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Night of Joy was an annual contemporary Christian music festival that took place at Walt Disney World Resort in Florida from 1983 until 2017[1]. It 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.

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.

2017 Lineup[]

Friday, September 8, 2017:[2]

  • TobyMac
  • MercyMe
  • Zach Williams
  • Natalie Grant
  • Danny Gokey
  • HP Field House
  • Matt Maher
  • Colton Dixon
  • Rend Collective

Saturday, September 9, 2017

  • Amy Grant
  • Steven Curtis Chapman
  • Kirk Franklin
  • Jordan Feliz
  • HP Field House
  • Crowder
  • Jeremy Camp
  • Tye Tribbett

2016 Lineup[]

Friday, September 9:[3]

  • MercyMe
  • Casting Crowns
  • Chris Tomlin
  • Battistelli
  • Crowder
  • Matthew West
  • Stars Go Dim
  • Zealand Worship

Saturday, September 10:­[4]

  • Newsboys
  • for King & Country
  • Young & Free
  • Switchfoot
  • Red
  • Thousand Foot Krutch
  • Timmons
  • Veridia

2015 Lineup[]

Friday, September 11:­[5]

  • TobyMac
  • MercyMe
  • Jeremy Camp
  • Colton Dixon
  • Big Daddy Weave
  • Francesca Battistelli
  • Rend Collective
  • I Am They

Saturday, September 12:­[6]

  • Skillet
  • Lecrae
  • For King & Country
  • Mandisa
  • Matt Maher
  • Jamie Grace
  • Seventh Time Down
  • Veridia

2014 Lineup[]

Friday, September 5:[7]

  • Matthew West
  • Chris Tomlin
  • Hillsong United
  • Building 429
  • Mandisa
  • For King and Country
  • Matt Maher
  • The Neverclaim

Saturday, September 6:[8]

  • 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 & Country
  • Audio Adrenaline
  • Moriah Peters
  • We As Human
  • City Harbor

Saturday, September 7:

  • Newsboys
  • TobyMac
  • Francesca Battistelli
  • Group 1 Crew
  • Building 429
  • Plumb
  • Matthew West
  • Jamie Grace

2012 Lineup[]

Friday, September 7:

  • Casting Crowns
  • Chris Tomlin
  • NEEDTOBREATHE
  • Red
  • Francesca Battistelli
  • Brandon Heath
  • Royal Tailor
  • Disciple

Saturday, September 8:

  • MercyMe
  • Third Day
  • Kutless
  • Thousand Foot Krutch
  • Lecrae
  • Chris August

2011 Lineup[]

Friday, September 9:

  • Skillet
  • Newsboys
  • Jeremy Camp
  • Disciple
  • Sidewalk Prophets
  • Francesca Battistelli
  • Group 1 Crew
  • Matthew West

Saturday, September 10:

  • MercyMe
  • TobyMac
  • Jars of Clay
  • Sanctus Real
  • Kutless
  • Marvin Sapp
  • VaShawn Mitchell
  • Chris August

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

  • MercyMe
  • Third Day
  • Family Force 5
  • Smokie Norful
  • Red
  • Lecrae
  • Day of Fire
  • Britt Nicole

History (1983-2009)[]

2009[]

Night of Joy

Compilation album from Night of Joy 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:

  • Chris Tomlin
  • P.O.D.
  • Newsboys
  • Kutless
  • Needtobreathe
  • Leeland
  • Superchick

Saturday, September 12:

Both Days:

  • Above the Golden State
  • Abandon
  • Josh Wilson

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
  • pureNRG

2007[]

Friday, September 7:

  • Third Day
  • Chris Tomlin
  • David Crowder Band
  • Jaci Velasquez
  • Brian Littrell
  • BarlowGirl
  • Leeland
  • Jessie Daniels
  • Sanctus Real

Saturday, September 8:

  • Newsboys
  • Steven Curtis Chapman
  • Salvador
  • Mark Schultz
  • Smokie Norful
  • Kutless
  • Red
  • Mary Mary
  • Flyleaf (with Lacey Sturm)
  • 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:

  • Kirk Franklin
  • Jaci Velasquez
  • CeCe Winans
  • Salvador
  • Jump 5
  • Jeremy Camp
  • Joy Williams
  • 12 Stones

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[]

  • Newsboys
  • Jaci Velasquez
  • Out of Eden
  • Plumb
  • RAZE
  • CeCe Winans

1999[]

  • Michael W. Smith
  • Fred Hammond
  • Delirious?
  • Jaci Velasquez
  • Avalon
  • Audio Adrenaline
  • Out of Eden

1998[]

  • God's Property
  • Jars of Clay
  • Avalon
  • Third Day
  • Bob Carlisle
  • Greg Long

1997[]

  • Steven Curtis Chapman
  • Jars of Clay
  • NewSong
  • Anointed
  • Sarah Masen
  • Hezekiah Walker

1996[]

  • dc Talk
  • Michael W. Smith
  • Newsboys
  • Hezekiah Walker
  • Rebecca St. James
  • Clay Crosse

1995[]

  • Carman
  • Steven Curtis Chapman
  • Audio Adrenaline
  • Shirley Caesar
  • Point of Grace

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[]

  • Petra
  • dc Talk
  • The Winans
  • Steven Curtis Chapman
  • Geoff Moore & The Distance
  • Cindy Morgan

1991[]

Friday & Saturday, September 6 & 7:

  • Petra
  • Stryper
  • REZ

1990[]

Friday & Saturday, September 7 & 8:

  • Shirley Caesar
  • Carman
  • Steven Curtis Chapman
  • DeGarmo & Key
  • Petra
  • REZ

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:

  • Darrell Mansfield
  • Leon Patillo
  • Petra
  • Stryper
  • Russ Taff
  • Sheila Walsh
  • The Winans

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:

  • The Archers
  • Phillip Bailey
  • Debbie Boone
  • Andraé Crouch
  • Phil Driscoll
  • Glad

Friday & Saturday, September 6 & 7:

  • AD
  • David and the Giants
  • David Meece
  • Michael W Smith
  • Petra
  • White Heart

1984[]

Friday & Saturday, September 7 & 8:

  • Debby Boone
  • Clark Sisters
  • Dion
  • Amy Grant
  • Darrell Mansfield
  • Leon Patillo
  • REZ

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

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