HEAR YE! HEAR YE! EXPERIENCE MOUNT VERNON INVITES YOU TO PARTY LIKE IT'S 1776 AT JULY FIRST FRIDAY!

MEDIA CONTACT
Contact: Lacey Filkins
Executive Director, Experience Mount Vernon 
info@experiencemv.org
Office/Mobile: 740-393-1481
 
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
 
HEAR YE! HEAR YE! EXPERIENCE MOUNT VERNON INVITES YOU TO PARTY LIKE IT'S 1776 AT JULY FIRST FRIDAY!
 
Mount Vernon, Ohio — Raise the colors, gather your fellow patriots, and make haste to Downtown Mount Vernon for July First Friday: Party Like It’s 1776, a patriotic community celebration taking place on Friday, July 3, 2026, from 6:00-9:00 p.m.
 
Presented by Lanning’s Foods, this free, family-friendly event will transform downtown into a festive celebration of community spirit, featuring live music, activities, reenactments, food trucks, and more than 95 exhibitors and vendors.
 
Guests can enjoy live music from Fat Tuesday on the Lanning’s Foods Main Stage on Public Square, along with a special appearance by the Mount Vernon Community Band. The Community Spotlight, sponsored by United Aggregates, will feature the Mount Vernon Music & Arts Festival, showcasing one of the community’s signature events and providing a preview of the exciting programming planned for the Festival in August.
 
Families and young patriots won’t want to miss the Activity Zone on South Main Street, sponsored by Chevrolet GMC of Mount Vernon. Activities will include a bounce house sponsored by MVNU Athletics, free face painting by Creations 2 Dye 4, make-and-take friendship bracelets sponsored by Experience Mount Vernon, and more!
 
The ever-popular Touch-A-Truck, sponsored by United Aggregates, will return with vehicles and equipment from United Aggregates, the Mount Vernon Police Department, and the Mount Vernon Fire Department, giving families an up-close look at some of the vehicles that help keep our community moving and safe.
 
Adding to the patriotic atmosphere, guests may encounter living history throughout downtown from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. as reenactors from MadCap Living History portraying George Washington, Alexander Hamilton, and Eliza Hamilton appear as interactive "living statues" scattered throughout the event. Attendees are encouraged to seek out these iconic figures from America's founding era, snap a photo, and experience a unique glimpse into the personalities who helped shape the nation's history.
 
Visitors can also test their aim at the interactive archery trailer provided by the Knox County Fish & Game Association on East High Street or strike a patriotic pose at the photo booth on Public Square sponsored by Knox Community Hospital.
 
Hungry? Food trucks, sponsored by Ariel Corporation, will be stationed throughout the event, serving a variety of crowd favorites and summertime treats!
 
July First Friday also marks the second month of the new First Friday Passport program. Designed primarily for kids ages 12 and under, the Passport encourages participants to explore activities throughout First Friday and collect monthly stamps. Bring your passport back from June First Friday to earn your July stamp, or pick up a Passport at the Experience Mount Vernon info table on Public Square. Participants who complete the activities and earn their July stamp will be entered into the drawing for the Splash Into Summer Prize Pack, featuring reusable water balloons, floaties, sunglasses, Hiawatha day passes courtesy of the City of Mount Vernon, and more! Participants who collect stamps throughout the season will also be entered into the drawing for the First Friday Grand Prize.
 
As always, all First Friday events and activities are free and open to the public!
 
Event Logistics
Street closures for parked vehicles begin at 2:00 p.m., with full road access to all traffic beginning at 3:00 p.m., including:

• Main Street between Chestnut Street and Ohio Avenue
• All of Public Square
• High Street between Gay and Mulberry Streets
• Vine Street between S. Gay and S. Mulberry Streets
• Gambier Street between S. Gay and S. Mulberry Streets