WNZR’s Marcy Rinehart got to talk with Lacey Filkins, Executive Director of Experience Mount Vernon, about downtown events and upcoming community activities.
Click HERE to listen to the entire conversation, or click the image at the bottom of the blog!
Lacey looks back on a successful 2026 First Friday season, which welcomed more than 15,000 visitors to downtown Mount Vernon. She highlights the expanded Kids Zone, popular passport program, live entertainment, and community participation. Lacey also shares how the events helped support downtown businesses while creating fun experiences for families throughout the summer. She talks about the 6th Annual Johnny Appleseed Fall Festival, taking place Sunday, October 11, at the Schnormeier Event Center in Ariel-Foundation Park from 3 to 5pm.
Lacey also mentions the activity zone for this year includes different exciting events at ariel foundation park for the Johnny Appleseed fall festival. They have more room for this event and she highlights events like hayrides, face painting, balloon animals, pumpkin painting, fishing, antique tractors, and a petting zoo featuring animals from Traveling Acres. Entertainment includes a Bluegrass band Blue Diggity will provide live music inside the event center, creating a festive autumn atmosphere.
Food options available at the Johnny Appleseed Fall Festival include different food trucks featuring local favorites, sweet treats, funnel cakes, drinks, and Mexican street food. You will be able to park at various lots around the Schnormeier event center and around ariel foundation park or walk from a local lot to the park. Lacey thanks the many sponsors and community partners who help make the festival possible each year and she goes into detail what each partner provides to this event.
Lacey shares details about the upcoming Winter in Downtown season, themed “Holiday Movie Magic,” and she’s excited to see what different people bring to events. She talks about Shop Small Saturday, the first event in the Winter in Downtown series. The lighting of Public Square kicks off soon on Monday November 30 from 5 to 6pm. The annual Christmas Parade is moving to Sunday December 6 which leans into the theme of Holiday Movie Magic. Visits with Santa and Mrs. Claus on that same day on December 6 and December 12. The Festival of Lights kicks off on December 12 till December 15. Lacey explains how the expanded schedule will provide holiday-themed activities throughout November and December while continuing to support downtown businesses and encouraging residents to shop locally.
Lacey explains Experience Mount Vernon’s mission of creating a vibrant downtown through events, beautification, business support, and community engagement. She discusses maintaining hanging baskets, holiday decorations, sidewalk maintenance, and promotional efforts for downtown merchants. Lacey discusses the organization’s purchase of a permanent home at 10 East Vine Street and shares plans to move into the new downtown location before the end of the year. You can stay connected through Experience Mount Vernon’s website experiencemv.org, monthly newsletter, and social media channels for updates on downtown events and activities.
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