MOUNT VERNON – The Mount Vernon Music and Arts Festival (MVMAF) welcomes Fredericktown native and country singer Preston Cooper, quartet Six One Five Collective, tribute band Forever Seger – The Silver Bullet Experience, and Central Ohio icons Phil Dirt and the Dozers as headline musical acts for this year’s event.
This year’s festival is Aug. 14-16 on Public Square and streets of downtown Mount Vernon. Headline concerts are at 6:30 and 8:30 p.m., Friday and Saturday nights.
Preferred seating tickets near the stage for Preston Cooper are still available; VIP are sold out. There are also preferred seating tickets for Forever Seger and Phil Dirt & The Dozers by visiting the festival or the Mount Vernon Arts Consortium website.
Downtown streets, including Public Square, will begin closing on Thursday morning, Aug. 13 to prepare for the festival.
This marks the 38th year for this event, presented by Ariel Corp. as part of the 2026 Mount Vernon Presents calendar.
There will also be 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 Public Square to Gambier Street.
The 2026 MVMAF is a DORA (Designated Outdoor Refreshment Area) approved event.
A full lineup of activities
The festival officially opens at 11 a.m. on Friday, Aug. 14. The 2026 MVMAF will highlight local, regional and national performing, visual and creative artists of all ages.
Other events include the first-ever Brick Fest at The Woodward, with LEGO-themed art of all types from 3-8 p.m. Friday and 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Saturday at the Woodward Opera House, 107 S. Main St.
The festival flower show, presented by the Knox County Garden Club, at The Living Center, 201 N. Main St., returns Friday to Sunday.
The 3rd annual chalk art competition is Saturday at noon to 3 p.m. at Sweet Street Candy and Soda Shoppe on northeast Public Square.
Visitors can also enjoy KidFest activities on West Vine Street, the third annual Kiwanis Pie Auction at 3:30 p.m. Saturday, the Wood Challenge Auction at 5 p.m. Saturday, and the annual car & motorcycle cruise-In on Saturday along Ohio Avenue at the south end of the festival grounds.
Other highlights include the annual Youth Showcase, Friday (1 p.m.) and Saturday (11 a.m.) on the South stage, the return of the Mount Vernon High School marching band Friday night at 5, the return of the Titanic artifact exhibit from noon to 5 p.m. Saturday (there is a nominal cost at 120 S. Main), and street performances from Madcap Living History on Saturday.
Other local and regional artists scheduled to perform include Jamee Hershberger, Nate Smith, The Shuman Band, Slight Halo, Side Effects, West African drummers, Chris Petee, MTVarts, Dingler Studio, Lilly Buckley, Norita Hissong, Landon Ross, Jam for Jims, Elaina Arthur, Rewynd, 1numberoff, McKinley Figurski, magician Jeff Eno, and the Royal Princess Party.
Arts festival runs Friday through Sunday
Festival hours are 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday and 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Sunday.
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.
Below is a full schedule as of Aug. 4.