Ariel-Foundation Park Set for Free July 4th Celebration Concert and City Fireworks Display

Media Contact:
Megan Evans
marketing@mvac.org
 
Ariel-Foundation Park Set for Free July 4th Celebration Concert and City Fireworks Display
Highwaymen Show Tribute to headline Independence Day celebration as part of America-250
 
MOUNT VERNON, Ohio (June 23, 2026) – Ariel-Foundation Park will host Mount Vernon’s annual Independence Day celebration on Saturday, July 4, featuring a free evening of live music, food vendors, family fun, and the City of Mount Vernon’s fireworks display. The event is part of Ohio’s America-250 celebration, commemorating the nation’s 250th anniversary.
 
The celebration takes place at the Schnormeier Event Center, with doors opening at 5 p.m. Backroad Divas kick off the evening at 5:30 p.m. with favorite hits from some of country music’s most recognizable female artists of the 1990s. At 6:15 p.m., Linden and Melvin bring their unique violin-and-guitar sound to the stage, blending progressive folk, newgrass, bluegrass, jazz, and Americana influences into fresh takes on 70s and 80s favorites.
 
Headlining the evening at 7:30 p.m. is the Highwaymen Show Tribute, a recreation of the legendary country music supergroup featuring the songs of Johnny Cash, Willie Nelson, Waylon Jennings, and Kris Kristofferson. Audiences can expect beloved classics including “Ring of Fire,” “On the Road Again,” and “Mammas Don’t Let Your Babies Grow Up to Be Cowboys” before the City of Mount Vernon’s fireworks display begins at approximately 10 p.m.
 
Food service will begin at 5 p.m., with local food vendors stationed throughout the event area. Beer, wine, and liquor will be available for purchase within the Schnormeier Event Center. Guests are reminded that only alcohol purchased on-site may be consumed within the Event Center and alcohol may not be taken outside the fenced area. Smoking and pets are prohibited inside the venue.
 
Super Q 93.7 FM will be broadcasting live starting at 6 p.m. from the park and will simulcast the music to the fireworks display. Eventgoers inside the Schnormeier Event Center can bring their own chairs or use the park’s, while eventgoers sitting on the lawn or terraces should bring their own seating. This event is free and open to the public, with all seating available on a first-come, first-served basis and no reserved seating or tables available for purchase.
 
Volunteers from the Exchange Club of Mount Vernon and Knox County will help park attendees upon arrival. The majority of parking will be available at The Lakes area, entering from Madison Avenue; near the Urton Clock House off Pittsburgh Avenue; and in designated lots off Harcourt Road. A limited number of accessible parking spaces will be available on a first-come, first-served basis in the Schnormeier Event Center lot. Please note that there will be no parking on the grass, but in designated areas only. Additional parking is available in downtown Mount Vernon, at the CA&C Depot, and at Memorial Park. Guests are encouraged to use the bike trail and Riverwalk under the viaduct for convenient access to and from the park.
 
Those interested in spending the day at Ariel-Foundation Park are encouraged to enjoy the park’s trails, lakes, and recreational opportunities prior to the evening festivities. Guests watching fireworks from The Lakes area may bring kayaks or canoes equipped with appropriate safety gear. Swimming remains prohibited. Rastin Observation Tower will be open until 8 p.m. The Urton Clock House will be closed to the public during the event.
 
In order to secure the area for the fireworks presentation, the road through The Woods will be closed beginning at 2 p.m. The main park road in front of the Event Center will also be closed at 2 p.m. allowing pedestrian and accessible parking traffic only. Pittsburgh Avenue will be closed from the Clock House parking lot to Seventh Avenue starting at 8 p.m. (residential traffic only.) The Lakes area gate at Madison Avenue will close at 10 p.m. Columbus Road will close to southbound traffic at approximately 9:30 p.m. and will remain closed until the park clears following the fireworks display.
 
Suggested alternative viewing locations for the fireworks include Arch Park, the Harcourt Road parking area at Ariel-Foundation Park, the CA&C Depot, and Memorial Park.
 
The Ariel-Foundation Park July 4th Celebration is sponsored by Ariel Corporation, Park National Bank, Gordy and Fran Yance, Knox County Foundation, Knox Community Hospital, Griffin Insurance, United Aggregates, The Energy Cooperative, and the Knox County Convention & Visitors Bureau.
 
For more information about the July 4th Celebration, including event updates, parking information, and a site map, visit MVAC.org or ArielFoundationPark.org.
 
About Ariel-Foundation Park
Located in Mount Vernon, Ohio, Ariel-Foundation Park is a stunning 250-acre example of adaptive reuse that honors its industrial heritage while serving as a focal point for recreation, entertainment, and community gathering in Knox County. Created on the former site of a glass manufacturing facility, the park features architectural ruins, lakes, an observation tower, walking trails, public art, and connections to both the Kokosing Gap Trail and the Heart of Ohio Trail. Learn more at ArielFoundationPark.org.