KidsFest Brings Hands-On Fun Back to the Mount Vernon Music and Arts Festival!

KidsFest is returning to the Mount Vernon Music and Arts Festival with a wide variety of activities designed to give children a place to create, move, learn and have fun.

WNZR’s Marcy Rinehart talked with festival board member Noella Nzishura about this year’s KidsFest and what families can expect throughout the weekend.

Click HERE to hear the full conversation!

Nzishura has been involved with the festival for three years. She began as a volunteer before joining the board and is now helping lead KidsFest after learning from the person who previously oversaw the area.

This year’s activities include fruit kebabs, cookie decorating, fitness activities, African drumming and opportunities for kids to dress up and take part in different experiences. Returning favorites include succulents, princesses and bounce houses.

Kids can also pick up a passport and work through different activities, with an opportunity to earn a T-shirt.

KidsFest will be located on Vine Street behind Park National Bank. Nzishura said the area will include tents and bounce houses while creating a welcoming environment for children and their families. Bouquet making will also be offered through one of the businesses on Vine Street.

KidsFest opens at 11 a.m. each day. Activities continue into the evening Friday and Saturday, while KidsFest wraps up at 2 p.m. Sunday.

There is no cost to participate and no advance registration is required.

Nzishura said one of the things she is most looking forward to is seeing children try activities they may not have experienced before and discover skills they did not know they had.

Volunteers are still needed to help with KidsFest. Anyone interested can visit MVMAF.org and complete the festival’s volunteer form.

Nzishura encouraged families to simply come downtown, take part in the activities and enjoy the experience together.

Click HERE to learn more about the Mount Vernon Music and Arts Festival!

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Debbie Ruggles Previews the Food, Vendors and Volunteer Needs for MVMAF

Food and local vendors are a big part of the Mount Vernon Music and Arts Festival experience, and this year there will be plenty to explore throughout downtown.

WNZR’s Marcy Rinehart talked with festival board member Debbie Ruggles about the food, vendor village and volunteer opportunities available during the weekend.

Click HERE to hear the full conversation!

Ruggles said 28 vendors are scheduled to take part in the festival, offering everything from jewelry and paintings to food and other handmade items. The vendor village will stretch through downtown Mount Vernon, including Main Street and Vine Street, and will be open throughout the festival.

Food will also be easy to find. Ruggles said 17 food trucks are expected, with options located near both the South Stage and the Main Stage. Vendors will be ready to serve beginning Friday morning and will remain open through Sunday afternoon.

Ruggles said the festival itself stretches from the Public Square down toward Ohio Avenue, creating a large footprint through downtown and giving visitors plenty of opportunities to stop at local businesses along the way.

She also emphasized that the festival still needs volunteers. Even a couple of hours can help, with volunteers needed in several areas throughout the weekend. Groups or individuals looking for community service hours are also welcome to get involved.

Anyone interested in volunteering can email MTVFestivalVendor@gmail.com.

Ruggles said she is especially looking forward to the local entertainment and spending time downtown with friends and family. She also encouraged people not to let possible rain keep them away, noting that the festival will continue and ponchos will be available.

Reserved seating is also available at a relatively low cost for those who want a guaranteed spot for some of the performances.

Ruggles said many people have worked throughout the year to make the festival possible and hopes visitors will come downtown, enjoy the food and entertainment, and support the community.

Click HERE to learn more about the Mount Vernon Music and Arts Festival!

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Mount Vernon Music and Arts Festival Adds a Living History Twist!

The Mount Vernon Music and Arts Festival is bringing a mix of music, community support and a little television nostalgia to downtown Mount Vernon this weekend.

WNZR’s Josiah Styer talked with Festival Director Noell Walton and Board Chair Joe Rinehart about what visitors can expect.

Click HERE to hear both conversations!

Friday night opens with Phil Dirt and the Dozers from 6:30 to 8 p.m., followed by Forever Seger, a Bob Seger tribute band. Saturday shifts to country music, with Six One Five Collective opening for Fredericktown native Preston Cooper on the main stage at the Public Square.

One unique Saturday attraction is the return of MadCap Living History. Joe Rinehart said Jim and Amy Stoner started the group, which features local actors portraying well-known figures.

