Shop locally. Save locally.
July 2025
Scan to shop now!
SPOTLIGHT
August 7-10, 2025
37TH ANNUAL FESTIVAL RETURNS TO DOWNTOWN MOUNT VERNON
TheMount Vernon Music and Arts Festival will welcome country chart-topper Craig Morgan, Lexington’s Sorelle sisters and central Ohio icons Phil Dirt and The Dozers as headline musical acts for this year’s event, Aug. 7-10, on the Public Square and streets of downtown Mount Vernon. Headline concerts are at 8:30 p.m. each night. This marks the 37th year for this event, presented by Ariel Corporation, Park National Bank and the City of Mount Vernon as part of the 2025 Mount Vernon Presents calendar.
The festival officially opens at 5 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 7, with a patriotic-themed opening ceremony, and 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 Re¬freshment 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., KidFest on South Main between Gambier and Ohio, the 2nd annual Wood Design & Kiwanis Celebrity Pie Auction at 3:30 p.m. Saturday, and the annual Car & Motorcycle Cruise-In on Sunday.
Other highlights include the annual Youth Showcase, Friday and Saturday, the return of country music rising
Festival Info
star Jess Kellie Adams on Saturday night, opening for Craig Morgan, and the Almost Famous Sweets & Sodas 2nd annual Chalk Art Competition Saturday from 12-3 p.m., featuring the Chalk Goblin, with a Spongebob theme to coincide with the MTVarts youth edition musical this fall.
Other local and regional artists scheduled to perform include the Danville and Mount Vernon High School Marching Bands, John Dodson, Jamee Hershberger, The Shuman Band, Side Effects, Tavaci, MTVarts, Dingler Studio, magician Jeff Eno and juggler Mason Chesnut.
Preferred Gold and Silver seating tickets for Saturday’s Craig Morgan show are $50 and $25 available at mvmaf.org.
Free and open to the public. Parking along South Gay and South Mulberry Streets and other downtown lots. Attendees are encouraged to bring folding chairs for open seating areas outside of ticketed seating.
• Thursday, 5-10 p.m.
• Friday and Saturday, 11 a.m.-10 p.m.
• Sunday, 11 a.m.-3 p.m. (Cruise-In
a.m.)
CRAIG MORGAN
JESS KELLIE ADAMS
PHIL DIRT & THE DOZERS
CHRISHARMON
TeamCaptain,Sr.LoanOfficer | NMLS267141 O: 740-392-3000 | M: 740-627-1740 | F: 866-583-1433 W: www.chrisharmonhomeloans.com
Copyright©2025FairwayIndependentMortgageCorporation.NMLS#2289.4750S.BiltmoreLane,Madison,WI53718,1-866-912-4800.Restrictionsand limitationsmayapply.Allrightsreserved.EqualHousingOpportunity.LicensedNevadaMortgageLender.
slow cooker
Potluck favorites
Peach Caprese Salad with balsamic cherries
Ingredients
Pulled Pork
INGREDIENTS
¼ cup light brown sugar
1 tablespoon yellow mustard
1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
1 tablespoon chili powder
1 extra large onion, chopped
2 large cloves garlic, crushed
1 ½ teaspoons dried thyme
8 hamburger buns
2 tablespoons butter, or as needed
1 tablespoon kosher salt
1 1/2 teaspoons smoked paprika
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1 (4-pound) pork shoulder
• 1 c. cherries, pitted & quartered
• 5 peaches, pitted & sliced
• 2 tbsp. balsamic vinegar
• 1 tbsp. olive oil
• 1 small shallot, minced
• 6 oz. mozzarella,sliced
• 12 basil leaves
• Salt & pepper
Combine cherries, balsamic, oil, shallot, salt & pepper in a bowl. Put in fridge for 30 min.
Layer the peaches and mozzarella on a serving plate, alternating one after the other. Spoon the relish over the top, then sprinkle with salt and drizzle with olive oil. Scatter the basil over the top.
Pour vegetable oil into the bottom of a slow cooker. Place pork roast into the slow cooker; pour in barbeque sauce, vinegar, and chicken broth. Stir in brown sugar, yellow mustard, Worcestershire sauce, chili powder, onion, garlic, and thyme. Cover and cook on low for 10 to 12 hours or High for 5 to 6 hours until pork shreds easily with a fork.
Remove pork from the slow cooker, and shred the meat using two forks. Return shredded pork to the slow cooker, and stir to combine with juices.
Spread the inside of both halves of hamburger buns with butter. Toast buns, butter-side down, in a skillet over medium heat until golden brown. Spoon pulled pork into toasted buns.
No-Bake Cookies
Ingredients
• 2 c. sugar
• 1/2 c. milk
• 8 tbsp. unsalted butter
• 1/4 c. unsweetened cocoa powder
BroccoliSalad
• 3 c. old-fashioned rolled oats
• pinch salt
• 1 c. peanut butter
• 1 tbsp. vanilla extract
Line a baking sheet with wax paper or parchment. Bring the sugar, milk, butter and cocoa to a boil in a medium saucepan over medium heat, stirring occasionally, let boil for 1 minute. Add peanut butter and cook until melted (3-5 minutes)
Remove from the heat. Stir in vanilla, salt and oats, stir. Drop teaspoonfuls onto parchment. Let sit at room temperature until cooled and hardened, about 30 minutes. Refrigerate in an airtight container.
•5c.smallbroccoli
orets
•3/4c.raisins
•1/2c.sun ower seeds
