On the third weekend of every September, the Heart of Ohio hosts its Old Time Farming Festival. The non-profit organization has a goal to provide inexpensive entertainment for family and friends to experience recreated activities of routine lifestyles for farmers and continued education of cultivation and its imperativeness to the community. Our drone footage above, captures a unique birdseye perspective of this weekend event where you can find antique tractors and machinery, a sea of cars, and Centerburg's inhabitors. The festival offers countless activies and lots of entertainment including a magician, pie auction, many contests with prizes, games, musical entertainment, exhibits, and more.
Free parking, free games, some of the best christian music played on two stages, food trucks with tasty grub, memorabilia, and so much more are offered at the SonFest Music Festival every year, who wouldn't want to go? This event is great for friends and family to celebrate life through melodies and fun games that result in some of the best memories and pictures. The festival will be on September 22nd, 2018 and is located at The Mount Vernon Nazarene University in Mount Vernon, Ohio and lasts 1:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m. with gates opening at noon so attendees can set up their picnic blankets and lawn chairs.
Admissions:
$20 for General Admission in advance
$25 for General Admission at the gate
$15 For Groups of 10+ in advance
Children ages 3 and younger are free admittance
Once an attendee has recieved a stamp at the gate, they can leave and come back as needed.
The Do's, Do nots, and What You Need To Know
SonFest is a place for visitors to enjoy great music and play games, that being said, there may be rules that apply that people may not be aware of. For visitors planning on enjoying the inflatable game set - ups, a waiver must be signed, those who are under 18 years of age must have a parent signature prior to play. If an attendee happens to get a bump, bruise, or cut, there will be a first aid tent available! Visitors are more than welcome to bring necessities for enjoying the festival including sunscreen, frisbees, blankets, chairs, etc. Absolutely NO alcoholic beverages, tobacco products, outside food / drinks (no coolers), weapons, or skateboards are permitted. In the case that rain may come, SonFest will still go on! If there is a possibility of dangerous weather, feel free to call the Mount Vernon Nazarene Concert line at 740-397-9000 ext. 4550.
Have you ever been stuck on trying to find something to do with your free time on a sunny afternoon when you want to enjoy the beautiful weather? If you're looking for something to do, take a walk through downtown Mount Vernon, Ohio. In the drone footage above, we begin hovering above the historic Public Square, providing you with a fantastic birds eye view of downtown Mount Vernon and its extraordinary charm. This lovely town is decorated with many shops, places to eat, and plenty of park benches to take a moment of rest and watch people take a stroll down the sidewalks. As simplistic as it may seem, walking the sidewalks of downtown Mount Vernon, Ohio not only gives you a breath of fresh air, but it displays the charisma of local, small businesses and certain personality of the beloved small town.
Window Shopping, Good Food, and Happy Faces
Walking South from the Public Square, you'll find the Mount Vernon Grand Hotel (renovated in 2016) where guests from all over come to stay and admire it's classic beauty. Off to the right are First Knox National Bank and PNC that are housed in beautiful architecture. The Mount Vernon Nazarene University expanded to Main Street with its Buchwald Center and Hunter Hall are where you'll find students communting to their classes, enjoying coffee at the Happy Bean Coffee Shop, or studying in the pretty landscaped Buchwald Plaza. Central Ohio Technical College also is located on Main Street and is easily identifiable with large insignia of "COTC" on the side windows of the building. Grab a quick bite to eat at La Paloma or The Alcove Restaurant and Lounge where you'll be treated with kindness and utmost care. Paragraphs Book Store is a local treasure that has all kinds of fantastic reads to thumb through, endless reccommendations from their staff, places to sit down and read, and they carry unique gifts for loved ones!
Things To Do and Places To Visit
Recently, the Woodward Opera House has been under renovation and will soon provide the community with a new opera house theater as well as two venues that will be of great use for performing arts as well as many other benefits to the community. You can schedule a tour to discover the history that lies beneath the walls of the exceptional 4 story building and have a look for yourself! If you walk down further South, The Kenyon College Wright Building is home to SPI spot that welcomes people of all ages. Entice your inner child by visiting SPI to find interactive experiments, scientific explanations, and explore their spacious building that's packed full of excitement and fun things to learn. Their goal is to bring the community together, by peaking curiousity of others and providing substantial opportunity.
