Winterfest & Kidfest 2026: A Weekend of Faith, Friendship, and Growth

From February 13–15, students and leaders from across the Northern Central Region gathered in Lemmon, South Dakota, for the annual Winterfest and Kidfest conference. This beloved winter tradition continues to provide a powerful opportunity for young people to deepen their faith, build lasting friendships, and encounter God in a meaningful way.

Winterfest brought together teenagers from churches throughout the region for a weekend filled with worship, biblical teaching, fellowship, games, and spiritual encouragement. This year's guest speakers, Pastor Lloyd Smith and Pastor Stewart Wilkerson, challenged students to pursue a deeper relationship with Christ and to live boldly for Him in their schools, communities, and everyday lives. Through powerful messages and personal testimonies, students were encouraged to grow in their faith and trust God with every area of their lives.

Leading worship throughout the weekend was the NCR Collective, whose heartfelt worship created an atmosphere where students could freely encounter the presence of God. Through music, prayer, and moments of reflection, many young people experienced spiritual renewal and encouragement.

Meanwhile, Kidfest provided an exciting and engaging environment for younger students. Pastor Chris Taylor shared age-appropriate biblical teaching that helped children understand God's love, His plan for their lives, and the importance of following Jesus. Through lessons, activities, and fellowship, children were able to grow in their faith while having a great time with friends from across the region.

Events like Winterfest and Kidfest continue to play an important role in developing the next generation of believers. By bringing together students from many churches, these gatherings remind young people that they are part of something larger than themselves—a community of faith committed to following Christ.

We are thankful for the leaders, volunteers, speakers, musicians, and churches who helped make this year's conference a success. Most importantly, we celebrate the lives that were impacted and the spiritual seeds that were planted throughout the weekend.

We are already looking forward to what God will do at next year's Winterfest and Kidfest.