Category: News

“Once Upon a Holiday” Brings a Fairytale Winter to Downtown Mount Vernon

Downtown Mount Vernon is getting ready to sparkle—fairytale style. Lacey Filkins, Executive Director for Experience Mount Vernon, recently sat down with WNZR’s Marcy Rinehart to share everything we can expect from this year’s Winter in Downtown theme: “Once Upon a Holiday.” Think whimsical storefronts, magical parade floats, and that cozy, storybook feeling that only small-town holidays can deliver.

Click HERE to hear the full conversation!

Small Business Saturday: Shop Local, Find Treasures

The celebration kicks off with Small Business Saturday, which Lacey describes as part shopping event, part treasure hunt. The goal is simple: support the heart of Mount Vernon—our small businesses and local shop owners. Many stores downtown will be open and offering surprises throughout the weekend.

Sunday’s Holiday Parade & Downtown Festivities

Sunday’s schedule is packed with charm and activity.

  • The Holiday Parade begins at 4 PM, running north and ending at Public Square.
  • With 52 entries—including floats, trucks, and of course, horses—it’s shaping up to be one of the biggest parades yet.
  • Parade judges will be out selecting winners for several award categories, each supported by local sponsors.

For safety, visitors are asked not to park downtown due to the number of horses, vehicles, and people involved. The best viewing spots? South Main Street and around the Square.

Free Photo Booth Fun

From 1–6:30 PM, stop by the lower level of the Mount Vernon Grand for a free photo booth experience—complete with themed props provided by community sponsors. It’s a great chance to capture those holiday memories with friends and family.

Lighting of Public Square & Santa Sightings

Immediately after the parade—around 5 PM—the community will gather for the lighting of Public Square. Santa himself will help flip the switch to kick off the season.

You can also snag free photos with Santa:

  • Sunday, after the lighting ceremony until 7 PM
  • Wednesday, December 10, from 5:30–7 PM, both at the Mount Vernon Grand

If you’d like to give back, you can bring Food for the Hungry donations to designated collection points downtown. FFTH will also be represented with a parade float.

Festival of Lights Returns

Another much-loved tradition is back: the Festival of Lights.

  • Registration to participate is open until December 8.
  • Community voting happens December 12–14.
  • You can vote and view the full map of participating homes and displays at: experiencemv.org/2025-festival-of-lights.

Lacey also explained a few voting guidelines to keep things fair and fun for everyone.

Rain Plan

If Sunday’s parade gets rained out, it will be rescheduled to the following weekend. However, the lighting ceremony will still take place Sunday night, rain or shine.

A Look Ahead

Before wrapping up, Lacey shared gratitude for Experience Mount Vernon’s partners and team members whose work makes all these events possible. She also hinted at big things coming in 2026, including First Fridays and celebrations tied to America’s 250th birthday.

To stay connected, follow Experience Mount Vernon on social media or visit their website for updates, volunteer opportunities, and event announcements.

This season, Mount Vernon isn’t just celebrating the holidays—it’s stepping right into a storybook. And you’re invited to be part of every chapter.

Click HERE to learn more about Winter in Downtown!

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Traditions are a major Centerpiece of Thanksgiving!

From cheering on parade floats and football games to watching A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving and cooking up family favorites, everyone has their own way of making Turkey Day feel special.

With Thanksgiving right around the corner, the WNZR staff thought it’d be fun to share some of their favorite traditions.

Click HERE to hear the staff’s traditions!

Have a Happy and Safe Thanksgiving!

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Byron Saunders Foundation Helps Give Thanksgiving Meals to Families in Need

Ginny Williams talked with WNZR’s Eric Brown about the Byron Saunders Foundation and some of it’s history.

Click HERE to hear the full conversation!

It started in 2003 with only 20 meals and its grown so much. It started with the idea of just helping families have meals and it’s grown to be such a large part of Thanksgiving. It just started with people checking on neighbors and now it gone beyond that to a widespread to reach families and have a meal on Thanksgiving.

Ginny talks about how families can get a meal for Thanksgiving. All you have to do is either call or text to get a full boxed meal and certificate to get meats for Thanksgiving by calling 740-324-9503 to help get signed up.