Aerial Views
From East Chestnut Street to East High Street, find stunning panoramic views that capture the Mount Vernon Memorial Building and Saint Vincent De Paul's signature green roof across from Mount Vernon's Police Department. Find The Knox County Courthouse Clocktower and the Memorial Theater building standing proud on the streets of East High Street surrounded by luscious greenery and historic buildings. No matter how far you walk, you're sure to find facinating history in your surrounding environment which makes Mount Vernon, Ohio a great place to be!
This feature article is part of our ongoing series titled 365 Things To Do in Knox County Ohio by Sam Miller of REMAX Stars Realty, 740-397-7800.
Each year, thousands of vistors stop by from all over the state to take part in the Knox County Fair located in Mount Vernon, Ohio. However, many may not know that the fairgrounds land located North of Mount Vernon, has been a popular attraction since 1895 when it was previously known as The Lake Hiawatha Park and Resort. Many guests would come to vacation at the retreat to enjoy activies like bowling, croquet, riding ponies, gambling at the casino, or enjoying the view of the pond, while renting rooms / suites varying between $10 - $16 a month.
The History of The Knox County Fair
Beginning in 1847, the first Knox County Fair was held at a local resident's home, with the successful turnout it was then was moved to the county courthouse, and after that, the next 40 Knox County Fairs were hosted on property North of Coshocton Avenue. It wasn't until the late 1920's that the fair was then moved to its current location on Fairgrounds Road when it was purchased by the Knox County Commissioners after The Lake Hiawatha Park and Resort closed its doors in 1918.
Present Day Entertainment
Attendees who visit the fair now, look forward to the daily scheduled events that include the Demolition Derby, Rough Truck, a musical performance, tractor pulls and various types of entertainment. While enjoying your stay, you'll notice the heavy focus on the importance of agriculture and celebration of adolecent accomplishments, especially when you take a walk over to the 4-H booths to see competitions that end with prize winners and happy faces. Head over to the draft horse barn and see the gentle and giant creatures with their magnificent beauty, or visit the other numerous barns to see friendly goats, furry rabbits, and talkative poultry. Take a moment to shop with local merchants to discover locally crafted products, trinkets, and micellaneous goodies and make sure you don't forget to stop at a food vendor or two to purchase some of the tastiest food and mouthwatering lemonade.
A Birds Eye View
Below, we've shared with you our custom drone footage that highlights the signature red roofed barns as well as beautiful panormaic views of the horse track, riding arena, and glimmering pond. You'll find rolling hills off in the near distance that surround the neighborhood of the Knox County Fairgrounds and captivating birds eye views of this Knox County, Ohio treasure.
The Knox County Ohio Fairgrounds is located at 601 Fairgrounds Road, Mount Vernon, Ohio, 43050.
Whether it's walking, biking, running, or inline skating, The Heart of Ohio Trail (HOOT) could be your new favorite pathway leading you to better health and more awareness of the gorgeous nature surrounding it. This trail is maintained by the Heart of Ohio group and includes several bridges including the newest being a 182 - foot overpass that was once a railroad bridge on Lytle Road in Centerburg, Ohio. The trail holds a calm soundtrack from Dry Creek Stream and tends to be the background music for visitors through many locations of the 16 mile trail.
Connecting Communities
Find the start point of the Heart of Ohio Trail in either Mount Vernon, Ohio at the C. A. & C. Depot located at 1 Columbus Road, Mount Vernon, Ohio, 43050 or in Centerburg, Ohio on Huffman Road, Centerburg, Ohio, 43011 with parking located at 2750 Huffman Road, Centerburg, Ohio, 43011. The majority of the trail is paved, making for a smooth treck on your adventure towards strength and fitness. New improvements have been made to the path including the paved section of the trail from Huffman Road and North Clayton Street that was completed back in October of 2016 and now there is a connection between the Heart of Ohio Trail and The Kokosing Gap Trail in Mount Vernon, Ohio after crossing Main Street! Below, we've shared with you a video displaying the new connection, captured by our custom drone footage, providing a very unique perspective.
Each year, typically in the month of June, the National WACO club flies in to gather together at the Wyncoop Airport on Granville Road in Mount Vernon, Ohio. This gathering is comprised of those who are current owners of WACO planes, past owners, and admirers who have a passion for the Waco Aircraft Company and these dazzling aircrafts. Pilots and owners put in countless hours of restoration and maintenance to preserve the pristine condition of their biplanes. The national WACO club is considered the oldest aircraft club in the United States and was founded in 1958.
