Lacey Filkins, the Executive Director of Experience Mount Vernon, came to chat with us about this special event! She gives us all the details about June First Friday in downtown Mount Vernon!
There is so much happening and you will definitely not want to miss it! Come join in on the fun and while your there stop by Big Blue to register to win our “Take a sip, Take a dip, Turn it up” prize basket!
For all the details on tonight and what is happening, click HERE!
If you want to hear our conversation with Lacey, click down below!
We got to chat with Gunner Butler, who won the Twin Oak Elementary Sticker Design Competition! Gunner’s sticker will be featured and given out at June First Friday in downtown Mount Vernon!
He details his sticker and highlights some of the history he learned as part of the history of Mount Vernon unit during the school year!
If you want to see his sticker you can click HERE, or come on down to June First Friday and get in on the fun!
We got to chat with Addy Gross, who won the Twin Oak Elementary Sticker Design Competition! Addy’s sticker will be featured and given out at June First Friday in downtown Mount Vernon!
Addy talks about her sticker and how is excited she was to win! She also mentions First Friday and what she is looking forward to.
If you want to see her sticker you can click HERE, or come on down to June First Friday and get in on the fun!
On the Morning Thing Thursday, Eric shared a 2025 guide to fairs and festivals in Knox County and surrounding counties. This is a great guide for some Summer Fun from Knox Pages.
Some of the events that Eric mentioned include:
June First Friday in downtown Mount Vernon.
Centerburg Heart of Ohio USA Days
Knox County Fair
Mount Vernon Music and Arts Festival
WNZR will also be a number of summer events, and we are also looking for community partners to help cover these events.
Click HERE to find out how to become a partner of On The Road with Big Blue this summer.
Click HERE to see all the events listed by Knox Pages.
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
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
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.
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”!
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.
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!
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
Rise and Shine 