WQIO Ohio's Super Station
MOUNT VERNON – The Mount Vernon Music and Arts Festival (MVMAF) will
welcome country chart-topper and veteran Craig Morgan, NBC’s The Voice contestants
Sorelle, and Central Ohio icons Phil Dirt and the Dozers as headline musical acts for this
year’s event, August 7-10 on the Public Square and streets of downtown Mount Vernon.
Headline concerts are at 8:30pm each night. This marks the 37 th year for this event, presented by
Ariel Corporation as part of the 2025 Mount Vernon Presents calendar.
The festival officially opens at 5:00pm on Thursday, August 7, with the Danville High
School marching band, and music from Dogwood Blossoms Chapter of Sweet Adelines. The
2025 MVMAF will highlight local, regional and national performing, visual and creative artists
of all ages. There will also be many 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 2025 MVMAF is a DORA (Designated Outdoor
Refreshment Area) approved 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 on South Main between
Gambier and Ohio all four days, the second annual Wood Design & Kiwanis Celebrity Pie
Auction at 3:30pm Saturday, and the annual Car & Motorcycle Cruise-In on Sunday.
Other highlights include the annual Youth Showcase, Friday and Saturday from noon-
1:00pm on the South Stage, the return of the Mount Vernon High School marching band Friday
night, a free Titanic artifact exhibit from 1:00-5:00pm 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.
Festival hours are 5:00-10:00pm Thursday, 11:00am-10:00pm Friday and Saturday and
11:00am-3:00pm on Sunday, with Cruise-In registration beginning at 8:00am. 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.
Preferred seating tickets for Craig Morgan are $25 and $50 seats are sold out. There are
also preferred seating tickets for Sorelle and Phil Dirt & The Dozers at $10.
Downtown streets, including the Public Square, will begin closing on Wednesday,
August 7 at 3:00pm 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).
OUR MISSION: 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.
