Crossover Music Festival Brings Song and Spirit
to Central Missouri’s Lake of the Ozarks

LAKE OF THE OZARKS, MO. –Song and spirit will fill the air as the Crossover Christian Music Festival, one of mid-America's largest Christian music events, returns to the Lake of the Ozarks, June 9-11.

The seventh annual festival will bring nationally known contemporary Christian and Christian rock performers to the Stoneridge Amphitheatre in Camdenton. About 10,000 music fans from throughout the region are expected to attend the three-day event, which also will offer food concessions, children's
activities and a variety of vendors.

"Praise Night" will be Thursday night's theme when regional artists will perform from 6:00-10:00 p.m. The lineup includes Caleb Rowden, Aimee Flanders and Empyreal with Mark Collum. The headliner will be Grammy nominees and Dove award winners NewSong. "In my opinion, last year NewSong put on one of the best concerts I have ever heard at Crossover," says Alan Sullivan, festival director. "Anyone who hears them will know they've heard a powerful, top-notch group."

Crossover continues from 5:30-10:30 p.m. on Friday, featuring Grammy and Dove winner TobyMac, formerly of the Christian rap group DCtalk. Also appearing will be Gospel Music Award winners Building 429, along with Kainos and Matthew West.

The festival will run from 3:30-10:30 p.m. Saturday. Back by popular demand will be ApologetiX, with their unique song parodies. Comedian and author Ken Davis and the three-sisters group Everlife also will motivate the crowd. Circleslide and By The Tree also will perform. The headliner will be Gospel Music Association award winner Jeremy Camp.

"We are very blessed to have two GMA award winners, Building 429 and Jeremy Camp, at Crossover this year," says Kelly Pirtle, head of the marketing team. "Jim McDermott of KCVO Radio has a remarkable talent for booking artists who go on to win the industry's top awards."

After each concert, fans can stop by the vendor pavilion to meet their favorite performers, get autographs and purchase CDs and merchandise. In addition, visitors can shop at several booths offering t-shirts, CDs, jewelry, gift items, Bibles, books and more.

"More than 200 volunteers -- from teens to retirees -- come together from many different denominations to plan and work at this event year after year," Pirtle says. Adds Sullivan, "They are the people who make Crossover happen. From parking cars to feeding the artists to working the stage to weed-eating, every individual volunteer is appreciated." On the morning of Saturday, June 4, everyone who works at least four hours to help clean up the site in preparation for the festival will be welcome to stay for a cookout lunch and receive a free Crossover ticket, Sullivan says.

Volunteers also help keep overhead -- and ticket prices -- low, Sullivan notes. Tickets are $7 in advance and $10 at the gate for Thursday; $18 in advance and $22 at the gate for Friday or Saturday. A two-day pass for Friday and Saturday is $32 and a three-day pass for the entire festival is $38. Special rates for youth and groups of 15 or more also are available. For tickets and information call 1-800-901-6977. Free and preferred parking will be available.

"The Crossover Christian Music Festival truly is a quality festival," Sullivan says. "The performers are all amazed at the facility and the hospitality we give them, and especially the reception they get from the audience. Combined with Lake activities, Crossover attracts thousands of people and that's great for the local economy. Most importantly, it brings together people of all denominations. It's a lot of work but a lot of fun."

For more information on the Crossover Christian Music Festival, call 800-901-6977 or visit www.crossoverfestival.org. And for compete information about Lake-area lodging, dining, shopping and attractions, call 1-800-FUN-LAKE or visit the Lake of the Ozarks Convention & Visitor Bureau's web site at www.funlake.com.