Ariel-Foundation Park again will host Mount Vernon’s Fourth of July Celebration on Monday, July 4, with a fireworks show starting shortly after dusk.
Streetlights will be turned off before the show, so spectators should be seated by 9:45 p.m. and remain seated until after the fireworks end and the streetlights are turned back on.
Spectators can enjoy the fireworks show but cannot bring their own fireworks, as the city code prohibits fireworks in city parks.
Faithfully concert starts before fireworks
The Schnormeier Event Center (SEC) will be closed until 5 p.m., when the public can enter and find seating with their own chairs. Faithfully, an Eagles/Journey tribute band, will begin a performance at 6:30 p.m.
Bringing food or buying at the park
Food trucks will open at 5 p.m. and will be found on the east side of the SEC in the parking lot, in the lakes area near the Kiwanis Pavilion and in the west area of the Urton Clockhouse.
Food can be brought to the park. Spectators can bring their own barbecue, but they cannot be under any roof in the park. This will be strictly enforced by the Mount Vernon Fire Department.
Alcohol is not permitted anywhere in the park or on streets around the park. A bar will be set up inside the SEC where adult refreshments can be purchased from 5-9:30 p.m.
Getting to the park and parking
The following streets will close at 4 p.m.: Norton Street, Woods Parkway westbound heading toward Harcourt Road, and Pittsburgh Avenue between the park and 7th Avenue both ways.
Despite closing the streets, sitting on the paved roads in and around Ariel-Foundation Park is prohibited.
The public can use park entrances at Madison Street, Pittsburgh Avenue and Harcourt Road. Columbus Road will be closed to southbound traffic at 9:30 p.m. and will not reopen until the park clears.
Very limited first-come, first-served parking will be available inside Ariel-Foundation Park. Parking is free and can be found at public lots downtown off Gay Street and at the high school. When lots are full, they will be closed.
Vehicles parked in timed public parking spaces will not be ticketed on July 4.
Limited parking that complies with the Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA) will be available inside the park. The Urton Clockhouse parking lot off Pittsburgh Avenue by the Columbus Road entrance will be filled first. ADA parking will be on a first-come, first-served basis at this limited-space lot. Once this lot fills, drivers will be directed to the SEC parking area, where 20 ADA spots will be set aside on a first-come, first-served basis. Motorists next will be directed to the lake area for parking options.
Spectators can walk or take Knox Area Transit (KAT) to and from the park. Contact KAT for updated routing information at 740-392-7433, via email at KAT@co.knox.oh.us or visit co.knox.oh.us/knox-area-transit. Depending on weather conditions, there may be back-in parking on the grass along the roadway coming off Harcourt Road.
Limited time remains to reserve the Park National Pavilion for up to 50 guests for $100 on a first-come, first-served basis. The deadline is June 27. Call 740-501-9293 to reserve.
Portable restrooms will be available on the west side of the SEC as well as on the north side of the SEC parking lot, just west of the Urton Clockhouse and outside of the Kiwanis Pavilion on the lakeside as well as the public restrooms in the pavilion.
Canopies and umbrellas are permitted, but the city asks everyone to be sensitive to others’ views of the concert and fireworks.
Vehicles exiting the park
Immediately after the fireworks show, traffic can go out Pittsburgh Avenue toward Columbus Road. Cones will be set to direct motorists either right or left on Columbus. Going west on Pittsburgh, motorists will have to make either a left or right turn on Harcourt Road. Motorists exiting on North Madison Avenue will be required to turn left only, going into town. The Center Lake Loop road will be opened at 10:15 p.m. for westbound traffic only toward Harcourt Road. Exiting on Harcourt, motorists can turn left or right.
