Aloha! Heritage Days goes Hawaiian!

The 32nd Annual Heritage Days Festival, Mount Vernon’s biggest summer festival, will take place Thursday, Friday and Saturday, July 11, 12 and 13, in and around Uptown Mount Vernon.

With a parade theme of “Hawaiian Luau,” this year’s festivities will include fireworks, a full carnival with rides and games, as well as live performances, bingo, a beer tent and a “mini-Olympics for kids.”

New this year is a return of a full carnival including rides, games, and food for all ages returns to Mount Vernon for Heritage Days weekend on Friday, July 12, from 5 p.m. to close, and Saturday, July 13, from noon to close. The carnival will be located on the East side of Highway 1 on 1st Street. Discount tickets for carnival rides are available now at Bridge Community Bank (302 Highway 1 SE), Hills Bank & Trust in both Lisbon (103 W. Main St.) and Mount Vernon (720 1st Ave. SE), Mount Vernon Bank & Trust (206 1st St. SW), and the Visitor Center (311 1st Ave NW).

Find a food vendor application here:

Find a food vendor letter here

Find the printable 5K app here:

Find the 5K online registration here:

Find the map of the 5K route here:

Heritage Days Weekend begins on Thursday, July 11, at 6 p.m., at the Kernoustie Country Club, 203 Country Club Drive, Mount Vernon, with a “mini-Olympics for kids” (registration begins at 5:30 p.m.). It will be followed by food and family activities at Kernoustie, with the annual Fireworks Display at dark.

Food vendors will be set up on First Street West, and will be open Friday, July 12, from 4 p.m. to midnight, and Saturday, July 13, from noon to midnight. A beer tent will be open from 4 p.m. to midnight on Friday, July 12, and from noon to midnight on Saturday, July 13.

On Saturday, July 13, The Heritage Days 5K Walk/Run will take place starting at the Mount Vernon Elementary School, 615 5th Ave. SW. Register in advance at visitmvl.com or in person from 6:30 to 7:45 a.m.

The Main Street Stage on Mount Vernon’s First Street West will feature live entertainment from 6:30 p.m. to midnight on Friday, July 12; and from noon to midnight on Saturday, July 13. Mainstage performers include Lonesome Road on Friday, July 12, beginning at 9 p.m.; and Crazy Delicious on Saturday, July 13, beginning at 9 p.m.

The Heritage Days Parade will start at 11 a.m. Saturday, July 13. With a theme of “Hawaiian Luau,” the parade’s lineup will be at the Small Multi-Sport Center parking lot, 835 1st St. NW. The parade will start on First Street West, and then winds down 5th Avenue North and will end at 7th Street. Line up begins at 10 a.m.

Returning this year will be a live community talent show, “Mount Vernon’s Got Talent,” Friday, July 12, from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at the Main Stage. Also returning this year will be the very popular kid’s Tractor Pedal Pull open to kids ages 4 to 11 on Saturday, July 13, at 1 p.m., behind Mount Vernon Bank & Trust Co., 206 1st St. SW, sign up is at 12:30 p.m. The first and second place winners in each age division at this event will advance to the state competition in September.

“Put on your best Hawaiian shirt and join us as we celebrate everything Hawaiian Luau this July in Mount Vernon,” says Jenny Hampton, Chair of the Heritage Days Committee. “We are a town that loves a good festival so grab your grass skirts and leis and plan on spending July 11th, 12th, 13th with us!”

A complete schedule of events is available at visitmvl.com.

2019 Heritage Days Schedule of Events

Thursday, July 11th – Kernoustie Golf Cub

5:30 -6:00 Mini Olympics registration Kernoustie Golf Club
6:00 Mini Olympics Kernoustie Golf Club
6:00pm-9:00pm Activities and Family Night at Kernoustie Golf Club
Food, drink, music, children’s entertainment

Dark Fireworks Display by Heritage Days

Friday, July 12th – Uptown Mt. Vernon

8:00 AM 3-person Best shot, Kernoustie Golf Club
1:00 PM 3-person Best shot, Kernoustie Golf Club

3:00pm Food Vendors, First Street West
Street vendors with both local and regional favorites.

4:00pm-12:00am Beverage Tent

4:00pm to 12:00am East Side Beer Garden
Fun yard games

4:00-9:00pm Alumni Reception, Now located in the old Fire Station on Main street next to City Hall. Hang out with your classmates uptown and meet fellow alums from many classes. Friends, family, and Community welcome.

5:00- Close Carnival Rides and Games- Next Generation

5:45-6:30pm registration
6:30pm race time Kids Fun Run, Cornell Football Field; several classes of races for kids 10 & under

6 pm Mount Vernon Community Band performing in the Memorial Park Gazebo, 311 1st St. NW

6:30-Midnight Main Street Stage, First Street West

6:30- 8:30 pm Mount Vernon Has Talent
9:00-12:00 pm Lonesome Road

9:00 to 11:00 Movie Night at the Pool

Saturday, July 13th – Uptown Mt. Vernon

8:00am 5K Run/Walk, Mount Vernon Elementary School
Starting at 8am at MV Elementary School and winding through scenic Mount Vernon. Chip-timed. One Mission tshirts. Register in advance at visitmvl.com or on site from 6:30 am – 7:45 am.

8:00-10:00am Alumni and Community Breakfast
Serving from 8-10am in the High School Commons. All alumni, families, friends, and community welcome. Cost : donation at the door.

10:30am – 3:00 Car Show, First street in-front of Memorial Park
Registration 9:00 to 11:00
Award for People’s Choice done at 3:15

11:00 AM Heritage Days Parade, First Street West – Theme is Hawaiian Luau
Parade starts on First Street West, winds down 5th Avenue North and ends at 7th Street. Line up begins at 10:00 am

11:30am-9:00 pm Alumni Reception
Old Fire Station on Main Street. Hang out with your classmates uptown and meet fellow alums from many classes. Friends, family, and Community welcome.

Music Intermission with Alumni movie/slideshow

Noon-12:00am Food Vendors, First Street West
Different street vendors with both local and regional favorites
Beverage Tent
East Side Beer Garden

Noon- 2:00pm James Kennedy and Friends Lawn Party
Bring your lawn chairs to enjoy James and his friends play

Noon-midnight Main Street Stage, First Street West
Music Playing
1:00-1:30 Dance Arts Iowa
2:00-6:00 MV Wrestling Team – bean bag toss tournament fund raiser
6:00 -8:00 Rattlebox
9:00-12:00 Crazy Delicious

12:30- 1:00 pm Memorial Park Gazebo
12:30- 1:00 Reading of Declaration of Independence by American Legion

Noon till Close Carnival Rides and Games- Next Generation

1:00pm Tractor Pedal Pull- Behind Mount Vernon Bank and Trust
Registration begins at 12:30

5:30- 7:30 Theme Night at Mount Vernon Pool

About Mount Vernon

Historic Mount Vernon, Iowa, is the home to 4500 residents, including 1200 college students enrolled at Cornell College. Located in Eastern Iowa at the intersection of Highways 30 and 1, 20 miles north of Iowa City and 15 miles east of Cedar Rapids, it boasts a vibrant uptown business community with numerous antique and specialty stores, restaurants, coffee houses, art galleries, and three National Historic Districts. Mount Vernon was named one of America’s “10 Coolest Small Towns” by Budget Travel magazine in October of 2009. More information is available at visitmvl.com


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