Contact: Craig Chastain, Luis Palau Association, 503-939-5535
TAMPA, Fla., Mar. 5 /Christian Newswire/ -- One of the largest faith celebrations ever presented in Florida wrapped Sunday night, March 4th, at the Raymond James Stadium grounds in Tampa after two days of the Tampa Bay Festival with Luis Palau. Festival organizers set the weekend attendance at 140,000.
World evangelist and author Luis Palau joined with over 550 churches, dozens of local and national business, and close to 10,000 volunteers to bring the "Great music & Good News" festival to the Tampa Bay area. Some of the top entertainers in country, pop and gospel music performed, including Chris Tomlin, Kirk Franklin, Wynonna Judd, TobyMac, P.O.D., Mandisa, BarlowGirl, and Marcos Witt.
Palau's festival format also featured the Livin It Action Sports Tour, a kids play area, and a Sports Zone featuring Tony Dungy, the Super Bowl champion coach who was also honorary chairman of the event.
Palau, whose team has worked with the church and business communities of Tampa, Clearwater, St. Petersburg and other Florida for over three years, was touched by the size and diversity of the turnout.
"We were blessed by the Tampa Bay region in so many ways." said Palau. "To look out on that great crowd and see such diversity, such excitement to hear and share God's love, was a tremendous thrill and a tribute to all our Florida friends who worked so hard."
The festival was funded entirely by contributions from corporations, churches and individuals. No collections or offerings are ever taken at Palau festivals.
Florida's legendary mild winter turned cold and rainy on Saturday, with a sturdy crowd of 40,000 enduring heavy winds and rain. The skies turned clear and sunny on Saturday, warming an audience estimated at 100,000.
Palau's next major U.S. festival is set for May 19-20 in Nashville, followed by Dallas, Omaha and Atlanta. A major Hispanic festival is set for mid-March in Monterrey, Mexico. The Oregon-based Luis Palau Association has brought the Gospel message to over 25 million people face-to-face in 70 countries. Luis Palau's daily radio broadcasts are heard by tens of millions of listeners on 2600+ radio stations in 42 nations. He is the author of close to 50 books, and his counsel on issues of faith has been shared with political leaders and heads of state around the world.
