The 36th Annual Heritage Days Festival, Mount Vernon’s biggest summer festival, will take place Friday and Saturday, July 12 and 13, with a theme of “Rock ‘n’ 80s!”
The event will be produced by the Mount Vernon-Lisbon Community Development Group (CDG) in partnership with the Lester Buresh Community Wellness Center, the Mount Vernon Alumni Association, the Mount Vernon Community School District, the City of Mount Vernon and several other local organizations.
Highlights of the two-day festival will include a beer garden, street-party, carnival games, a parade, a bags tournament, car show and the Memorial Park Family Fun Zone, a Fairy Tale-themed attraction for kids. New this year will be a Drone Show taking place at the new Martha Parsons Activities Center (MAC – MV Football Field), 731 Palisades Rd SW, on Friday, July 12, at dark.
“We are going a different way with our Friday night events this year,” said Bridget O’Connor, Chair of the Heritage Days Committee. “Not only will we offer food, games, fun and music at the Lester Buresh Community Wellness Center beginning at 5 p.m., but we will add a Drone Show into the nearby Martha Parsons Activities Center – we hope everyone will come out and celebrate Mount Vernon summer fun with us.”
The event starts Friday, July 12, at the Lester Buresh Community Family Wellness Center, 855 Palisades Road SW, Mount Vernon. The event goes from 5 p.m. to dark with inflatables, games, food trucks and live music. The Mount Vernon Bank Kids Fun Run will take place at 5:30 p.m. at the MAC. At dark, the party will move to the MAC, 731 Palisades Rd SW, for a live Drone Show.
NOTE: No alcohol is allowed on the MAC grounds and no chairs or food will be allowed on the football field or track – blankets are encouraged on the grassy area near the bleachers.
Saturday, July 13, starts off at 8 a.m. with an Alumni Breakfast at the Mount Vernon High School Commons, 731 Palisades Road SW, from 8 to 10 a.m. The parade will take place at 10:30 a.m. following the breakfast. This year’s parade theme is “Rock ‘n’ 80s,” and lineup begins at 9:30 a.m. at Cornell’s Small Athletic and Wellness Center, 600 1st St. NE.
NOTE: There will be no parade parking at the lineup location. Spectator parking is available on City streets south of 1st Street.
Uptown activities will begin immediately after the parade along 1st Street East and West (start time is approximately 11 a.m.) These events include a Car Show, carnival games, Family Fun Zone, food vendors, a beer tent, live music and a street dance led by headliner Slap ‘N’ Tickle starting at 8 p.m.
Heritage days schedule –
2024 Heritage Days Schedule of Events
Friday, July 12 – Lester Buresh Family Community Wellness Center and the Martha Parsons Activities Center (MAC — MV High School Football Field)
5 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Bouncy Houses, food trucks, live music and beverages for sale
5:30 p.m. Kids Fun Run at the Martha Parsons Activities Center (MAC)
6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Centennial Season Celebration – 100 Years of Theater at MVHS at the Mount Vernon Community School District Performing Arts Center (PAC)
At Dark – Live Drone Show at the MAC
Saturday, July 13 – Uptown Mount Vernon
8 a.m. to 10 a.m. – Alumni and Community Breakfast in the High School Commons
9 a.m. to 3 p.m. – Heritage Days Car Show – First Street East
10:30 a.m. – Heritage Days Parade – lineup at 9:30 a.m. at Cornell College Small Athletic and Wellness Center
11 a.m. to 1 p.m. – Memorial Park Family Fun Zone (free event includes Bouncy House)
11 a.m. to midnight – Beverage Tent – First Street West
11:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. – Carnival games and inflatables in front of the Old Fire Station
11:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. – Alumni reception on the First Street Community Center lawn
11:30 a.m. to midnight – Food Vendors on First Street West
Noon – Dance Arts Iowa performs on the First Street West Stage
1:30 to 5:30 p.m. – Mount Vernon Wrestling Team bean bag toss tournament
5:30 to 7:30 p.m. – ‘80s Theme Night at the Pool, includes games, music and prizes
5:30 to 8 p.m. to midnight – DJ music
8 p.m. – Slap ‘n’ Tickle
9 to 11 p.m. – Movie Night at the Pool “Honey I Shrunk the Kids”