Spotlight: Helmar Palooza

By Matt Greven

It is September 2021, and the number one song on the Billboard chart for Christian music is “My Hannah, is a huge fan, and it just so happens that Wilson is going to be one of the featured artists at a new event at our church called Helmar Palooza. We quickly go online to order tickets to the event, which is open to the public. While most people at our church expect a couple hundred people to come, there are already thousands of tickets ordered. Helmar Palooza is going to be bigger than any of us ever imagined.

Helmar Palooza turns out to be different than most attendees would expect, as well. Everything is free: music, parking, and even the food, which includes a pork chop on a stick, brisket burgers, ice cream, and cotton candy. If you arrive early, you can play in a volleyball, basketball, or bean bag tossing tournament. At the end of the night, you can take a picture with your favorite artist. No free-will offering is taken and no one promotes our church. The focus is worshiping and praising Jesus.

The idea for Helmar Palooza started when Marlon Mathre, a life-long member of Helmar Lutheran, Newark, Ill., announced one Sunday morning that he had an idea to hold an outdoor event. He wanted to bring in a few Christian musical acts and have a day of family fun. Everything would be underwritten anonymously. He had no idea how many people might come, but everyone would be encouraged to bring their non-churched friends and neighbors. That Sunday a planning committee was formed.

To host an outreach event like Helmar Palooza, many volunteers are needed. Donations are also needed to cover the costs, but we want the event to be free for a few reasons. First, we want to be a blessing to Christians. Second, we want to have an event that can draw nonchurch goers to a relaxed, fun atmosphere. Last, we want people to know that even though an event like this does cost money, it’s totally free for anyone who would receive it—a visual of grace and salvation.

“Helmar Palooza is special because it is 100 percent volunteer by a relatively small church,” said Angie Niles. “No one has experience in any of it ... it’s just everyone pulling their interests and gifts together to create something special for the community.”

Niles noted that other churches in the area do offer music events, but those are large congregations with thousands in attendance. Helmar Lutheran averages 175 people on a Sunday. Of those, 100 people volunteer to put on the event, from sanitation to artist hospitality, and from social media promotion to prayer teams.

“To see so many people work together so smoothly and efficiently, you know it’s the Holy Spirit and it is such a unifying thing to experience together,” said Niles.

Since that first event, artists such as Sidewalk Prophets, Colton Dixon, Micah Tyler, and Cain have headlined the event. This year, Helmar Palooza hosted an estimated 4,000 people.

Greven is a member of Helmar Lutheran, Newark, Ill. Submitted photos.