Knox County Ohio Real Estate Information Archive

MOUNT VERNON OHIO FIRST FRIDAY.  If you enjoy free live music, good food, shopping, fun and family entertainment you should attend one of the First Friday events in Downtown Mount Vernon, Ohio.  First Friday is sponsored by the Heritage Centre Association and is supported by many local area businesses.  First Friday events begin in May and run through October with festivities beginning at 6:00 p.m. and running until 9:00 p.m.  Someone once asked me what First Friday stands for and it is a fairly valid question.  First Friday is the designated event dates that occurs on the very First Friday in May, June, July, August, September and October.

First Friday has a little something for everyone.  Live musical entertainment, a cruise-in car show, art galleries, restaurants, food vendors, retail sales vendors with lots of shopping, tours of the Woodward Opera House from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. plus most of the downtown businesses stay open later and they welcome you to stop and look around.  I clearly remember attending my First Friday event and I couldn't believe everything that was happening in Downtown Mount Vernon because there was so much to experience.  At previous events they have had some special amenities and attractions for children including a live animal petting zoo, balloon sculptures made just for kids and the huge inflatable bounce house is always a big hit with the kids.  Many small towns across America have watched their downtowns fade away yet our Mount Vernon Downtown is experiencing MAJOR growth with the addition of several college expansions.

 This First Friday Mount Vernon Ohio  community feature article is part of our  "365 Things To Do in Knox County Ohio"  series by REALTOR Sam Miller of  REMAX Stars Realty.  If you would like  to view more Knox County Ohio feature  articles be sure to visit all of our previous  365 Things To Do in Knox County Ohio feature articles.

Our friends at I-CONN Video created a montage video for our Chamber of Commerce which highlights many of our community attractions, activities and industries that are located within Knox County Ohio.  This video is a perfect fit for our ongoing 365 Things To Do in Knox County Ohio series.  This video takes you on a fast paced tour and includes video footage of concerts, Kenyon College, Mount Vernon Nazarene University, The Knox County Fair, Dan Emmett Dixie Days, The Kokosing Gap Trail Bike and Walking Path, high school sporting events, Mount Vernon Hiawatha Water Park and Swimming Pools, The Apple Valley Lake, Foundation Park and more.  After you watch this 4 minute video you will quickly see why I love helping people buy and sell real estate here in Knox County Ohio.  I am not aware of another similar sized Ohio community that offers more amenities and fun things to do than Knox County Ohio.  

I hope you enjoy the video and I would love to have you add a comment below and share your favorite community amenity.  I would also love for you to comment below and share with us a community amenity that you would love for us to highlight in an upcoming feature article.365 Things To Do in Knox County Ohio series is brought to you by Sam Miller of REMAX Stars Realty and is part of knoxcountyohio.com

Mount Vernon Ohio features many amazing public parks and Foundation Park is one of our newest additions within our community.  Foundation Park is a serious hot spot for those who enjoy fishing, fun and natural beauty.  The park was once the home of Goodwin Sand and Gravel and as young kids my brother and I used to fish and catch turtles there.  One of my favorite childhood memories was watching our cousin Joe McQueen catch the biggest catfish I had ever seen.  Foundation Park has gone through a remarkable transformation and the lakes are well stocked with fish.  Each time I visit Foundation Park I always keep a watchful eye out hoping that I might see a turtle or two.    

Special Event:  The Knox County Fish and Game Association's Annual Fishing Derby at Foundation Park.  This special event is for children ages 1-16 and is this coming Saturday May 7th, 2011 from 9:30 a.m. to 2.p.m.  This is a FREE fishing weekend.  Bring your children and enjoy.  There will be prizes awarded for the biggest fish, the smallest fish and quantity of fish caught.  FREE refreshments for children.  Limited equipment will be available and bait provided.   If you have never visited Foundation Park this weekend could be the perfect opportunity for a little fun.  

This Mount Vernon Ohio community highlight is part of our "365 Things To Do in Knox County Ohio" series.  We are continually adding new Knox County Ohio community amenities including hundreds of area attractions, unique restaurants, entertainment, health and fitness locations, car shows, festivals and more.  If you have the inside track on an upcoming community event that you would like to see featured in our 365 Things To Do in Knox County Ohio be sure to reach out to us and we will do our best to help spread the message.

The 7th Annual SONFEST Festival will be held at The Mount Vernon Nazarene University on September 17th.  SONFEST is an annual outdoor Christian Music Festival.  This year's lineup will feature Family Force Five, 10th Avenue North, Leeland, Britt Nicole, House of Heros, Sent By Ravens, Write This Down, Brent Reed, The Great Transparency, and Wolves At The Gate.  The estimated attendance of this event is over 7,000 people.

Attending a music festival of this size is an amazing experience and there really isn't anything else like it annually that is held in or around Knox County.  The SONFEST is a large scale event and the pricing is very very affordable at only $15.00 per person.  The diverse lineup of talent appeals to the musical tastes of most youth and college students.  

