Spirit West Coast to host one-day festival in Ontario

Spirit West Coast returns to Southern California with a new format and a new location.

The single-day festival will be held June 20 at Citizens Business Bank Arena and will feature headliners MercyMe and Tenth Avenue North. Also appearing will be Sanctus Real, Kutless, Colton Dixon and Plumb.

MercyMe will release its latest album, “Welcome to the New,” featuring the energetic single “Shake” on April 8.

A sister Northern California festival is planned June 22 in Concord.

The streamlined festival means organizers are able to cut ticket prices to draw even more guests. Tickets start as low as $15.50 for the Ontario event, plus added taxes and fees. VIP packages are also available at $75.

“For a number of reasons SWC has decided to take an entirely new direction in 2014 by presenting two single-day, non-camping events in communities that have never experienced a SWC festival in their region before, the Inland Empire and Bay Area,” said Jon Robberson, the festival’s director.

Because of the one-day format, organizers are no longer saddled with the extensive logistics and infrastructure required to offer camping and other extended activities.

“God has impacted thousands at SWC events of the past and that opportunity is continuing for 2014,” the director said. “As a nonprofit ministry our goal and purpose is to not only provide incredible Christian music entertainment but even more so to reach people with the gospel of Jesus Christ. The 2014 event model allows us to accomplish these goals and we’re excited about seeing many newcomers turnout plus the many thousands who have attended Spirit West Coast in the past.”

In a posting on the Spirit West Coast website, Robberson said the festival is considering all of its options as it goes through this transition.

“Honestly, sometimes change like we’re experiencing in 2014 makes me a little nervous; I think the unknown is always like that,” he said. “But I’ve seen God do incredible things through change many times, including with Spirit West Coast. God has a complete plan for SWC, be it back to a three-day, camping event in the future or a continued series of single-day events. He knows exactly what He is doing with Spirit West Coast in the future. Like Abraham in Hebrews 11:8 when “‘he went out, not knowing where he was going,’ God knew and He knows where SWC is going, too.”

Learn more at www.spiritwestcoast.org or call (909) 244-5600.