The Morning Thing talked with Lacey Filkins, Executive Director for Experience Mount Vernon about July’s First Friday. It IS happening on a Thursday (7/3/25). Click HERE to hear the full conversation, or click the link below.
Lacey shares the details about this exciting event for families. She gives us highlights of the schedule, entertainment, food choices, parking and the theme – Red, White, & Blue Party! The event happens tonight from 6pm – 9pm in downtown Mount Vernon. We hope to see you there to celebrate our Independence Holiday.
We got the chance to talk with Candy McCracken, a Board Member and President for the Centerburg Heart of Ohio USA Days Festival! She shares with us all the information regarding this years 20th anniversary event! Including the rundown of the event schedule, how they have been fundraising, and then what she is excited for!
We got the chance to talk with Patrick Loudermilk, a Board Member and Vice President for the Centerburg Heart of Ohio USA Days Festival! He shares with us all the information regarding this years 20th anniversary event! Including the schedule, where the event is, how parking will work, and so much more!
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 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.
Today, we have a special Friday Favorites for you! The Morning Thing hosts shared their favorite ice cream flavor and their favorite way to eat it! You can catch the Big Blue Crew at the Utica Ice Cream Festival is this weekend!
We got to chat with sisters Luconda and Joanne Dager, the President and Vice President of Velvet Ice Cream, as well as Whitney Priest, the Utica Ice Cream Festival Director! The amazing ladies share with us about everything the festival has to offer! They also give us some insight on what it is like to create new ice cream flavors and products.
They will be giving out over 4,000 ice cream products at the festival this weekend! It’s a great way to spend memorial day!
Here are the topics highlighted:
The history of Velvet Ice Cream, the Utica Ice Cream Festival and the Dager family legacy
A look into the operation of the Ye Old Mill
How long it takes to create a new ice cream product
Some statistics on how much ice cream they need to make and give out at the festival
ALL the details of the festival including
Where?
When?
Parking
Event schedule
Ice cream eating contest!
And just for fun we get to hear some of the ladies favorites!
On Friday, 1/31/25, Experience Mount Vernon handed out the 2024 Investor Awards. WNZR’s Marcy Rinehart and Eric Brown talked with the winners. Click HERE to hear the conversations.
Congratulations to: Janis Stone – Walter Rudin Award Paragraphs Bookstore – Small Business of the Year TD Landscape – Mid-Size Business of the Year Park National Bank – Large Business of the Year Mount Vernon Arts Consortium – Non-Profit of the Year Knox County Convention and Visitors Bureau – Community Pride Award Emily Morrison – Spirit of Heritage Award
This prestigious Walter Rudin Award honors an individual who has demonstrated exceptional dedication and impact on the Downtown Mount Vernon community. Janis Stone’s unwavering commitment to enhancing our city’s vibrancy through the performing arts and fostering a spirit of collaboration has made her a cornerstone of our community’s growth and success.
Janis Stone has played a transformative role in shaping our cultural landscape through her remarkable dedication to the arts and tireless efforts to enrich Downtown Mount Vernon. Her unwavering commitment to downtown Mount Vernon and various arts initiatives has made high-quality, accessible arts programming a cornerstone of our community. Janis’ leadership and vision have brought unforgettable performances to Mount Vernon’s heart and fostered a deeper connection to the arts for residents and visitors alike.
Janis Stone’s influence extends beyond her work with MTVarts. She has actively engaged with local businesses, collaborated with fellow arts organizations, and passionately contributed to Experience Mount Vernon events, all while advocating for the vibrancy of our downtown area. Through her leadership, countless individuals have been inspired to explore the arts, and Downtown Mount Vernon has become a cultural hub that draws people together through shared creative experiences.
In addition to the Walter Rudin Award, Experience Mount Vernon awarded six additional business and community awards at its Annual Investor & Awards Breakfast on January 31st: ● Small Business of the Year: Paragraphs Bookstore, for its outstanding service to the community and dedication to fostering connections in Downtown Mount Vernon. ● Mid-Size Business of the Year: TD Landscape, for its exemplary work in enhancing vibrancy in Downtown Mount Vernon. ● Large Business of the Year: Park National Bank, for its long-standing commitment to outstanding leadership, community involvement, and a commitment to fostering local partnerships. ● Non-Profit of the Year: Mount Vernon Arts Consortium, for enriching the cultural fabric of our city through innovative programming and tireless advocacy for the arts. ● Community Pride Award: Knox County Convention & Visitors Bureau, for unwavering commitment to enhancing the beauty and pride of Mount Vernon and for promoting Mount Vernon as a top destination in Ohio. ● Spirit of Heritage Award: Emily Morrison, for her selfless volunteerism and a deep passion for capturing our community’s spirit through her photography.
Experience Mount Vernon extends heartfelt thanks to the sponsors who made these awards possible: The Mount Vernon Grand Hotel for the Small Business of the Year Award; Dumbaugh Insurance for the Mid-Size Business of the Year Award; Flappers Bar & Grille for the Large Business of the Year Award; Kidwell & Cunningham for the Non-Profit of the Year Award; Griffin Insurance for the Community Pride Award; CES Credit Union for the Spirit of Heritage Award; and Park National Bank for the Walter Rudin Award. Their generosity and dedication to supporting our community’s leaders and businesses help make this recognition possible.
“Each of these award winners exemplifies the best of what Mount Vernon has to offer,” said Lacey Filkins, Executive Director of Experience Mount Vernon. “Their collective efforts contribute to the ongoing transformation of our community into a thriving and inspiring place to live, work, and visit.”
Experience Mount Vernon is a 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to enhancing the vibrancy of Downtown Mount Vernon through events, programs, and partnerships that celebrate its unique charm and foster community pride.
For more information about Experience Mount Vernon, visit experiencemv.org.
Rise and Shine 