This year’s theme is “Stars of 70s Television,” with portrayals of Paul Lynde, Elizabeth Montgomery from Bewitched, Betty White and Doris Day. The living history characters will be found throughout South Main Street on Saturday from 11 a.m. until 4 p.m.

Walton said she is especially excited about Preston Cooper’s appearance and encouraged people to come downtown and enjoy the festival. She also reminded visitors that the Mount Vernon Music and Arts Festival is a nonprofit organization and can be supported through donations, volunteering or simply attending the event.

Rinehart also thanked the many sponsors and community partners that help make the festival possible. Ariel Corporation serves as the premier sponsor, while Park National Bank, Evergreen Waste and Susan Ramser and Ramser Arboretum are among the stage sponsors.

Other partners include the City of Mount Vernon, the Mount Vernon Arts Consortium, the Woodward Opera House and the Knox County Foundation. Park National Bank is also providing use of its Vine Street parking lot, and donations will be accepted during festival events.

Click HERE to learn more about the Mount Vernon Music and Arts Festival!

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The Cruise-In, a Chalk Competition and the Wood Auction returns to the 2026 Mount Vernon Music & Arts Festival

WNZR shines the spotlight on the 2026 Mount Vernon Music & Arts Festival this week. WNZR’s Josiah Styer talked with Board Member, Jacob Francis about event logistics.
Click HERE to hear the full conversation or click on the photo below.

Jacob serves as the Site and Logistics Director for the Festival. He shared details about this year’s map and festival layout, along with news about when streets will close.
He also shared the good news that 3 favorite events will return. Listen in for details about the 6th annual Car & Motorcycle Cruise-in, the Wood Challenge Auction and the 3rd annual Chalk Competition.

Click HERE for more information on the festival and to see the full schedule.

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WNZR shines the spotlight on the 2026 Hartford Fair

Did you know the “Biggest Little Fair in the World” is close to home and going on this week? YES! The 2026 Hartford Fair is this week!
Eric Brown from The Morning Thing talked with Fair Manager, Roger Smith about this year’s event.
Click HERE to hear the full conversation or click on the photo below.

Roger shared schedule highlights, the history of the fair, new events and how to get tickets.
This is the 168th Hartford Fair! You can see the Big Blue Crew tonight along with Monster Trucks and a Fantasy Drone show!

Click HERE to see the complete schedule and all details about this year’s Fair.

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Neighbor Helping Neighbor: Repair Café Knox County Gives Broken Items — and Old Favorites — Another Chance!

A broken clock, an old typewriter or even a treasured antique does not necessarily have to end up in the trash.

WNZR’s Eric Brown recently talked with Mark Tillack, founder of Repair Café Knox County, about a program that brings neighbors together to see if those broken items can be put back into service.

Click HERE to hear the full conversation!

Tillack said the Repair Café concept began in the Netherlands in 2009 and eventually made its way to Knox County. The local program started in November of 2018 and now holds repair events four times a year.

People have brought in everything from bicycles, fans and vacuum cleaners to VCRs, paper shredders, clocks and unusual antiques. Tillack said volunteers will take a look at just about anything that can reasonably be carried through the door.

There is no charge for the repair service. A donation jar is available to help cover expenses such as replacement parts and printing flyers. Visitors are encouraged to bring along any loose parts, manuals or other information that might help volunteers understand the item.

The program has become increasingly popular. Tillack said a typical event once handled between 17 and 32 repairs, but the May Repair Café saw about 52 items come through the door and, for the first time, a line formed outside.

That growth has also created a need for more repair volunteers.

Tillack stressed that volunteers do not have to be professional repair technicians. The program is looking for people who enjoy fixing things, understand how things work or simply like the challenge of figuring out why something is broken. Volunteers can participate in one event or all four during the year.

The next Repair Café will be held Saturday, August 15th, from 1 until 4 p.m. in the basement of the St. Paul’s Episcopal Church hall in Mount Vernon. The church is at the corner of Gay and High streets, with access to the basement from the Gay Street side. Signs will be posted to help visitors find the entrance.

Tillack recommends bringing items closer to 1 p.m. when possible so volunteers have as much time as they can to diagnose and repair them before the event ends.

