'40 days and 40 nights' is the well-known phrase from Genesis 7:4 of the number of days it rained during Noah's Flood.
The world’s largest Christian music festival starts Monday (8/2) at the Ark Encounter in Williamstown, Ky., south of Cincinnati. The large-scale event called “40 Days & 40 Nights of Gospel Music at The Ark” will run August 2 - September 10, 2021, with multiple concerts daily, well-known speakers and opportunities to experience everything the popular Ark Encounter attraction has to offer.
“40 Days & 40 Nights of Gospel Music at The Ark” will feature the largest talent roster of any Christian music festival in the world, with more than 80 artists like New Song, The Hoppers, The Isaacs, Karen Peck & New River, Triumphant, Selah, The Martins, Brian Free & Assurance, Lynda Randle, Ernie Haase & Signature Sound, Jeff & Sheri Easter, Joseph Habedank, and many more. In addition, several of the most sought-after national speakers will make appearances, to include Dr. Robert Jeffress, Dr. David Jeremiah, Dr. Jerry Vines, Dr. Johnny Hunt, Dr. Tim Hill, Pastor C.T. Townsend, Dr. Barry Clardy, Ken Ham (founder and CEO of the Ark Encounter) and many others—over 100 musical groups and speakers in all.
Daily admission to the Ark Encounter gives free access to all the concerts and speakers and allows guests to explore the Ark, which at 510 feet long is the largest timber-frame structure in the world. Built according to the dimensions given in the Bible, the Ark features three decks of striking teaching exhibits.
Ham declares: “Millions of people across America love gospel music. Abraham Productions and the Ark Encounter are offering a unique combination of award-winning groups, with a range of music styles like Southern gospel, country, contemporary Christian music, and bluegrass, all coming to the world’s leading Christian themed attraction. The Ark is also the number one attraction in Kentucky as determined by Attractions Magazine.”
This is the first time the Ark Encounter has hosted a major musical festival. Abraham Productions is the organizer and promoter, well known for producing large gospel music events such as “Singing In The Sun,” a 6-day event with 30 major artists and national speakers, taking up the entire 250,000 square foot Myrtle Beach Convention Center in Myrtle Beach, S.C. “Singing In The Sun” attracts people from more than 45 states and several countries.
“I expect that ‘40 Days and Nights’ at the Ark now will be our largest-attended music event to date,” said Ray Flynn, president of Abraham Productions. “I’m praying it will draw well over 100,000 people to the Ark. We expect many guests will come for more than one day, so the final attendance might end up being even higher.”
During the “40 Days & Nights of Gospel Music at the Ark,” concerts will be held in the mornings at 10 a.m., with the main event at 5 p.m.—taking place in the state-of-the-art Answers Center near the massive ship. Music will also be presented daily in Noah’s Village nearby, and at 2 p.m. several opportunities will be offered to hear dynamic presentations from Ken Ham and even more gospel music in the Center.
Daily admission to the Ark Encounter gives free access to all the concerts and speakers and allows guests to explore the Ark, which at 510 feet long is the largest timber-frame structure in the world. Built according to the dimensions given in the Bible, the Ark features three decks of striking teaching exhibits. Other attractions include the live animal Ararat Ridge Zoo, a new Virtual Reality Experience, movies, family playground, ziplines, family dining at Emzara’s Kitchen, gift shops and more.
Ham, founder of the ministry Answers in Genesis which owns and operates the Ark Encounter, declared: “As a big fan of gospel music, I’m thrilled our world-renowned Ark attraction will be hosting this highly ambitious music festival. We expect to welcome visitors from all over the country and even abroad.”
Ham added: “Because each concert is included with general admission to the Ark Encounter, we’re encouraging people to consider purchasing an annual pass for their family so they can attend as many concerts as they wish over the 40 days of music. An annual pass gives families unlimited admission to both the Ark Encounter and the Creation Museum, plus free parking.”