"Back to School" highlight of September's First Friday

September 7, 6-9 p.m., Duck Race at 7 p.m.

Come out and enjoy the activity in this Ohio Main Street community!

With a "back to school" theme, September's First Friday is sponsored by Central Ohio Technical College, Kenyon College, Knox County Career Center Adult Education and Mount Vernon Nazarene University. It will feature the Colin John Band from 6-9 p.m. and the Rubber Duck River Race at 7 p.m.

Just a few of the special activities include:

• POW/MIA vigil on the Square at 6 p.m.
• The Ariel Band, open house, paintings revieling at COTC
• "Transformed" at MVNU's new plaza, faculty art show at Buchwald Building
• Get your duck race entry packet up until 6:45 p.m.
• Rubber duck art exhibit at Creative Foundations

The whole family will enjoy a petting zoo (sponsored by Rolls-Royce Employees Charity & Civic Fund), balloon sculptor (sponsored by The Gold Exchange at Mount Vernon Coin and Collectibles), bounce house and the cornhole tournament (sponsored by Flapper's Bar & Grille, Herald's Appliances and Electronics and Page One Group).

Beautiful classic cars will also be on display at the Cruise In (sponsored by Donley Ford Lincoln of Mount Vernon). There is no registration fee. Twenty-five goody bags and door prizes will be drawn at random.

Food is provided by Flapper’s Bar & Grille, The High Restaurant and Woolson's Concessions on the Public Square with merchants and art galleries open late.

Come South on Main Street from the Public Square to Herald's Appliances and Electronics to hear entertainment provided by award-winning acoustic guitarist Brian Henke, sponsored by Vino Where You Live and Ramser Arboretum.

First Fridays' media sponsors are WQIO/WMVO and WNZR. The stations will broadcast live from First Friday and downtown businesses.

Traffic will be closed around the Square, and on Main Street north of the square to Chestnut Street and south of the Square to Howard Street starting at 4:30 p.m. Rain location for the band is The Place@The Woodward. If you have questions, please contact Carrie Crouch, HCA's downtown manager, at (740) 393-1481.

The mission of the Heritage Centre Association is to create and enhance the economic, historic and social development of the central business district and downtown Mount Vernon.

Want to be involved in First Fridays? Contact manager@VisitDowntownMountVernon.com.