Beyond fixing things, Tillack sees the Repair Café as an example of “neighbor helping neighbor.” Many of the items people bring have stories behind them, and sometimes the value of a repair has little to do with what an object would cost to replace.

He also hopes to introduce more young people to the idea of repairing instead of immediately replacing broken items. Tillack is exploring interest in a Repair Café in the Classroom program that would give children an opportunity to learn how repairs work and develop basic problem-solving skills.

Those interested in volunteering or learning more can contact Mark Tillack at mtillack44@gmail.com or 330-377-4387.

Click HERE to see more on the Repair Knox County Facebook page!

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Mount Vernon Music and Arts Festival Returns with Three Days of Music, Art and Family Fun!

A full year of planning goes into one weekend in downtown Mount Vernon.

WNZR’s Daniel Russell spoke with Joe Rinehart, Board Chair for the Mount Vernon Music and Arts Festival, about what it takes to organize the event and what visitors can expect this year.

Click HERE to hear the full conversation!

Rinehart said planning begins almost immediately after the previous festival ends. The board is made up entirely of volunteers, so much of the work comes down to finding time throughout the year to coordinate music, vendors, artists, sponsors, activities and all of the other pieces that make the event possible.

One of the biggest changes this year is the return to a three-day festival. Thursday will no longer be part of the event, which Rinehart said helps reduce the amount of time downtown streets are closed.

Music remains a major part of the weekend. Saturday night will feature Preston Cooper as the headliner, with 615 Collective opening the show. Friday night will have more of a classic rock feel, beginning with Phil Dirt and the Dozers at 6:30 p.m., followed by Forever Seger, a Bob Seger and the Silver Bullet Band tribute act.

The festival also continues to bring thousands of visitors into downtown Mount Vernon. Rinehart said about 9,300 people came through the downtown area during the event, creating opportunities for local businesses while giving visitors a chance to experience the community.

Several family-friendly attractions are returning. Kidsfest will run from 11 a.m. until 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday, and from 11 a.m. until 2 p.m. Sunday.

A new addition this year is BrickFest, giving visitors a chance to build and create with LEGO. It will be held on the second floor of the Woodward Opera House from 3 until 8 p.m. Friday and from 11 a.m. until 8 p.m. Saturday.

Other returning favorites include the Car and Motorcycle Cruise-In on Saturday, the Kiwanis Pie Auction, the Wood Challenge, the flower show and the chalk competition.

Rinehart said much of the work happens behind the scenes, from coordinating with artists and vendors to arranging food trucks, local media, promotions, websites and business partnerships. He said the effort is worth it when people come downtown, enjoy themselves and support local businesses.

For anyone who has never attended, Rinehart emphasized that the festival is free. Visitors can come downtown, find something to eat, listen to live music and enjoy the community atmosphere without needing a ticket.

The festival is also still looking for volunteers, especially on Thursday and Sunday, to help welcome visitors, answer questions and support the event.

Rinehart thanked the board of directors and volunteers who have worked throughout the year, along with the City of Mount Vernon, the Woodward Opera House, the Mount Vernon Grand Hotel, Joann and Audry for organizing the flower show, and Sweet Street Candy Shop for hosting the chalk competition.

He also thanked presenting sponsor Ariel Corporation, along with Park National Bank and the Mount Vernon Arts Consortium.

Click HERE to learn more about the Mount Vernon Music and Arts Festival!

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Three Paths of Service Earn Mount Vernon’s 2026 Volunteer of the Year Honors

Three longtime community volunteers were honored during August First Friday as Mount Vernon’s 2026 Volunteers of the Year.

WNZR Station Manager Marcy Rinehart, Randy Cronk and Jerry Scott were recognized Friday night for the many ways they have given their time and talents to Mount Vernon and Knox County.

Click HERE to hear all the conversations!

WNZR’s Eric Brown spoke with Mayor Matt Starr about the history of the award and how the recognition has changed over the years. Starr explained that what once focused primarily on volunteers serving city boards and commissions has expanded to recognize people making a difference throughout the community.

This year’s recipients represent three very different areas of service.

