Pickaway County – After more than a decade of silence, one of Circleville’s most beloved music events is back—and it’s coming back bigger, louder, and more electrifying than ever.
Mission Youth Ohio, a local nonprofit, is relaunching the iconic festival that once packed parks with thousands of youth and families throughout the 2000s. This August, the newly renamed Immersion Festival will make its long-awaited return at the Pickaway County Fairgrounds—and admission is absolutely free.
From 2000 to 2009, the festival—originally called Crossroads, then m:Yfest—drew teens from all over Ohio to celebrate faith, music, and community at Ted Lewis Park. Now, a coalition of former attendees, bands, and local leaders are reviving the spirit of the event for a new generation.
“The common trope about Circleville is that there isn’t a lot to do for kids like there used to be, and in some ways that could be true. And for me, this was the thing that left that I could do something about helping fix,” said Mission Youth Ohio director, Benjamin Schlichter.
This year’s festival will feature three full music stages—each designed for a unique audience:
- 🎤 Main Stage (Contemporary Christian & Worship): Featuring national headliners Social Club Misfits, radio star Stephen Stanley, GRAMMY-nominated Jamie Grace, and local favorite Mudhouse, plus other folk and indie artists.
- 🎧 Hip-Hop Stage: Featuring a lineup of rising Ohio-based hip-hop artists, with the headliner to-be-announce
- 🎸 Hard Rock / Metal Stage: Featuring fan-favorite No Treaty and a soon-to-be-announced national act that promises to bring the house down.
We had no idea the impact that inaugural year as Crossroads and the following years as m:Y fest would have. We just wanted to play good music and write songs about Jesus. Being a part of those early years playing music and now helping to revive mission:Youth is pretty amazing.,” said Jackie Cheadle, a Mission Youth Ohio board member and member of Sunday’s Best—who opened for Switchfoot at the festival 25 years ago.
But Immersion is more than music. Festivalgoers can also enjoy:
- 🍔 “Grub & Groove” Food Truck Festival on the Midway, with 7–10 food trucks including free meal options for those in need.
- 🎮 Video Game Tournament, with multiple titles, prizes, and bragging rights on the line.
- 🧩 Immersive Escape Room Experience, a quiet, interactive break from the music chaos designed for families and friends to solve together.
- 🔥 Hype Afterparty (in the works): a safe, substance-free dance party with lights, energy, and community.
Plus, a community-wide worship event is being planned for the evening prior—details to be announced soon.
🎟️ Admission is completely free, but donations are welcome. Local businesses can support through sponsorships or in-kind donations, helping grow what’s quickly shaping up to be one of the biggest youth-focused events in Central Ohio.
Volunteer and sponsorship opportunities are now open.
To get involved or learn more, visit ImmersionMusicFest.com, find them on Facebook, or email [email protected].
