Lower ticket prices for next year's Parachute

Parachute founder Mark de Jong told the Waikato Times things weren’t looking too bad for the festival.

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This year’s Parachute Christian Music Festival looks set to pull in about three quarters of its record crowd.

Parachute founder Mark de Jong told the Waikato Times things weren’t looking too bad for the festival, which asked for and got help from venue Mystery Creek Events Centre when it looked like numbers might be considerably down on previous festivals.

“We are thinking we are going to hit 20,000,” Mr de Jong said. “That’s a good result. It was not looking that positive last December.”

Festival numbers peaked, a few years ago, at 27,000, but fewer international headline acts this year, like Atlanta based Casting Crowns, could be taking its toll on some prospective festival goers.

The ongoing financial downturn is also a factor.   

“25,000 is big, probably between 21,000 and 24,000 is normal,” Mr de Jong said.

Mr de Jong said Parachute was winding ticket prices for next year’s event, confirmed for Mystery Creek, back to 2009 prices which will help more people to afford entry.

- © Fairfax NZ News