Newday, a Christian youth festival, celebrated its twentieth year with 9,000 attendees at the Norfolk Showground. The festival featured teaching, worship, fun, and games for young people from 221 different youth groups across the country who set up camp for the week. Many of the attendees were “church kids,” while others were new to the concept of meeting Jesus. Youth Alpha sessions and discussions on various topics were available to help young people learn more about the Christian faith and make commitments to following Jesus. The Engage team provided support for those who found large groups or structure overwhelming, ensuring that all attendees felt included and connected to their church youth group.
The young people at Newday were divided into age groups for morning sessions with speakers, which included a mix of fun activities and messages. Afternoons were filled with free time for various activities and workshops, including dodgeball, football, netball, and prayer zones. The Christian bookstore, 10 of those, offered resources at discounted prices, and Newday merchandise was popular among attendees. Evening sessions in the big top tent brought everyone together for worship and special services, such as a healing service where over 400 people were healed from pain and illnesses. The final night featured a superhero theme, encouraging attendees to dress up and participate in the festivities.
Newday has a rich history, starting at the Newark Showground before moving to Nottingham and Uttoxeter. The festival finally settled in Norfolk in 2009 due to the large amount of space needed for the event. Speakers at Newday shared how attending the festival as teenagers had a lasting impact on their faith and ministry journey, highlighting the lasting legacy of the event. Overall, Newday provided a unique opportunity for young people to learn, worship, and connect with their faith in a fun and engaging setting, helping them grow in their relationship with God and their church community.