The last pickup for the year is this Saturday, November 22nd at their new facility at Habitat for Humanity in Mount Vernon.

She also talks about ways you can help support their work through donations and volunteering. The Knox County community has been very supportive, and they’ve been so blessed with smaller groups who’ve done food drives with a small list of things they need for their meal boxes. They sell tickets at the Knox County Fair and she explains how the community helps with that as well as other fundraisers run to help them as well as the Food for the hungry who helps support them as well as so many others.

She also thanks Habitat for Humanity and their help by giving them a permanent location and they’re so thankful for having a location and not having to go from place to place to try to keep working all year. She’s so thankful for the community support to keep this foundation working.

She talks about the goals for the community to end the season, they need volunteers for the ticket booth at the Knox County fairgrounds. If you see something for their foundation, put some nonperishable food in there like cans, or call their number.

They have food that needs to be delivered for them if you have time to help them and helping people who can’t go to get their turkey.

Click HERE to find out more about the Byron Saunders Foundation.

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WNZR Alumni Celebrate 39th Anniversary!

Alumni showed their love for WNZR and its ministry to the Knox County Community Saturday as they returned for our 39th anniversary!

Click HERE to hear all the conversations!

Some turned radio into a profession while others used the tools they learned to help them in the professional world outside the communications industry.

It was heartwarming to hear how this radio station and its ministry have impacted their lives.

Even the man who made sacrifices to help start WNZR, Bill Bridges (pictured with Joe and Marcy Rinehart) gave a short testimony.

Others who stopped by:

  • Ben Alexander
  • Dana Hicks
  • Doug Speicher
  • Grayson Willis
  • Jane Mikulec
  • MacKenzie Holder
  • Mia Reid
  • NayNay Parker
  • Ray Bridges (Bill’s son)
  • Victor Veigel
  • Zoe Middaugh

Click HERE to check out WNZR’s website!

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Psi Iota Xi Launches Elementary School Campaign for FFTH!

Debbie Ruggles, who is Executive Director of the Knox County Chamber of Commerce is also involved with the group Psi Iota Xi.

Click HERE for the full conversation!

She talks about the group which is a women’s philanthropic organization and focuses on helping others in the area.

They got involved with Food For The Hungry because their mission closely aligns with the groups mission, so it was a natural fit.

Debbie says they are organizing the Food For the Hungry’s Elementary School drives. The drive is underway through November 21st. She says students can bring canned food and non-perishable food items. They are also accepting monetary donations.

Debbie explains why the food collection is incredibly important at this time of the year due to massive increased food costs. She says every food items or donation will stay in Knox County.

She says there are rewards for top collectors and the top class will receive a pizza party and top individual student from each school will be featured on FFTH Live on December 12th!

Debbie also thanks all the teachers, administration, staff and especially the students and parents who encourage the students to donate.

Debbie Ruggles talks about the purchasing power of monetary donations. She says for every dollar donated, Food For The Hungry organizers can buy $4.56 at the Mid-Ohio Collective.

She says that every can, non-perishable food item, and dollar helps those in need in Knox County.  

She asks that students and parents reach out to their family and friends to help each student donate to the drive.

Debbie also talks about what Food For The Hungry’s slogan, “Working together to care for our neighbors” means to her.

She says Psi Iota Xi is bringing back their tea fundraiser in late spring.

Click on THIS link for their Facebook page and THIS link for the organization’s website!

Click HERE for Food For The Hungry!

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Tony Montgomery Takes on Two Roles in Orange Barrel’s “The Little Princess”

Tony Montgomery from Orange Barrel Productions plays two parts in the play The Little Princess, Captain Crewe and Mr. Carrisford.

Click HERE to hear the full conversation!

He tells our Marcy Rinehart how he got into theater starting in 1999. He has also been in 50 productions including Orange Barrel starting in 2007 as well as other MTV Arts productions including Beauty and the Beast.

Tony explains how he has been preparing for both roles including using some of his real-life experiences into the characters.

He says that he likes both characters because they both want to help Sara.

He also explains what he will be wearing in the production as both characters.

He adds that both characters are portrayed a little differently than other similar productions.