The video below below was used to promote the 2010 SONFEST Festival and I will be sure to post their upcoming video here once it becomes available.  Here is the Mount Vernon Nazarene University's website link which will be featuring additional details about the 2011 music festival.  http://www.mvnu.edu/sonfest.  This highlight is part of our 365 Things To Do in Knox County Ohio series.

Knox County Memorial Theatre is an impressive facility that serves our Knox County Community.  The theatre has recently benefitted from a sizable renovation with new seating and other significant upgrades.  The Memorial Theatre is utilized on a regular basis for community concerts, The Ohio Junior Miss Program, various school programs, Tavasci singing programs and summer musicals such as Disney's Beauty and the Beast and J.M. Barrie's Peter Pan.

When you first step into the Memorial Theatre you will enter a gorgeous marble parlor.  The parlor opens to the main level theatre and also features a large staircase that takes you to the large balcony.  The theatre seating is all new and nice and comfortable with cushioned chairs.  There really isn't a bad seat in the entire Memorial Theatre regardless if you are seated on the main level or in the upper balcony.  If you are looking for a great point of view for capturing the perfect photo or video footage you are sure to benefit from the elevated views available from the upper balcony especially near the front railing which overlooks the stage.  The Memorial Theatre offers an attractive range of events throughout the year featuring something for everyone.    

This community feature is part of our ongoing series titled "365 Things To Do in Knox County Ohio".  Each day we highlight a local Knox County amenity such as one of our unique parks, colleges, restaurants, historical landmarks, dinner theatre events, plays, concerts, community festivals, car shows, auto racing, sporting events and lots of other fun area attractions.  If you are interested in information about Knox County Ohio and the cities and villages here be sure to check out knoxcountyohio.com   

Children absolutely love the Deeley-Rudin Centennial Playground at Riverside Park in Mount Vernon, Ohio.  I think this new playground is "Super Fantastic" and it has really added a new dimension of fun to Riverside Park.  The Centennial Playground addition at the Mount Vernon Riverside Park was a major accomplishment and made possible by our local Rotary and required a $100,000+ investment with the help of local contributors and a few local businesses.  Our community owes a debt to those who made this gorgeous playground a reality.  Thank You!    

The playground surface features a unique shredded soft rubber type floor which makes it MUCH more forgiving for children than the more common gravel base.  The playground features swings, multiple slides, a small walking bridge, a climbing area, a lookout, steering wheels and benches for parents so they can enjoy watching their children play.  This park and playground is so fun that when it's time to call it a day and head home the children will beg "can we just stay for 5 more minutes" and that is when you know they had a spectacular day. 

This community highlight is part of our 365 Things To Do in Knox County Ohio series featured on knoxcountyohio.com community and real estate website.  

This feature is part of our ongoing series "365 Things To Do in Knox County Ohio".  Premiere Theatre in Mount Vernon, Ohio has been a spectacular addition for our community.  There was a time not that long ago that Knox County Ohio had a small movie theatre that featured just 2 screens and today Premiere Theatre features 7 movie screens which is pretty amazing for a community the size of Mount Vernon and Knox County.  Several of the movie screens are full blown stadium theatres with upgraded seating with cup holders and surround sound experience.  It wasn't that long ago that local residents would have to travel to Columbus, Mansfield or Newark for a comparable movie experience and now you can enjoy a great movie stadium theatre experience without having to leave Knox County.  Premiere Theatre has recently gone through a significant expansion and remodel during the past year adding more movie screens, a new 3D theatre system, a seating upgrade and they even updated the look and feel with modern decor.

Premiere Theatre is located at 11535 Upper Gilchrist Road, Mount Vernon, Ohio 43050 and their movie line is  (740) 392-2220.  Mount Vernon Ohio movie Showtimes Online.  If you enjoy evenings out and would like to combine dinner and a movie you will be pleased to know that there are popular restaurants including Chinese, Mexican, steakhouse, pizza & Pasta, fast food, ice cream and they are all located within minutes of the theatre.   

We have created a special link with other community amenities that we have featured at 365 Things To Do in Knox County Ohio.  Be sure to check it out.  

Today our "365 Things To Do in Knox County Ohio" series highlights one of the more popular parks in Mount Vernon.  Wolf Run Regional Park consists of over 288 acres of gorgeous rolling land which features over 5 miles of trails, a nice fishing pond, a kids play area that features boulders for climbing and a 2 acre dog park.  The focus of our feature today is on the 2 acre dog park.  The park is located on Yauger Road just east of Upper Gilchrist Road and just outside of the city limits of Mount Vernon, Ohio.  

The Wolf Run Dog Park is an amazing place for people to take their dogs and let them run off-leash, sniff around like dogs love to do and they can play catch and fetch with their masters in a securely fenced environment.  There are some nice park benches which makes it a little more relaxing experience for some pet owners because they can have a seat while watching their dogs play.  The park is situated on a beautiful country setting and it has gorgeous backdrop of mature trees along the north side of   the park.  

