Mount Vernon’s 27th annual Magical Night event will take place Thursday, Nov. 30, from 5 to 8 p.m. at several locations throughout Uptown Mount Vernon. Lisbon’s Holiday Jubilee will take place Saturday, Dec. 9th, on the streets of Lisbon. Both events include visits from Santa and loads of holiday fun and good cheer.
The two events ring in the holiday season in Mount Vernon and Lisbon, and signal the beginning of Mount Vernon and Lisbon’s Hometown Holidays, a month-long celebration of the holidays.
Mount Vernon’s Magical Night Nov. 30
Thursday, Nov. 30, marks Mount Vernon’s annual Magical Night a celebration of holiday magic that begins on the lawn of the First Street Community Center, 221 First St. NE. Volunteers from the Mount Vernon-Lisbon Community Development Group have teamed with the City of Mount Vernon to celebrate the holiday season. At 5 p.m. on Nov. 30, Santa himself will be throwing the switch unveiling Mount Vernon’s holiday lights.
This will be followed by a wide range of events along Mount Vernon’s historic First Street that will include visits and photos with Santa in the Mount Vernon Bank & Trust building, a Holiday Craft Bazaar in the basement of City Hall, a Live Nativity at Memorial Park and live music and activities in almost every Uptown building.
Returning this year will be a performance by the Mount Vernon High School Jazz Band in the old fire station, 213 First St. NW. Popular returning stops including the International and Multicultural Holiday Celebration at Cornell College’s Stoner House, sponsored by the Office of Intercultural Life, and the growing series of animatronic window displays on display in several area businesses titled “Animenagerie.”
Two historic Trolley Cars sponsored by Meridith Hoffman, Iowa Realty, will be on site offering free rides up and down the street connecting festival-goers to all activities. And a trackless train will be running throughout the evening in the parking lot of Iowa Physical Therapy, 108 1st St. SE.
“Magical Night event is one of our most anticipated events of 2017,” says Matt Siders, Chair of the Hometown Holidays Committee. “With lights and reindeer, trolley cars, and Santa Claus himself, there is something for everyone this holiday season in Mount Vernon and Lisbon. The holiday season is a great time to discover the small-town magic of these two great communities.”
Lisbon Holiday Jubilee Dec. 9
Lisbon Holiday Jubilee has activities throughout the day on Saturday, Dec. 9, beginning with Breakfast with Mrs. Claus, at 9 a.m. at the Lisbon History Center, 102 East Main St., Lisbon. This will be followed by a Holiday Bazaar Craft Show at Lisbon City Hall till 1 p.m. Other holiday activities in Lisbon that day include ornament-making workshops at the Lisbon Library and cookie decorating at Southeast Linn Community Center.
Information on these and other Mount Vernon-Lisbon events is available at visitmvl.com
About the Mount Vernon-Lisbon Community Development Group
The Mount Vernon-Lisbon Community Development Group exists to improve the social and economic well-being of Mount Vernon and Lisbon by capitalizing on their unique identity, assets and character. Mount Vernon was selected as a Main Street community in 2008, and practices economic development within the context of historic preservation.
Mount Vernon was named one of America’s “10 Coolest Small Towns” by Budget Travel magazine in October of 2009. More information is available atvisitmvl.com
About Main Street
The Main Street Approach is a copyrighted process of the National Trust for Historic Preservation. The Program has been used in Iowa since 1986 with a total of 56 communities having participated. Mount Vernon was selected as a Main Street community on March 4, 2008 by the State of Iowa, after submitting a comprehensive application and presenting to a select board of reviewers.