He also explains how vital wardrobe can be to not only the audience but the actor or actress who need to get into character.

Tony gives some insight into the back story of the play. He says that Sara was a little princess growing up then faces some adversity and drops to a lower level of society.

Tony says that it has been interesting seeing the different castes that were a part of society at the time the play is set.

He says that his favorite memory in this show (and most shows) that the cast effectively becomes a family. He says it has been a treat to see the young cast members grow personally.

He says people should come see the Little Princess because at its core it is a story about making the most out of a bad situation with a positive attitude.

Click HERE for information and to buy tickets for the performances!

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KCCC Launches T-Shirt Fundraiser for Food For the Hungry!

Knox County Career Center Teachers and Project Advisors Cassie Gray and Amy Rine joins student Carter Dickerson and to talk about their T-Shirt Fundraiser to support Food For The Hungry.

Click HERE for the full conversation!

Carter says that they do this event every year and Amy explains why the students decided to help Food for The Hungry. Amy says its really important to give back to the community and support those in need.

Cassie talks about their theme “Believe there is Good in the World (Be the Good) and why they decided to use that theme. 

Carter says they have crewneck sweatshirts ($25) and t-shirts ($15) in olive green and cardinal red and sizes range from Extra Small to 4-XL.

Amy says shirts are on sale November 20th. The shirts will ship December 10th and should arrive by the Food For The Hungry broadcast on December 12th.

Cassie says the student officers have really managed the program. They met earlier this year, picked the theme and the high school staff helped select the colors. The students also sell the shirts during the lunch period.

The students will also be volunteering the KCCC Open House and in student competitions in December.

Click HERE to view their store!

Click HERE for the Food For The Hungry website!

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MVNU prepares for a special Homecoming 2025 Weekend

This will be an exciting weekend at 800 Martinsburg Road In Mount Vernon.

MVNU hosts Homecoming 2025 with an amazing schedule of events.

WNZR’s Marcy Rinehart talked with Mike Cheek, Executive Director of Alumni & Major Gifts about this year’s schedule.
Click HERE for the full conversation or use the link below.
You can see the full schedule HERE.

MVNU Graduate Brian White joined the conversation to talk about his time at MVNU and WNZR. He shared how God’s leading allowed him to become an award-winning songwriter.
Brian will host a workshop on Saturday 11/15 at 2:30pm in Thorne Performance Hall.  
The workshop is titled, “So You Wanna Be A Songwriter: Helpful Hints to Kickstart Your Songwriting Journey”. Click HERE for more information.

Brian also shares about the special event “A NIGHT WITH NASHVILLE BENEFITING COUGAR BASEBALL WITH THE HITS”!

Saturday, Nov. 15 | 8 p.m. | R.R. Hodges Chapel, Thorne Performance Hall
Join MVNU for an unforgettable evening as the hit songwriters behind chart-toppers from Chris Tomlin, Danny Gokey, Consumed by Fire, Darin & Brooke Aldridge, Corey Asbury, We Are Messengers, Avalon, Matt Maher, Rodney Atkins, The Martins, 4Him, and more take the stage to share the songs – and the stories behind them. The featured guests will be Brian White (Class of 1979), Karyn Williams, and Jesse Reeves.

Tickets are $30. Reserve your spot today! https://secure.acceptiva.com/?cst=NiARv3

Enjoy the conversation and join us for MVNU’s Homecoming 2025!

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Marcy talks with two MVNU Alumni for Homecoming!

As we get closer to homecoming and our homecoming reunion, WNZR wants to catch up with some alumni! Marcy sat down with a MVNU and WNZR graduates, Mike Cheek and Brian White!

They talk about some of their favorite memories, their love for baseball, and homecoming weekend!

They are holding a benefit concert called “A Night with Nashville” which will happen on Saturday night at 8pm!

For more information on the event click HERE!

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Dr. Castleman’s November Presidential Update!

WNZR got to sit down with Dr. Carson Castleman, as he give us the November installment of our MVNU Presidential Update!

This month, Dr. Castleman shares about enrollment, the Tragedy Into Triumph event, and some ongoing construction projects! He also gives us an up to date look on some staff changes and Homecoming!

Go listen to the full conversation below!

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