Knott’s Takes Leap of Scheduling : Festival: ‘A Joyful Response,’ featuring eight gospel groups in a daylong event, is the first of its kind at the amusement park.

Knott’s Berry Farm, whose most popular annual event centers on the ghouls and goblins of Halloween, on Sunday will give equal time to matters heavenly with a daylong gospel music celebration.

The event, featuring eight black gospel groups on four stages, is the first festival of its kind at the park.

The renowned Mighty Clouds of Joy and the Anointed Pace Sisters top the bill. Also featured are the Sacramento Fellowship Choir, which performs about once a year at the park, the Bethany Church Radio Choir, Infinity, Sam Murrell and Company, the Celebration Choir and Simple Truth.

All performances are included with regular park admission.

The event, tied to Monday’s national holiday observing Martin Luther King Jr.’s birthday, also seeks to capitalize on renewed interest in gospel music sparked by Steve Martin’s latest movie, “Leap of Faith,” said Knott’s spokeswoman Dana Hammontree.

Additionally, performances at the park by the Sacramento Fellowship Choir have typically “received a very welcome response,” Hammontree said. “So that prompted the desire to have more groups in the park, billed as a gospel event.”

The event, tabbed “A Joyful Response,” is the second Knott’s presentation in less than a month marking a bold departure from the park’s typical scheduling.

On New Year’s Eve, which in past years usually has been earmarked for contemporary Christian pop-rock entertainers, the park featured a huge rave festival, featuring a host of popular techno deejays and artists. The park has held rock concerts and other events aimed at teen-agers and young adults in previous years but rarely has so specifically targeted--and reached--an underground youth movement such as that surrounding the rave scene and techno music.

But Hammontree said the rave and gospel events are not part of any grand plan to attract a more diverse audience to the park.

Nor does this Sunday’s festival indicate that Knott’s will begin regularly scheduling gospel events, although future gospel performances may be considered, she said.

“We generally offer diversified entertainment at the park,” she said.

Sunday’s performances will begin at 1 p.m. Two acts will appear on each of four Knott’s stages, and each group will perform twice.

The Mighty Clouds of Joy and the Anointed Pace Sisters will perform their two shows at the Good Time Theatre. The Sacramento Fellowship Choir and fiddler Sam Murrell will appear at the Cloud Nine Ballroom.

At the Wagon Camp Amphitheater, Infinity and the Bethany Community Church Radio Choir will perform, and the Celebration Choir and Simple Truth will be featured at the Wilderness Dance Hall.

* The Mighty Clouds of Joy, the Anointed Pace Sisters, Bethany Community Church Radio Choir, Sacramento Fellowship Choir, Infinity, Sam Murrell and Company, Celebration Choir and Simple Truth perform at a gospel festival beginning at 1 p.m. Sunday at Knott’s Berry Farm, 8039 Beach Blvd., Buena Park. All performances included with park admission: $23.95, adults; $15.95, seniors; $11.95, children ages 3 to 11. (714) 220-5200.