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On Saturday, September 27, 2008, youth from Johnston and surrounding counties are invited to attend the annual "Faith Festival" at the Neuse River Amphitheater in Downtown Smithfield.

The free concert will be held from 5:00pm till 10:00pm with DOVE, Juno, and Covenant Award winning Christian rock band, Downhere performing material from their new CD "Ending is Beginning", as well as their hits from their 3 previous CD's. Also performing will be the Michael Gungor Band, Flowers for Faye, Embracing Goodbye, and PB&J. Downhere performance will start at 8:30pm.

"We have always felt fortunate to have an outdoor venue located on the banks of the Neuse River here in Downtown Smithfield," states Chris Johnson, Executive Director of the Downtown Smithfield Development Corporation and concert organizer.  "It is a perfect location for a concert of this type, and judging from the number of calls my office has already received about having Downhere perform, the banks will be packed."

The festival is being organized by the Downtown Smithfield Development Corporation, and supported financially with the help from various churches from across Johnston County, and local businesses.

"We wanted to reach out to the youth by offering them a very high energy type of entertainment but with a Christian message," expressed Tommy Cooke, Youth Director of First Baptist Church and one of the many concert sponsors.  "We wanted to make sure that the music was something that would be appealing to the youth and that they would enjoy."

Organizers are hoping that area church youth leaders will encourage their groups to attend the festival since there is no cost to attend the concert.

"With the quality entertainment lined up, we expecting big things," continues Johnson.  "We are taking the approach that if we can change the life of just one young person, then it will all be worth it."

A map of Downtown Smithfield and the Neuse River Amphitheater can be found at the Downtown Smithfield Development Corporation website located at www.downtownsmithfield.com.  For more information, to volunteer, or to make a contribution to the "Faith Festival", please contact Chris Johnson at the website mentioned, or by calling the Downtown Smithfield Development Corporation office at 934-0887.