CDG releases 2021 Calendar of Events

The Mount Vernon-Lisbon Community Development Group (CDG) has released a complete Calendar of Events for the 2021 festival season. The calendar includes a full season of festivals and events, all planned and executed by the organization’s volunteers.

“Festival planning takes time to do correctly,” said Joe Jennison, Director of Main Street and Marketing for the Mount Vernon-Lisbon Community Development Group (CDG). “And although there are a lot of questions regarding the timing of the COVID-19 vaccination rollout, we felt it necessary to be prepared for the eventuality that at least some of our 14 festivals and events will indeed take place.”

Mount Vernon is known throughout the region for its 14 festivals and events that in a non-COVID year welcome more than 50,000 tourists annually. Last year’s schedule was severely affected by the pandemic and as such only a few of Mount Vernon and Lisbon’s major events took place.

Mount Vernon and Lisbon volunteer committees are already busy meeting and planning online for an expected full season of summer festivals.

Its calendar offers a disclaimer at the top reminding the public that all dates and times are subject to change and refers visitors to visitmvl.com for more information.

“We learned over the last year how to pull off virtual and/or drive-through events and are better prepared today for changes to the schedule than we were last year,” Jennison said. “I think after a year of no real festivals, we are all cautiously excited about returning to a full festival calendar, and of course, we will follow all local, county, state and federal guidelines regarding large gatherings.”

Committee volunteers are always welcome to join in the process. Contact Joe Jennison at (319) 210-9935 or [email protected] if interested.

Here is a complete list of events:

 

Easter Egg Dash, April 3

Mount Vernon Clean-Up Day, April 24

Chalk the Walk, May 1-2

Cornell College Commencement Weekend, May 15-16

Lisbon and MV High School Graduations, May 23

Memorial Day Parade, Mount Vernon-Lisbon, May 31

Chocolate Stroll, Mount Vernon, June 5

Citywide Garage Sales, Mount Vernon-Lisbon, June 19

MV-L Day at the Kernels, June TBA

Lincoln Highway Antique Nitty Gritty, July 4

Heritage Days, July 8-10

MVLCT: “The Drowsy Chaperone,” July 23-31

Lisbon Movie in the Park, August 5

Lisbon Sauerkraut Days, August 5-7

Volunteer Appreciation Party, August 17

Lincoln Highway Arts Festival, Sept. 18

MVLCT: “House of Blue Leaves,” Oct. 1-9

Chili Cookoff, Oct. 2

Cornell Homecoming, Reunion Weekend, Oct. 8-10

Uptown Theatre Honors, October 23

HalloweenTown Lisbon, Oct. 31

Shop Small Saturday, Nov. 27

Magical Night, Dec. 1

Hometown Holidays, Mount Vernon-Lisbon, Dec. 1-31

About the Mount Vernon-Lisbon Community Development Group.

The mission of the Mount Vernon-Lisbon Community Development Group (CDG) is to develop and promote our business environment, including but not limited to our Main Street District, and enhance the Quality of Life in the communities we serve. Mount Vernon was selected as a Main Street community in 2008, and practices economic development within the context of historic preservation.

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

About Mount Vernon

Historic Mount Vernon, Iowa, is 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, commercial art galleries, and three National Historic Districts.


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