Ichthus shutting down after 42 years

By: Jerrika Insco - Email

Updated: Sun 12:03 AM, Dec 09, 2012

WILMORE, Ky. (WKYT) - After 42 years of ministry, the nation's largest Christian music festival, Ichthus, is closing down.

Since 2006, the festival, based in Wilmore, has seen financial difficulties, attendance decline, market changes, and mounting debt.

"As the economy has changed over the past decade, our attendance has gone down. So in order to deal with those challenges, we made staff cuts and made budget cuts. We even tried to sell our farm," said Aaron Ranson, the chairman of the Ichthus Ministries board.

Ichthus board members also say difficult weather conditions caused problems for the outdoor festival on U.S. 60.

"It was really fun. There are tons of people and lots of different bands for everyone's taste," said Jenelle Gore, an Asbury University graduate.

A statement was posted Saturday on the festival's website announcing the closure.

If you bought tickets to the 2012 festival and want a refund, visit http://www.ichthus.org/refund.

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