Massive turnout expected at Palau's CityFest

   PORTLAND — Luis Palau Festivals, the free, family-friendly celebration which has drawn more than 7.5 million people since 1999 from south Florida to South America, is coming back to its birthplace when Portland CityFest returns to Tom McCall Waterfront Park on Friday and Saturday, Aug. 22 and 23.
   Activities are scheduled 2 to 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday; admission is free.
   Palau, the Portland-based international evangelist, drew 93,000 people to the park over two days in 1999 with his first Portland festival, then the following year 140,000, again over two days. So a similarly massive turnout is expected for the new version of the event.
   Expanding on a community service component that has long been a part of festivals featuring Palau, CityFest teamed with dozens of area service agencies and churches under the banner “Season of Service” to provide resources to projects that serve the homeless, the hungry, the medically uninsured, the impoverished, the environment and the public schools. The festival will celebrate all accomplished through the project, one of the largest in state history with more than 15,000 volunteers participating in hundreds of service endeavors.
   Corporate partnerships include The Portland Trailblazers, Multnomah Bible College, Wells Fargo Bank, the Portland Timbers and Beavers, Christian Supply Stores, Medical Teams International, Ecomotion, and Phillips & Company. A centerpiece of the Season of Service is Portland’s “Home Again Mentoring Program” which pairs homeless individuals and families with support from the church community. Portland Homeless Connect, one of the nation’s most successful outreaches to the homeless, will this year be a featured part of CityFest on Friday, Aug. 22.
   CityFest will showcase some of the top artists in contemporary Christian and gospel music, including Kirk Franklin, Chris Tomlin, TobyMac, MercyMe and Kutless. The Livin It action sports tour will feature top pro athletes from the “action sports” of skateboarding, motocross and BMX biking. Video superstars Bob & Larry from the VeggieTales videos will host a massive Family Fun Zone.