989
Friday & Saturday, September 8 & 9:
- Margaret Becker & the Reckoning
- Shirley Caesar
- Phil Keaggy
- Petra
- REZ
- Michael W Smith
- Take 6
1988
Friday & Saturday, September 9 & 10:
- Geoff Moore & the Distance
- Mylon & Broken Heart
- Stryper
- Russ Taff
- Take 6
- White Heart
- BeBe & CeCe Winans
1987
Friday & Saturday, September 11 & 12:
- Kim Boyce
- The Clark Sisters
- Benny Hester
- The Imperials
- Petra
- Michael W Smith
- Randy Stonehill
- Greg X Volz
1986
Friday & Saturday, September 5 & 6:
1985
Night of Joy 1985 is the only year in the history of the event to have dates in a month other than September.
Friday, May 17:
Friday & Saturday, September 6 & 7:
1984
Friday & Saturday, September 7 & 8:
1983
Saturday, September 10:
- Leon Patillo (First performer to headline Disney's Night of Joy.)
- Shirley Caesar
- Petra
- Phil Keaggy
- Sheila Walsh
- Benny Hestor
- David Meece
- Scott Wesley Brown