Category: Experience Mount Vernon

Winter in Downtown Mount Vernon is coming this weekend

Lacey Filkins, Executive Director Experience Mount Vernon stopped by WNZR to give us a highlight of Winter in Downtown Mount Vernon.
Click HERE to hear the full conversation or click on the link below.

Lacey talked about this year’s theme – A Vintage Holiday Celebration.
She highlighted the exciting schedule:
Saturday 11/30 – Shop Small Saturday
Sunday 12/1:
3:45pm – Annual Holiday Parade
4:15pm – Festive Family Fun
5:00pm – Lighting of the Public Square
5:30pm – 7:00pm – Pictures with Santa at the Mount Vernon Grand Hotel

Lacey shared about the parade route and the best place to be seated. There are 60 different floats signed up for this year! There are 10 different awards including Best Overall, Judges Choice and Best Youth (sponsored by WNZR/MVNU). The parade is a Food For The Hungry collection point. FFTH will push carts in the parade so that people can donate while they walk through downtown. If there is rain, the parade is rescheduled for Sunday, December 8th at the same time and location.

Lacey talks about the Festive Family Fun. After the parade the public square will be filled with the Dogwood Blossoms singing carols. There will be ornament craft tables, letters to Santa, three different food trucks and a holiday market.

The lighting of the public square will take place when it gets dark. Santa and Mayor Star will be there. Santa is in the lower lobby of the Grand Hotel at 5:30-7:00pm. Pictures with Santa are free!

Lacey also talks about the Festival of Lights. This is the 5th annual Festival of Lights. You can register your display until December 9th on the Experience Mount Vernon website. https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScksKY80Qo8FnzLeeEp9BbkAEaXPGRSvN830GMtkzjOHTl43A/viewform

The event starts at 6:00pm on December 14th. They have four different categories. Best Storefront, Best Classic White Light Display, Best Vintage Inspired and Best Light Up the City Display.

The public is invited to vote as well as the assigned judges. The 14th, 15th and 16th are the voting dates.

The winners will be announced on the Experience Mount Vernon Facebook page on the 17th by 5pm. Winners will also be emailed directly.

Lacey wants to thank Park National Bank, Burrata Woodfired, Knox Community Hospital, Dumbaugh Insurance, Shelter Insurance, Ariel Corporation for their sponsorship. She would also like to thank the City Streets Department and MVPD for coordinating the parade. Lacey would like to thank their volunteers and for Santa.

Lacey would like to thank True Cut Landscaping and for volunteers for hanging the lights and ornaments in the square.

Lacey talks about future events that Experience Mount Vernon is planning for 2025. They are already planning their First Fridays. July First Friday will take place on a Thursday in 2025 to plan around July 4th weekend.

You can signup to the Experience Mount Vernon newsletter to keep up to date on all Experience Mount Vernon events. They also post updates on their website and Facebook page. https://www.experiencemv.org/

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Experience Mount Vernon celebrates Johnny Appleseed

Lacey Filkins, Executive Director for Experience Mount Vernon stopped by The Morning Thing to talk about an exciting event coming to downtown Mount Vernon.
Click HERE to hear the full conversation.
Lacey shared all the exciting details of the annual Johnny Appleseed Apple Festival. She shared the schedule, list of entertainment, food choices, festival location, parking options and more.
The festival is Friday, 10/4 from 5pm – 8pm on East Ohio Avenue on the block between South Gay and South Main Streets.
Lacey also shared a list of upcoming events for the 2024 Christmas Holiday.
For all the details of this event and upcoming events – go to the Experience Mount Vernon webpage – HERE!

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MVNU celebrates “Back to School” Night at September First Friday

Mount Vernon Nazarene University is excited to be part of September First Friday. Multiple departments will have informational tables set up on the public square. There will be hands-on, interactive activities for kids of all ages.

WNZR’s Marcy Rinehart talked with several faculty members about the exciting plans for First Friday.
They each shared about their roles at MVNU and what they were most excited about for fall semester. They also talked about the latest news from their departments.

Featured Faculty:
– Dr. Jennifer Ballenger, Assistant Professor of Youth and Family in the Christian Ministries Department
– Dr. Jessica Grubaugh, Dean for the Jetter School of Professional Studies (includes Business, Education and Social Work Programs), Education Department Chair
– Dr. LeeAnn Couts, Dean for the School of Natural and Social Sciences, Professor of Psychology and Director of Academic Summer Camps
– Dr. John Packard, Chair of the Music Department and Band Director
– Dr. Colleen Bryan, Professor of Psychology and Department Chair for Psychology, Criminal Justice, Emergency Management and Homeland Security

Click HERE to hear their conversations.

Stop by the MVNU tables and have some FUN!
Psychology—Coloring books focused on: What can I be?
Biology—Creepy Crawly Things and More (Plant and Animal Life)  
Education—Monster Origami Bookmarks and a gently used book plus some book drawings
Christian Ministry—Games, Popcorn and More
Music—Make your own musical instrument
Nursing—Hands on Nursing Activities
Fairbanks Center for Global Engagement—Partnership with Kenyon
Admissions Table

Click HERE for more information about MVNU!

