MT. VERNON — Summer is almost here and festivals will dot the map across Southern Illinois very soon. The festival season has already kicked off in downtown Mt. Vernon with the 1st Annual Cinco De Mayo Festival a few weeks ago, and there are many more festivals to come.

The city of Mt. Vernon has installed what they call “zig-zag lights” over parts of 9th Street in downtown. City manager Mary Ellen Bechtel says they have been working to make downtown a destination again.

For a full list of events happening in Jefferson County, visit the Chamber of Commerce’s website at southernillinois.com.