MOUNT VERNON – The Mount Vernon Music and Arts Festival (MVMAF) will welcome Starship: featuring Mickey Thomas and McGuffey Lane as headline musical acts for this year’s event, Aug. 11-13 on the Public Square and streets of downtown Mount Vernon. This marks the 35th year for this event, presented by Ariel Corporation, Park National Bank, and the Mount Vernon Arts Consortium, as part of the 2023 ‘Mount Vernon Presents’ calendar.
The festival officially opens at 11 am Friday, Aug. 11, and will highlight local, regional, and national performing, visual and creative artists of all ages. There will also be great food, snack, and beverage selections available from a variety of food trucks, downtown restaurants, and cafes. A vendor village travels down South Main Street, from the Square to Gambier Street. The 2023 MVMAF is a DORA (Designated Outdoor Refreshment Area) approved event.
2023 also marks the return of the Festival Flower Show, presented by the Knox County Garden Clubs, at The Living Center, 201 N. Main St.; KidFest, the Festival Wood Challenge & Auction, and the annual Car & Motorcycle Cruise-In and Poker Run on Sunday. The Knox County Quilt Guild ‘Color Therapy’ exhibition will be open Friday-Sunday at Mount Vernon Nazarene University’s Buchwald Center and Schnormeier Gallery, 221 S. Main St.
On Saturday, Ohio Eastern Star Service Dogs will partner with the festival for a 1K Dog Walk in Downtown Mount Vernon, with registration starting at 8:30 am at the Heritage Center/Riverview Park, at the end of South Gay Street.
Other highlights include the annual Youth Showcase, Friday and Saturday from noon-1 pm on the South Stage; the return of the Central Ohio Youth Ballet at 1 pm Saturday inside the Woodward Opera House, 107 S. Main St.; and street performances from MADCAP Living History, Chalk Goblin, local juggler Mason Chesnut, plus photo opportunities with Scooby-Doo and the Mystery Machine.
Local artists will also be painting at the intersection of West Vine and South Main on Friday and Saturday. Local and regional artists scheduled to perform include the Mount Vernon High School Marching Band, Wisecrack, Chaz & Nicki, Rally in the Alley (a Chuck Flynn tribute), Chestnut Ridge, Cryin’ Out Loud, The Shuman Band, Side Effects, Tavaci Elite, SAP Band, MTVarts, Dingler Studio, Steel Drums, and the Bradford Academy of Dance.
Festival hours are 11 am-10 pm Friday and Saturday and 11 am-3 pm on Sunday, with Cruise-In registration beginning at 8 am. MVMAF is free and open to the public, with parking along South Gay and South Mulberry Streets and other downtown lots. Attendees are encouraged to bring their bag chairs for open seating areas outside of the ticketed seating.
Preferred Gold and Silver seating tickets for both Starship and McGuffey Lane are available at https://www.mvac.org/ by clicking on the events tab. Starship tickets are $50 and $25, while McGuffey Lane tickets are $30 and $15, respectively.
The complete 2023 MVMAF schedule and map will be available online and in pocket guides throughout the festival grounds, including the welcome tent on the south entrance to the Public Square. A list of food trucks is also on the map and guide, and vendors are listed online.
Learn more about this year’s MVMAF at https://www.mvmaf.org/ or on the Festival’s Facebook and Instagram (@mvmafohio).
STARSHIP, FEATURING MICKEY THOMAS:
Mickey Thomas is the owner of the soaring voice that propelled Starship through the decade of the 80s. In 1979, Mickey joined Jefferson Starship as the lead vocalist, after the departure of Grace Slick and Marty Balin, and recorded a string of hits, including “Jane”, “No Way Out”, “Find Your Way Back”, “Stranger”, and “Layin’ It On The Line”.
The group was renamed Starship in 1985 and went on to record three #1 Billboard hit songs, including “We Built This City”, “Sara”, and “Nothing’s Gonna Stop Us Now”, from the film Mannequin, an Academy Award nominee for Best Original Song. Their hit “It’s Not Over ‘til It’s Over” became Major League Baseball’s theme in 1987.
MCGUFFEY LANE:
Molly Pauken, Randy Huff, and Kevin Reed join original members, John Schwab, Terry Efaw, and Steve Reis, in one of the Midwest’s most popular bands. Their polished harmonies and innovative talent continue to wow their audiences. From their high-energy music to the beautiful ballads, this band has something for everyone… and all who are fortunate enough to see the show walk away with a feeling of being truly entertained.
KIDFEST:
This event happens Friday – Sunday in the block of South Main Street between Gambier Street and Ohio Avenue. Kids of all ages can enjoy inflatables, a special South Stage with live entertainment, and a series of make-and-take classes called ‘KidFest Creative Corner,’ including painting, air fresheners, and succulent plants.
CAR & MOTORCYCLE CRUISE-IN:
The entry fee is $10 for the Cruise-In, with registration starting at 8:00 and a breakfast provided by Set Free Ministries. The Poker Run begins at 8:00 on the Square and is $5 per scoresheet. There will be a Kids Choice vote. Live music from Side Effects and The Shuman Band begins on the Square at 11 am.
CHARCUTERIE BOARD CHALLENGE AND AUCTION:
The 3rd MVMAF Challenge & Auction uses the medium of wood, focusing this year on charcuterie boards. These items will be displayed in the ballroom of The Grand Hotel on Friday and Saturday, with a live auction at 2:30 pm Saturday and remaining items available online until 7 pm. The Ruckman Group Auctions & Appraisals hosts the auction, available at this link:
https://theruckmangroup.hibid.com/catalog/471510/mt–vernon-music-and-arts-festival–wood-challenge
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