Fun ‘Fur’ everyone at August First Friday sponsored by Griffin Insurance

MOUNT VERNON – Great food, live music and family fun for all are offered during the 2021 First Friday season. Dog Days of Summer has returned. 

Sponsored by Griffin Insurance, First Friday invites community members, visitors and canines to the beautiful Central Business District of Downtown Mount Vernon for this annual themed event.

WNZR 90.9 FM will host a “Dog Days of Summer” dog costume parade as part of the celebration. All dogs are invited to join the parade. The parade will take place at 7:15 p.m. The parade route will begin at WNZR’s Big Blue vehicle (South Main Plaza, at the corner of Gambier and South Main streets). Each dog and owner will be announced once they arrive on the Square. Pre-registration is from 6:30-7:10 p.m. at WNZR Big Blue. The first 50 to register will receive a free goody bag provided by Complete Care Animal Hospital, and you’ll also have the chance to enter a drawing for two doggy prize baskets provided by We Lov Pets. Celebrity judges will determine the winners in Best in Show, Most Creative Costume and Dog the Judges Most Want to Take Home, and winners will receive plaques provided by Traditions Engraving. 

August First Friday will feature music from the Mount Vernon Community Band from 6-7:15 p.m. and Jamee Gresley from 7:30-9 p.m. on the Main Stage, on Gambier Street along the South Main Plaza. The secondary stage, at the intersection of West High Street and Public Square, will feature Fat Tuesday and a performance by Tavaci, sponsored by Domino’s Pizza of Mount Vernon. The BAM! Activity Zone, presented by Knox County Board of Developmental Disabilities, Concepts in Community Living and Mount Vernon Nazarene University Athletics, will feature family-friendly activities for all ages and abilities. Don’t forget to stop by the Touch-A-Truck activity zone sponsored by Edward Jones of Mount Vernon for a picture in the Mount Vernon Fire Department fire truck or Mount Vernon Police Department Police cruiser.

Sponsored by A+ Auto Brokers, the Cruise-In returns to Public Square. Main Street is asking for a $10 donation from participating cars to continue to keep First Fridays as a free community event. Each donation will receive a free dash plaque commemorating the August Cruise-In, and proceeds will benefit the initiatives of Main Street Mount Vernon to continue to enhance our downtown.

With over 75 vendors able to sell directly from the streets of downtown, there is sure to be something for everyone. Don't forget to stop in to the retail shops, restaurants and other attractions in downtown Mount Vernon and support local merchants,

Media sponsors include 90.9 WNZR, 13WMVO and Super Q 93.7.

Traffic will be closed one block north of Public Square, around the square and on South Main Street down to Ohio Avenue starting at 4:30 p.m. If you have questions, please contact Downtown Manager Anthony McNeal at 740-393-1481.

To learn more about First Fridays, or to join the downtown movement, head to mainstreetmountvernon.com.