Thousands of believers are expected to rock, ride and rejoice at Universal Orlando’s Rock the Universe 2016, one of the biggest Christian music festivals in the country.
Set for Sept. 9 and 10, this year’s concert line-up features some of Christian music’s most popular artists, including Christian hip-hop icon TobyMac, Billboard Music Award-winning rock band Skillet and GRAMMY award-winning hip-hop artist Lecrae.
TobyMac, who will be performing at Rock the Universe for the seventh time, said his appearance will include songs from each of his solo releases, but it will focus on his latest album, This Is Not a Test (Forefront Records). His next project will be a live-performance CD and DVD, available in November.
TobyMac told the Orlando Sentinel that he loves performing in theme parks, which includes six parks this summer. After this weekend at Universal, he’ll travel in the next two weeks for shows at Carowinds in North Carolina and Cedar Point in Ohio.
“Theme parks are the perfect atmosphere for my music. My music is festive,” TobyMac, 51, told the Sentinel. “It’s like a big party, and it meets the crowd where they are and it takes them, I think, where they want to go when they’re standing in front of me in a theme park. It works for me.”
Other Rock the Universe artists include Jeremy Camp, Matt Maher, Lauren Daigle, Finding Favour and Colton Dixon.
During the event, guests can also stop by the Coca-Cola FanZone, featuring more live music and autograph sessions with performers. Guests will also have the opportunity to experience the Saturday night candle-lighting ceremony on Sept. 10 and Universal Studios Florida’s attractions, including Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit and Tranformers.
Held since 1998, Rock the Universe is one of two major Christian rock festivals held in Orlando each year. The other festival is Night of Joy, which is held at Disney’s ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex this year, on the same nights as Rock the Universe. The two festivals are both successful, despite the matching dates. Many bands tend to switch between the two festivals.
Tickets for Rock the Universe 2016 are $65.99 (one night), $103.99 (two nights), $99.99 (Saturday night and one theme park), $164.99 (both nights). For more information, visit RocktheUniverse.com. {eoa}
Eric Tiansay is a freelance writer for Charismamag.com.
Marti Pieper 
Gary Curtis 
James Lasher 
