Off the Charts Music Festival a 'collision of heaven and earth'

A free Christian music festival hosting well-known artists, like Sidewalk Prophets, is ready for another gathering of believers from Canada and the U.S.A.

The Off the Charts Music Festival takes place just over the U.S. border in Cavalier, ND this August. The park is only an hour and a half drive south of Winnipeg, which often brings many Manitobans to the event. 

"It's going to be a doozie," says Kyle Gagner, director and host of Off the Charts. "We're having Sidewalk Prophets coming back for the second time. We're having KB come. We've also got a fella named Stephen Stanley and Sean Rodriguez. We have others coming as well, it's a stacked lineup."

Gagner says that for past festivals, the crowd has roughly been half Canadian citizens. 

"It takes a lot of work to put on an event," says Gagner. "When we get to the event and we can look at all the folks gathered together and literally watch the kingdom of heaven and the kingdom of earth intersect, and watch the Holy Spirit move throughout the city park of Cavalier, to see people encouraged and enjoying themselves, is so encouraging to me." 

Off the Charts Music Festival happens on August 17-18 and offers a few options for those who want to stay overnight, including camping at a local campground. There will be food trucks at the event and people are also allowed to bring their own food.