How Did This Become?
It all began with a group of gentlemen in the same place at the right time in Buffalo, NY where they discovered their passion and drive for constructing the ideal biplane became a unanimous ideal. In their 28 years of business in Troy, Ohio, the WACO Aircraft Company produced 62 different civillian biplanes that are still admired, owned, and cherished by people today
The 59th Reunion
Plans are set for the next National WACO club homecoming, scheduled for the dates of June 21st, 22nd, 23rd, and 24th of 2018 at the Wyncoop Airport located at 9051 Granville Road in Mount Vernon, Ohio, 43050. Membership is open to anyone with a passion for the WACO aircraft, whether it be a previous / current owner of a WACO aircraft, employee, or someone who simply appreciates the beauty in their engineering. This is a relaxed get together of pilots flying their beloved aircrafts in and marvel at fellow club member's prized possessions.
Just a drive down the road from East Knox Schools, located on Pipesville Road is the Memorial Ball Field in Howard, Ohio. This ball field hosts ball games to girls ages 5-16 with all skill sets and began construction in 2014. Future plans for this amenity include an additional softball field, a pavilion with a concession stand, and a playground for kids to play and stay occupied while their older siblings take a swing at their skills on the dirt.
Elevated Views
We have shared custom drone footage below that captures the Memorial Ball Field in a unique perspective including a very cool lift off taken from the pitcher's mound as well as 360 degree views around the field that captures the surrounding landscaping.
A Round Of Applause
Many thanks are due to those who've contributed donations and hard work to what has become the Memorial Ball Field of Howard, Ohio!
Thanks to the generous community donations and hard work, this dream has been turned into a reality. Anyone interested in contributing to the future plans for the Memorial Ball Field in Howard, Ohio, please feel free to contact Kevin Patrick at 740-627-6773.
The Village of Danville, Ohio is home to just over 1,100 people and provides a small town atmosphere for visitors and inhabitors to enjoy day by day. Danville, Ohio is just 15 miles Northeast of Mount Vernon, Ohio and provides plenty of small businesses to shop from and delicious restaurants to dine in and make memories. Each year, events such as the Danville-Howard Turkey Festival draw in visitors from surrounding towns during its 3 day event for those to enjoy delectable fair foods, tractor pulls, laser tag, a 5k run and walk, car show, live entertainment, and so much more. Danville, Ohio has plenty of things to do and miles of trail to walk, run, and bike on while exploring nature all around.
A Different Perspective
Located in Eastern Knox County, Ohio, we've captured a unique 360 degree panoramic view of downtown Danville, Ohio that showcases the small town atmosphere with its local businesses and surrounding neighborhoods in a different perspective not likely seen like this before.
Columbia Elementary School in Mount Vernon, Ohio has a mission to cater to each students' specific needs, grades K-5, and want to provide them with hands on experiences to better prepare them for the global marketplace. Their dedicated staff helps with leading each child down the path of excellence by pushing them to their very best potential. Columbia Elementary School strives to be the very best elementary school around and motivates students to "Tiger Up". To tiger up, one must focus on life dreams and goals, put in hard work, strengthen their inner character and leadership skills, pay it forward, and make sure to have fun while doing so. Big or small, Columbia Elementary loves to celebrate their students' successes.
Alternative View
We have shared with you our custom drone footage that captures Columbia Elementary School in a very unique way. Start off viewing a quick glance of the school with Ariel-Foundation Park and its Rastin Tower in the background. Find surrounding homes and neighborhoods and up close, elevated views of the building and different perspectives of the playground.
If you've grown up in Mount Vernon, Ohio, you may have spent a lot of time at Memorial Park. Home to dozens of softball and baseball games each year, Memorial Park is a gathering place for families, sports fanatics, and Mount Vernon visitors who seek to have outdoor exercise, entice their inner skater, practice freethrows, and fine tune tennis skills.
Elevated Views
Our custom drone footage below captures unique views of Memorial Park's softball and baseball fields, brand new tennis courts, playgrounds, and a really neat shot of the skatepark. Check out the flowing Kokosing River beside the Kokosing Gap trail, the basketball courts, and a quick glance of the practice fields parallel to Memorial park and across from the Mount Vernon High School and Mount Vernon Middle School.