Rock the Desert 'Ignites'

Amongst a sea of umbrellas, lawn chairs and throws, Amanda Keith sat cross-legged on a blue blanket Saturday afternoon devouring a tinfoil-wrapped turkey leg.

The 20-year-old Duncan, Okla., native listened to Christian rock band Day of Fire at Rock the Desert as she bit into her latest treat.

"I go to festivals for the food," Keith said. "Turkey legs are an obsession."

Keith was one of about 13,000 people to purchase tickets for the two-day concert, which ends Saturday evening with headliner Switchfoot.

But, like Keith, several people travel to concerts to enjoy the music and savor the foods and merchandise as well.

"It's a bonus," Keith said of food.

In a nearby blue tent, 13-year-old Robin Breaux enjoys talking with friends while sipping on a $6 pineapple drink with grape flavoring. Before finishing the thirst quencher, she considered getting a refill for $3.

"It has a good aftertaste," the Odessa resident said. "It makes you want more."

Other concert revelers walked the event grounds sporting items like foam "rock-n-roll" fingers, band T-shirts and colored bandanas.

Aaron Coleman helped pass out free "magic bandanas" to concert goers, saying the head gear could be placed in water to help people cool off in the West Texas heat.

The bandanas were courtesy of First Priority Odessa, a faith-based, nonprofit organization led by local students.

Across the grounds in the camping area, about 22 members of the Fellowship Family Church youth group from Grand Prairie gathered under a tent to chow down on watermelon, hamburgers and hotdogs.

Youth minister Matthew Higgins operated the stoves with the help of youth sponsor Loretta Jacobs.

Higgins said the group chose to camp out because it would allow the teenagers to meet others, stay up late and gain the full effect of the event.

"We are taking in the whole experience," Higgins said. "We want nothing to pass us by."