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Congratulations to the Mount Vernon Volunteers of the Year

At August First Friday, Mount Vernon Mayor Matt Starr announced the Volunteers of the Year: Janis Stone and Kevin Mishey.

Janis has been involved with theater in our community for several decades. She is a founding member of MTVarts. She has raised hundreds of thousands of dollars to fund the performing arts in Mount Vernon. She has helped to develop many theater options for our community including dinner theater, Broadway musicals, the Classic Series based on American Literature, Arts IQ and youth performances.

Kevin Mishey has been an advisory board member with the Salvation army for over 25 years. He is Chair of the their Maintenance Committee and serves on the Capital Campaign Committee and the Christmas Kettle Committee. He is also an integral part of music here in Mount Vernon – teaching guitar lessons, leading a music program at Danbury Senior Living and providing special music at Faith Lutheran Church. He is a regular performer at Praisestock and other festivals. He is also a member of the Front Porch Concert Committee.

Click HERE to hear our conversation.

Congratulations to these two amazing volunteers!

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August First Friday comes to downtown Mount Vernon tonight!

Lacey Filkins, Executive Director for Experience Mount Vernon was a guest on The Morning Thing today. She shared a preview of August First Friday.
Click HERE to hear her conversation with WNZR’s Marcy Rinehart.
She shared highlights of tonight’s schedule, entertainment, food and activities. She also shares information on parking and road closures.
Tonight’s event is from 6pm – 9pm. We hope to see you for a celebration of the “Dog Days of Summer”!

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The Morning Thing Friday Favorites – we LOVE dogs!

Today for our Friday Favorites, we want to honor DOGS!
WNZR’s annual “Dog Days of Summer” Dog Costume Parade is tonight at August First Friday.
The Morning Thing hosts shared their favorite memories with their dogs.
Click HERE to listen.
We hope to see you in downtown Mount Vernon tonight from 6pm – 9pm. The parade starts at 7:15pm.

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The Morning Thing shares highlights of July First Friday

The Morning Thing talked with Lacey Filkins, Executive Director for Experience Mount Vernon about July First Friday.
Click HERE to hear the full conversation.
Lacey shared highlights of the schedule, best parking places, live music, food truck options and many fun family activities.
The event is from 6pm – 9pm in downtown Mount Vernon.
July’s Theme is “Summer Camp”.
The Big Blue Crew will be in downtown Mount Vernon tonight. We hope to see you there!
Click HERE to see a full list of activities and details about WNZR’s “Drink Up, Soak Up and Frame Up” prize basket. We will give this away tonight before 8pm!

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The Mount Vernon Police Department receives the Large Size Business of the Year Award from Experience Mount Vernon

The Mount Vernon Police Department won the award for Large Size Business of the Year.
Chief Robert Morgan shares about his department – 34 officers, 40 total employees.
Click HERE to hear Marcy Rinehart’s conversation with Chief Morgan.
He talks about being connected to Experience Mount Vernon providing safety at the downtown events and also how positive it is to allow his officers connect to kids and families on a personal level.
We talk about the K9 unit and how the kids love them and love to see the police cars.
We also talk about the PAK United group – Police and Kids events will be coming up in the spring.
You can stay connected at the PAK United Facebook page – https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100064635570460

Stay connected with Experience Mount Vernon!
Website – experiencemv.org
Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/ExperienceMountVernon
Phone – 740-393-1481
Email – director@experiencemv.org

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MTVarts receives the Non-Profit Organization of the Year Award from Experience Mount Vernon

Jessica Ryals, Development for Education and Bruce Jacklin, Artistic Director with MTVarts share their thoughts about winning the award for Non-Profit Organization of the Year. They highlight upcoming events for the spring and summer.
They talk about being part of First Fridays and Community Corner.
New website is coming soon –  mtvarts.com
Click HERE to hear Marcy Rinehart’s conversation with Jessica and Bruce.

Stay connected with MTVarts:
Website – www.mtvarts.com
Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/MTVarts

Stay connected with Experience Mount Vernon!
Website – experiencemv.org
Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/ExperienceMountVernon
Phone – 740-393-1481
Email – director@experiencemv.org

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Ann Weisent-Page of Knox Foodies receives the Spirit of Heritage Award from Experience Mount Vernon

Ann Weisent-Page of Knox Foodies received the Spirit of Heritage Award. This award honors an individual for their hard work throughout the year to support downtown Mount Vernon. The award is like the Volunteer of the Year Award.
Ann shares how Knox Foodies started and talks about how she volunteers throughout the year bringing food trucks to downtown events.
Click HERE to hear Marcy Rinehart’s conversation with Ann Weisent-Page.

Ann shares how to stay connected to Knox Foodies – on Facebook search for Knox Foodies LLC. @KnoxFoodies on Instagram

Stay connected with Experience Mount Vernon!
Website – experiencemv.org
Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/ExperienceMountVernon
Phone – 740-393-1481
Email – director@experiencemv.org

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