While the musical acts change every year for Faith and Family Night, people say the reasons they attend do not.

“There’s no drinking, and it’s clean, family fun,” said Brittany Cook, who added that she attends Riverbend only on the Tuesday night set aside specifically for families.

The Ringgold, Ga., woman, who brought her 2-year-old son, Dylan, said she was excited to see headlining Christian artist Steven Curtis Chapman, but was more thrilled about 12-year-old Mackenzie Morgan, the youngest member of the Chattanooga Choo-Choo Jukebox Junction Family Theater.

“She’s only (12) years old, and she’s awesome,” Ms. Cook said.

Fans enjoyed Mr. Chapman, who opened with “Blessed Be Your Name,” followed by “All Things New” and “Everything is Yours,” after which he told the crowd he added a verse to that song following the death of his daughter in May 2008.

“I just like his story, about (how he handled the situation) when his daughter died,” said 15-year-old Will Mitchell, of Signal Mountain. The singer’s 5-year-old daughter died after she accidentally was hit in the family’s driveway by a sport utility vehicle driven by her brother.

Mr. Mitchell’s mother, Elise, and 11-year-old sister Caroline also said they were excited to see both Ms. Morgan and Mr. Chapman.

“You just know you’re going to have music that’s OK for her to hear,” Elise Mitchell said, nodding toward her daughter. “And it’s not as crowded.”

Mayor Ron Littlefield helped kick off the night by officially proclaiming this week U.S. Navy Week. The mayor was joined by several Navy officers on the Showcase Stage.

“We honor and salute our Navy members and their representatives,” he said.

Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy Rick West said he appreciated the mayor’s proclamation and hopes Navy week shows Chattanooga residents what the Navy represents.

“It is important for the public, the nation, to see how their tax dollars are being spent and to show them what we do,” he said. “A lot of people think: Navy, sailors, high seas.”

But the Navy also provides humanitarian relief, tsunami relief and overseas ground support, among other things, Master Chief West said.