Festival of Lights offers socially distanced holiday fun for second year

MOUNT VERNON – Main Street Mount Vernon has partnered with the City of Mount Vernon to present the Second Annual Festival of Lights. Set to return from 6-9 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 4, this year’s Festival of Lights will feature a self-guided tour as a socially distanced alternative to the other wonderful events offered as part of the holiday shopping season. Sponsored by Knox County Foundation, this residential holiday lighting competition became an instant hit in 2020 with attendees from all over the city, county and state. A tour map will be made available Dec. 3 on the Festival of Lights Facebook page.

Make sure to listen to WNZR for a special selection of Christmas music. You can enjoy a mix of time-tested classics and new Christmas songs as you enjoy the Festival of Lights trail. Connect with WNZR on your radio at 90.9 FM, online at wnzr.fm or download their smartphone apps for both Apple and Android devices. You can find WNZR on the iTunes App Store, or Google Play. WNZR can also be found on the TuneIn Radio app.

Families enjoying the lights can get into the holiday spirit by donating needed supplies to the Winter Sanctuary and Food for the Hungry of Knox County. List of needed supplies can be found on the Festival of Lights Facebook page. The Church of Christ of Mount Vernon, located at 1200 Newark Road, will be a collection point for donations. Collection boxes will be manned by volunteers of the congregation.

After completing the tour, festival attendees can vote for their favorite lighting displays on the Festival of Lights Facebook page. Voting will end at midnight on Dec. 8.

To enter your house as part of the Festival of Lights, interested city residents can apply by registering on the online Festival of Lights application located on the Main Street website. Displays must be view-ready by 4 p.m. on Nov. 30. Approvals will be made and emailed by Dec. 1. The first 25 applicants will be accepted, and 10 will be approved for participation.

Winners will be announced Wednesday, Dec. 8 on the Main Street Mount Vernon Facebook page. Participants will all receive a small gift from Main Street. Voting will determine Best White Light Decorations, Best Colorful Light Decorations and Best Gingerbread Decorations who will receive prizes from downtown merchants.

To learn more about the Festival of Lights, or to join the downtown movement, head to mainstreetmountvernon.com.