What doTenth Avenue North, Group 1 Crew, Day of Fire, Sidewalk Prophets, Lecrae and Thousand Foot Krutch all have in common?

It’s the first time any of these bands will appear at Night of Joy at Walt Disney World’s Magic Kingdom.

The long-running popular Christian music event returns this weekend and through the yeasr has hosted 145 Christian acts.

Past Christian music artists of the rear Third Day, mercyme and Chris Tomlin and 2010 Artist of the Year nominee Casting Crowns head the 16-act lineup.

“This is our 27th year for Night of Joy,” Disney spokesman Charles Stovall said. “We will have three main stages in the Magic Kingdom for the performers and then a couple of smaller stages for the winner of the Disney Gospel Choir Fest and Record Company partners.”

From 7:30 p.m. until 1 a.m. each night, after regular park hours, the special-ticket event will feature live performances of music that runs the spectrum from rock, hip hop and R&B to pop, adult contemporary and gospel that continues a tradition dating back to 1983 when the event started.

Stovall said the lineup is filled with accolades. Ten of the artists have amassed a combined 81 Gospel Music Association Dove Awards and six of the Recording Academy Grammy Awards. Twelve of the artists were nominated for a total of 33 Dove Awards this year.

The debut performers accolades include:

• 10th Avenue North, the 2009 New Artist of the Year

• Group 1 Crew, which has won the Rap/Hip Hop Album of the Year honors the past two years.

• Day of Fire, which received the Rock Album of the Year prize in 2005

• Sidewalk Prophets, a pop/rock group nominated for two Doves in 2010, including New Artist of the Year

• LeCrae, a Hip Hop/R&B artist who has picked up nominations in previous years.

Also scheduled to appear are the David Crowder Band, BarlowGirl, Family Force

5, Smokie Norful, Britt Nicole, Red and Thousand Foot Krutch.

The two-night event is

frequently sold out. Advance tickets are available by calling 407-934-7639 or by visit-

ing the Internet site disneyworld.com/nightofjoy.

One and two day Night of Joy tickets are priced separately from daytime admissions to the Magic Kingdom park. Admission to the theme park does not provide admission to the music event. The Night of Joy tickets do not provide theme park admission prior to 4 p.m.

There also are special rates for groups of 10 and more persons. For more information and to purchase group tickets, call 877-648-3569.