Lincoln Highway Arts Festival 2023
The Lincoln Highway Arts Festival is back! A section of Mount Vernon’s main street will be closed Saturday, Sept. 23, 2023 so artists from around the Midwest can display and sell their jewelry, paintings, pottery, sculptures, and other creations.
This event is presented by the Mount Vernon Area Arts Council.
According to Marie DeVries, president of the Mount Vernon Area Arts Council (MVAAC) which sponsors the event, “Folks—patrons and artists alike—said thy missed the annual festival which was cancelled last fall because we had other events the MVAAC board wanted to try out.”
Some of the activities spill over onto the front lawn at the First Street Community Center, the former Mount Vernon High School and Middle School that now houses shops; art, dance and music studios; second-hand stores; a bakery; hair salon; and a theatre.
“We’ve always had beautiful weather — knock on wood. We’re counting on our luck holding in 2023.” For the first time in the Festival’s history, there will be artist awards including “Best in Show.”
The Lincoln Highway Arts Festival will include
- Artist booths
- Artist demonstrations
- A variety of art activities for kids
- Live music
- Food
- And more!
About the Mount Vernon Area Arts Council
The mission of the Mount Vernon Area Arts Council is to increase the knowledge, understanding, appreciation and practice of the arts in the Mount Vernon area.
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.
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.