Jerry Scott has spent decades involved with organizations across Knox County. WNZR’s Ethan Hershberger talked with Scott about his work with Scouting, local churches, Food For The Hungry and more than 40 years of service with The Salvation Army.

Scott also serves with the Mount Vernon Association of Police Chaplains. He explained how chaplains remain available around the clock to respond during some of the most difficult moments families face, including death notifications and other emergencies.

His 51 years in law enforcement helped prepare him for that work. Scott said prayer and his faith play an important role in helping him face difficult situations, including body recoveries and delivering devastating news to families.

He also encouraged others to find a way to become involved in the community. Outside of his chaplain work, Scott is also well known for his longtime role as emcee of the Mount Vernon Music and Arts Festival.

For Randy Cronk, much of his volunteer service can be found along the Kokosing Gap Trail.

Cronk told WNZR’s Ethan Hershberger that he first became involved with the trail in 1988 and eventually became president of the organization.

The 13-and-a-half-mile trail requires year-round work from volunteers who maintain the property, clear storm damage and respond when problems arise. Cronk said that teamwork has helped the trail grow into an important recreational resource and part of a larger transportation network.

A major project is also ahead. The entire trail is scheduled to be repaved for the first time in 35 years, an effort Cronk said has been made possible through several community partnerships.

He also pointed to the trail’s role in bringing visitors into Mount Vernon and encouraged people who enjoy outdoor work to consider volunteering. Trail users can also help by reporting problems through the Kokosing Gap Trail’s Facebook page.

WNZR Station Manager Marcy Rinehart was recognized for more than 30 years of service in Knox County.

Rinehart told WNZR’s Eric Brown that her parents taught her the importance of using her gifts to help others, something that became an important part of both her life and her faith.

Her volunteer work has included longtime involvement with Food For The Hungry, United Way, the Knox Network of Christian Ministries and the OSU Extension Advisory Committee.

Rinehart said volunteering has also led to lasting friendships and encouraged others not to underestimate what even a small amount of time can accomplish when people work together.

She also reflected on how community service has become part of WNZR’s mission, giving students opportunities to learn while serving organizations throughout Knox County.

Together, Rinehart, Cronk and Scott represent different forms of volunteerism, but each has spent years finding ways to serve where they are needed.

Click HERE to find out more about the City of Mount Vernon!

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TAC – The Teen Advisory Council hosts the most colorful race in Knox County

Several members of TAC of Knox County talked with WNZR about their annual Color for a Cause Race. This very colorful event is held every year to raise awareness of the Teen Advisory Council and their initiatives. Indra, Amaiyah, Madelyn and Truth shared their passion for reaching their peers throughout the year.

Click HERE to hear their conversations or click on the picture below.

TAC is a Knox County youth-led prevention team powered by passionate high school students committed to empowering their peers, engaging their schools and communities, and encouraging healthy choices, respectful relationships, and positive change. TAC members raise awareness, spark conversations, and lead initiatives to prevent dating violence, substance misuse, and suicide—before they begin. As ambassadors of healthy lifestyles, TAC youth use their voices, creativity, and leadership to influence their peers and promote safety, respect, and wellness. TAC is where teens build confidence, plan events, advocate for change, and prove that young people aren’t just the future—they are leaders right now.

Enjoy the conversations and see how these young leaders are living out these 3 goals – Empower. Engage. Encourage. TAC – Teens Leading Positive Change in Knox County.
Click HERE to find out more about TAC and stay connected to their activities.

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August First Friday is tonight! WNZR joins Experience Mount Vernon to celebrate DOGS!

Lacey Filkins, Executive Director for Experience Mount Vernon, stopped by The Morning Thing to talk about tonight’s exciting event – August First Friday.

She shared a highlight of all the fun activities and how the downtown business district will celebrate this theme – Paws On Parde!

Lacey shared details on parking, food, entertainment, the Experience Mount Vernon Passport and how your family can have fun tonight. We also shared all the details of WNZR’s Annual Costumed Paws on Parade.

WNZR will be there tonight! Look for Big Blue near the Dog Fountain on South Main Street.
Don’t miss your chance to register for some amazing prizes. We have prizes for humans and DOGS!

Click HERE to hear the full conversation or click on the picture below.

Click HERE to find all the details about tonight’s event.

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