MOUNT VERNON – The Mount Vernon Music and Arts Festival is set for Aug. 7-10 on Public Square and the streets of downtown Mount Vernon.
Country chart-topper and veteran Craig Morgan, NBC’s The Voice contestants Sorelle, and Central Ohio icons Phil Dirt and the Dozers will headline the musical acts for this year’s event.
Headline concerts are at 8:30 pm each night. This marks the 37th year for the festival, presented by Ariel Corporation as part of the 2025 Mount Vernon Presents calendar.
The festival officially opens Thursday, Aug. 7, at 5 p.m. with the Danville High School marching band and music from the Dogwood Blossoms Chapter of Sweet Adelines.
Variety of activities slated for 37th annual festival
The 2025 MVMAF will highlight local, regional, and national performing, visual, and creative artists of all ages. A variety of food trucks, downtown restaurants, and cafes will offer food, snacks, and beverage selections.
A vendor village travels down South Main Street from Public Square to Gambier Street. The 2025 MVMAF is a DORA-approved (Designated Outdoor Refreshment Area) event.
Other events include the festival flower show, presented by the Knox County Garden
Club, at The Living Center, 201 N. Main St., Friday to Sunday. KidFest will be on South Main between Gambier and Ohio all four days.
The second annual Wood Design & Kiwanis Celebrity Pie Auction is slated for 3:30 pm Saturday, and Sunday activities feature the annual Car & Motorcycle Cruise-In.
Other highlights include the annual Youth Showcase, Friday and Saturday from noon-
1:00 pm on the South Stage, the return of the Mount Vernon High School marching band Friday night, a free Titanic artifact exhibit from 1:00-5:00 pm Saturday inside the Woodward Opera House, and street performances from Madcap Living History.
Other local and regional artists scheduled to perform include Jess Kellie Adams, The
Engine Room, John Dodson, Jamee Hershberger, Sarah Goslee Reed, The Shuman Band, Side Effects, Tavaci Elite, MTVarts, Dingler Studio, Desmond Wall, Jam for Jims, McKinley Figurski, juggler Mason Chesnut, Joey & Jess, and the Royal Princess Party.
The MVAF celebrates the arts
The Mount Vernon Music and Arts Festival exists to present a celebration of the arts, creating experiences that entertain, educate, and inspire, uniting artists and audiences within the historic backdrop of Mount Vernon, Ohio.
Festival hours are 5:00-10:00 pm Thursday, 11:00 am-10:00 pm Friday and Saturday, and 11:00 am-3:00 pm on Sunday, with Cruise-In registration beginning at 8:00 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 traditional free open seating areas outside of the ticketed seating.
The preferred seating tickets for Craig Morgan, priced at $25 and $50, are sold out. There are also preferred seating tickets for Sorelle and Phil Dirt & The Dozers at $10.
Downtown streets, including Public Square, will begin closing on Wednesday, Aug. 7, at 3:00 pm to prepare for the festival. Learn more about this year’s MVMAF at https://www.mvmaf.org/ or on the Festival’s Facebook and Instagram (@mvmafohio).
Here’s your guide to the 2025 Mount Vernon Music & Arts Festival
Thursday 8/7
Festival vendor hours: 5:00-10:00 pm
KidFest hours: 5:00-9:00 pm
SOUTH STAGE:
Paragraphs Storytime 6:00-6:30 PM
Kids Dance Party 6:30-7:00 pm
McKinley Figurski 7:00-8:00 pm
MAIN STAGE:
Opening Ceremony – Welcome, Pledge, National Anthem with Danville HS
Marching Band, Exchange Club, and Dogwood Blossoms Chapter of the Sweet
Adelines 5:00-6:00 pm
The Engine Room 7:00-8:00 pm
Phil Dirt & The Dozers 8:30-10 pm
Friday 8/8
Festival vendor hours: 11:00 am-10:00 pm
KidFest hours: Noon- 9:00 pm
MVMAF Flower Show 5:00-8:00 pm: (The Living Center)
WOW bus on the Square 5:00-8:00 pm
Walking around the festival:
Mason Chesnut, Juggler 6:00-7:00 pm
Jeff Eno, Magician 5:00-7:00 pm
SOUTH STAGE:
Youth Showcase 11:00 am-1:00 pm
Sarah Goslee Reed 3:00-4:00 pm
A Royal Princess Party 4:00-4:30 pm and 7:00-7:30 pm
Royal Princess ‘meet and greet’ 4:30-5:00 pm
TaVaci 5:30pm-6:00pm
Jamee Hershberger 6:00 pm-7:00 pm
TaVaci Elite 7:45-8:30 pm
MAIN STAGE:
Gypsy Stew 12:00-1:00 pm
Nate Smith 2:00-3:00 pm
Huge Euge with AJB & Ax 3:00-4:00 pm
Chestnut Ridge 4:00-5:00 pm
Slight Halo 5:15-6:45 pm
Mount Vernon High School Marching Band (Main St to the Square) 6:45-7:15 pm
John Dodson 7:15-8:15 pm
Sorelle 8:30-10:00 pm
Saturday 8/9
Festival vendor hours: 11:00 am-10:00 pm
KidFest hours: 11:00 am- 9:00 pm
MVMAF Flower Show: 10:00 am-8:00 pm (The Living Center)
Poker Run registration starts at 9:00 am
ALMOST FAMOUS SWEETS & SODAS (NE corner of the Square)
Chalk Art Competition (feat: Chalk Goblin) 12:00-3:00 pm
Madcap Living History 11:00 am-4:00 pm (down South Main)
Main & Vine: 5:30-6:30 Landon Ross
Walking around the festival:
West African Percussion 4:00-6:00 pm
Jeff Eno, Magician 5:00-7:00 pm
Woodward Opera House:
Titanic Exhibit 1:00-5:00 pm
Group Tours 1:00-5:00 pm
KidFest:
Transforming Robots and Characters 11:30 am-6 pm
SOUTH STAGE:
Youth Showcase 11:00-1:00 pm
MTVarts Footlight showcase 1:00-2:00 pm
Dingler Studios 2:00-4:00 pm
Jam for Jims 4:00-5:00 pm
John Dodson 5:00-6:00 pm
Desmond Wall 6:00-7:0 0 pm
MAIN STAGE:
Joey and Jess 2:00-2:45 pm
Celebrity Pie/Wood Auction 3:30-6:00 pm
Jess Kellie Adams 6:30-8:00 pm
Craig Morgan 8:30-10:00 pm
Sunday 8/10
Festival vendor hours: 11:00 am-3:00 pm
KidFest hours: 11:00 am- 2:00 pm
MVMAF Flower Show: 10:00 am-4:00 pm (The Living Center)
5th annual Car & Motorcycle Cruise-in registration begins at: 8:00 am
SOUTH STAGE:
Norita Hissong (as Dolly Parton) 1:00-1:30 pm
REWYND 2:00-3:00 pm
MAIN STAGE:
Set Free Ministries 8 am
Side Effects 11:00 am-1:00 pm
The Shuman Band 1:00-3:00 pm
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