The Mount Vernon Music and Arts Festival will welcome country chart-topper Lonestar, local favorite Six Miles to Nellie and Central Ohio icons Phil Dirt and the Dozers as headline musical acts for this year’s event, Aug. 8-11 on the Public Square and streets of downtown Mount Vernon. Headline concerts are at 8:30 p.m. each night. This marks the 36th year for this event, presented by Ariel Corporation and Park National Bank as part of the 2024 Mount Vernon Presents calendar.

The festival officially opens at 5 p.m. on Thursday, Aug. 8, 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 2024 MVMAF is a DORA (Designated Outdoor Refreshment Area) approved event.

A fundraising concert with emerging country artist Jess Kellie Adams kicks off the MVMAF on Thursday at 6:30 p.m., hosted by The Woodward Opera House, 107 S. Main St. Tickets are $15.

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 first-ever Wood Design & Kiwanis Celebrity Pie Auction at 5:30 p.m. Saturday, and the annual Car & Motorcycle Cruise-In on Sunday. 

Other highlights include the annual Youth Showcase, Friday and Saturday from noon to 1 p.m. on the South Stage, the return of the Central Ohio Youth Ballet at 1 p.m. Saturday inside the Woodward Opera House, and street performances from Madcap Living History. Madcap will also host a revival of Knox Squares Friday night at 6 p.m. at the Woodward.    

Other local and regional artists scheduled to perform include the Mount Vernon High School Marching Band, The Engine Room (formerly Wisecrack), Jamee Hershberger, Blue Rail, Chestnut Ridge, Cryin’ Out Loud, The Shuman Band, Side Effects, Tavaci, Dingler Studio, McKinley Figurski, juggler Mason Chesnut, Fat Tuesday, Dogwood Blossoms Chapter of Sweet Adelines, Joey & Jessica, and the Royal Princess Party.

Festival hours are 5 to 10 p.m. Thursday, 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday and 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Sunday, with Cruise-In registration beginning at 8 a.m. 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 Gold and Silver seating tickets for Lonestar are $50 and $25. There are also preferred seating tickets for Six Miles to Nellie and Phil Dirt & The Dozers at $10.

Downtown streets, including the Public Square, will begin closing on Wednesday, Aug. 7 at 3 p.m. to prepare for the Festival. Learn more about this year’s MVMAF at mvmaf.org/ or on the Festival’s Facebook and Instagram (@mvmafohio).