Final preparations are being made for the area’s biggest event of the summer - Livin’ Out Loud. On Saturday, Aug. 15, an estimated 10,000 people will gather at Lake Helen in Gothenburg for an evening of inspirational music and strong testimonials of faith and perseverance. It is a very special evening, and thanks to the generosity of many businesses and individuals, there is no cost to attend.

The inaugural Livin’ Out Loud concert event was held in 2013 with Tenth Avenue North performing to some 3,500 people. Held for several years in the once open grass area where the Impact Center now sits, LOL moved to Lake Helen in 2019. Through a close working relationship with the City of Gothenburg, it has remained in the park at Lake Helen since.

Over the years, some of the biggest names in contemporary Christian music have performed at Livin’ Out Loud, including For King & Country, Matthew West, Sidewalk Prophets, Anne Wilson, Cain, Corey Asbury, We The Kingdom, Tauren Wells, We Are Messengers, and Skillet. Several artists enjoyed the venue and the people so much they have made return visits to Gothenburg, including this year’s headliner, Danny Gokey.

It’s been a while since Gokey was last here - 2018, to be exact. Since then, his career has skyrocketed. Three-time Grammy Nominee, three-time KLOVE Male Vocalist of the Year, Dove Award winner, and eighttime Dove Award Nominee, Danny Gokey, became a favorite of millions of fans as a Top 3 finalist on Season Eight of American Idol. He will close out this year’s show on Aug. 15.

Getting things started late Saturday afternoon will be up-and-coming artists Logan and Kate, who are set to take the stage around 5 p.m. They will be followed by Nebraska band and local favorites All The Noise, ushering in another returning group - Band Reeves.

These brothers from Texas were a crowd favorite at the 2025 Livin’ Out Loud event and are thrilled to be coming back.

A native of Boston, Massachusetts, Megan Woods burst onto the Christian music scene less than two years ago with her hit debut single, “The Truth”. Her powerhouse alto vocals in this deeply personal ballad resonated strongly with fans and developed her a huge following. Megan will take the stage Saturday evening following Band Reeves, and will also stick around to lead the worship service back at the lake on Sunday morning at 10 a.m.

Guests are encouraged to bring lawn chairs or blankets to sit on in the grass of the park. Food and beverage trucks and various vendors will be on site, and bringing cash for those vendors is encouraged.

The annual budget for Livin’ Out Loud is around $150,000, and while there is no fee to attend the event, it is only made possible through generous gifts and donations. There will be opportunities throughout the evening to donate to the event, both in-person and digitally. If you are unable to attend or would prefer to donate prior to the day of the show, those gifts can be made through the website at livinoutloud.org.

Your gift, no matter the size, helps share the hope of Jesus with thousands. If you’ve been blessed by this event, pay it forward so others can be blessed too.