Here are a few things you will want to know before visiting the park with your dog.  I copied down a few of the rules off their posted notice.  You need to keep your dog in sight and under voice control at all times.  Keep your dog leash in-hand at all times and owners of little dogs should stay close by your dog.  Owners must possess a device for removal of droppings.  Dogs must be licenses and vaccinated.  Only dogs and people are allowed in the park.  No aggressive or sick dogs allowed.  If your dog becomes unruly or plays rough, leash it and leave immediately.  Female dogs in heat and dogs under the age of four months are prohibited.  Use at your own risk.  Owners are responsible and liable for actions and behaviors of their dogs at all times.  Users are limited to three dogs per visit.  Dogs may NOT be left unattended at any time.  Keep park gates closed at all times.  No food or glass containers are allowed.  Children under the age of twelve are prohibited in the park.  Older children must be supervised by a parent or guardian.  A criminal citation may be issued for violation of these rules.  

"365 Things to Do in Knox County Ohio" is about sharing ideas and inspiring you to do fun things and experience the many amenities of  our Knox County Ohio community.  When you hear someone say "there's nothing to do" I want you to be able to tell them about our list of "365 Things They Can Do in Knox County Ohio".  I love and I've lived here for over 41 years and am proud to call Knox County home.

Sam Miller  

Mount Vernon, Ohio has so many fun things to do especially considering the community only has a population of around 16,000 people.  Today I visited one of Mount Vernon's 8 parks and I had a little fun during my lunch at the Park on Cougar Drive near the Mount Vernon Nazarene University.  This public park is specifically for flying remote controlled airplanes which are often referred to as R.C. Planes.  This is a super fantastic park because there are no power poles, no electric lines, there aren't any big trees with branches and the land is nice and level.  If you have ever flown or tried to land an R.C. airplane you will appreciate the open space and design of this large and open park.  

I am a huge fan of pretty much any product that utilizes modern technology ranging from the GPS in my SUV, the Apple iPad, DSLR cameras, iPhones, portable cellular broadband networks...for some reason I really dig technology.  Today I got my first chance to test out a new piece of technology that I plan to use for our real estate business...an iPad controlled drone helicopter.  The plan is to shoot aerial footage using an HD quality camera mounted on our helicopter and do real estate fly overs and capture very unique video and photo opportunities that were never before possible with the more traditional digital camera setups.  Today I only shot in standard resolution because it was very windy plus I haven't mastered the balance and stability controls yet so my flying has a little added motion.  Be sure to scroll all the way to the bottom to view the video.

This video is part of our series "365 Things To Do in Knox County Ohio".  Each day we are sharing something fun or unique about one of the many communities within Knox County Ohio.  If you are interested in reading a few highlights about our cities and villages be sure to visit Mount Vernon Ohio, Apple Valley Lake, Centerburg Ohio, Danville Ohio, Fredericktown Ohio, Gambier Ohio and Howard Ohio.  If you are interested in viewing a detailed list of our available homes for sale in Knox County Ohio be sure to hoover your mouse over our button at the top of this page titled "Buying".  We have created spealty search options so that you can view homes by school district, view homes in price order and even homes with acreage.  

If you like this page feel free to share it with friends or copy and paste the link onto your Facebook page.  To view other community amenities that we have featured be sure to click on 365 Things To Do in Knox County Ohio for an auto populated list of more fun things to do Knox County Ohio. 

The Knox County Career Center is the home of a truly magical place and it's called the Children's Garden.  The name is a little misleading because the Children's Garden is much more than a garden and folks of all ages will be caught up in the beauty of this unique attraction.  The Knox County Career Center's website features a wonderful description that I believe is very fitting;

"Surrounded by a honeysuckle-covered wrought-iron gate, the plants, flowers and structures paint a playful vibrant backdrop for the innocence of childhood present within every step and every breath in the Garden.  As the colors and seasons change, the atmostphere of the Garden remains the same --playful, alive and growing with excitement.  The multicolored open-air steel amphitheater is a place for children to view performances or just sit and let their mind wonder".  

The Children's Garden has a little something for everyone and permeates a feeling of peaceful relaxation.  The Garden is a hotpot for all types of photographers who want to capture the perfect photo.  Photographers love all the colorful backdrops, flowers , landscaping, unique structures, water gardens and it's filled with fun features that are sure to create a picture perfect smile.  

The Children's Garden is located at 206 Martinsburg Road, Mount Vernon, Ohio on a half acre of land adjacent to the Knox County Career Center and between the Mount Vernon Middle School and the Mount Vernon Nazarene University.  

This blog is part of our "365 Things To Do in Knox County Ohio".  We have also created a real estate link that features available Mount Vernon, Ohio homes for sale.