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MOUNT VERNON, Ohio – The Mount Vernon Music and Arts Festival (MVMAF) will
welcome Starship: featuring Mickey Thomas, and McGuffey Lane as headline musical acts for
this year’s event, August 11-13 on the Public Square and streets of downtown Mount Vernon.
This marks the 35 th year for this event, presented by Ariel Corporation, Park National Bank and
the Mount Vernon Arts Consortium, as part of the 2023 ‘Mount Vernon Presents’ calendar.
The festival officially opens at 11:00 Friday, August 11, and will highlight local, regional
and national performing, visual and creative artists of all ages. There will also be great 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
2023 MVMAF is a DORA (Designated Outdoor Refreshment Area) approved event.
2023 also marks the return of the Festival Flower Show, presented by the Knox County
Garden Clubs, at The Living Center, 201 N. Main St., KidFest, the Festival Wood Challenge &
Auction, and the annual Car & Motorcycle Cruise-In and Poker Run on Sunday. The Knox
County Quilt Guild ‘Color Therapy’ exhibition will be open Friday-Sunday at Mount Vernon
Nazarene University’s Buchwald Center and Schnormeier Gallery, 221 S. Main St.
On Saturday, Ohio Eastern Star Service Dogs will partner with the Festival for a 1K Dog
Walk in Downtown Mount Vernon, with registration starting at 8:30am at the Heritage
Center/Riverview Park, at the end of South Gay Street.
Other highlights include the annual Youth Showcase, Friday and Saturday from noon-
1:00pm on the South Stage, the return of the Central Ohio Youth Ballet at 1:00pm Saturday
inside the Woodward Opera House, 107 S. Main St., and street performances from MADCAP
Living History, Chalk Goblin, local juggler Mason Chesnut, plus photo opportunities with
Scooby Doo and the Mystery Machine.
Local artists will also be painting at the intersection of West Vine and South Main on
Friday and Saturday. Local and regional artists scheduled to perform include the Mount Vernon
OUR MISSION: The Mount Vernon Music and Arts Festival exists to present a celebration of the arts;
creating experiences that entertain, educate and inspire; uniting artists and audiences within the historic
backdrop of Mount Vernon, Ohio.
High School Marching Band, Wisecrack, Chaz & Nicki, Rally in the Alley (a Chuck Flynn
tribute), Chestnut Ridge, Cryin’ Out Loud, The Shuman Band, Side Effects, Tavaci Elite, SAP
Band, MTVarts, Dingler Studio, Steel Drums, and the Bradford Academy of Dance.
Festival hours are 11:00am-10:00pm Friday and Saturday and 11:00am-3:00pm on
Sunday, with Cruise-In registration beginning at 8:00am. 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 open seating areas outside of the ticketed seating.
Preferred Gold and Silver seating tickets for both Starship and McGuffey Lane are
available at https://www.mvac.org/ by clicking on the events tab. Starship tickets are $50 and
$25, while McGuffey Lane tickets are $30 and $15, respectively.
The complete 2023 MVMAF schedule and map will be available online and in pocket
guides throughout the festival grounds, including the welcome tent on the south entrance to the
Public Square. A list of food trucks is also on the map and guide and vendors are listed online.
Learn more about this year’s MVMAF at https://www.mvmaf.org/ or on the Festival’s
Facebook and Instagram (@mvmafohio).
STARSHIP, FEATURING MICKEY THOMAS:
Mickey Thomas is the owner of the soaring voice that propelled Starship through the
decade of the 80’s. In 1979, Mickey joined Jefferson Starship as the lead vocalist, after the
departure of Grace Slick and Marty Balin, and recorded a string of hits including “Jane”, “No
Way Out”, “Find Your Way Back”, “Stranger”, and “Layin’ It On The Line”.
The group was renamed Starship in 1985 and went on to record three #1 Billboard hit
songs, including “We Built This City”, “Sara”, and “Nothing’s Gonna Stop Us Now”, from the
film Mannequin, an Academy Award nominee for Best Original Song. Their hit “It’s Not Over
‘til It’s Over” became Major League Baseball’s theme in 1987.
MCGUFFEY LANE:
Molly Pauken, Randy Huff, and Kevin Reed join original members, John Schwab, Terry
Efaw and Steve Reis, in one of the Midwest’s most popular bands. Their polished harmonies and
innovative talent continue to wow their audiences. From their high energy music to the beautiful
OUR MISSION: The Mount Vernon Music and Arts Festival exists to present a celebration of the arts;
creating experiences that entertain, educate and inspire; uniting artists and audiences within the historic
backdrop of Mount Vernon, Ohio.
ballads, this band has something for everyone… and all who are fortunate enough to see the
show walk away with a feeling of being truly entertained.
KIDFEST:
This event happens Friday – Sunday in the block of South Main Street between Gambier
Street and Ohio Avenue. Kids of all ages can enjoy inflatables, a special South Stage with live
entertainment, and a series of make and take classes called ‘KidFest Creative Corner,’ including
painting, air fresheners, and succulent plants.
CAR & MOTORCYCLE CRUISE-IN:
The entry fee is $10 for the Cruise-In, with registration starting at 8:00 and a breakfast
provided by Set Free Ministries. The Poker Run begins at 8:00 on the Square and is $5 per
scoresheet. There will be a Kids Choice vote. Live music from Side Effects and The Shuman
Band begins on the Square at 11:00am.
CHARCUTERIE BOARD CHALLENGE AND AUCTION:
The 3rd MVMAF Challenge & Auction uses the medium of wood, focusing this year on
charcuterie boards. These items will be displayed in the ballroom of The Grand Hotel on Friday
and Saturday, with a live auction at 2:30pm Saturday and remaining items available online until
7:00pm. The Ruckman Group Auctions & Appraisals hosts the auction, available at this link:
https://theruckmangroup.hibid.com/catalog/471510/mt–vernon-music-and-arts-festival–
wood-challenge
