Mt. Vernon Convention & Visitors Bureau was first organized in 1988, and is a department of the City of Mt. Vernon called Mt. Vernon Tourism. The mission of Mt. Vernon Tourism is to promote, market, and facilitate activities designed to increase out-of-town visitors to Mt. Vernon.

The Mt. Vernon Tourism Department also oversees Mt. Vernon Festivals, Inc. The mission for Mt. Vernon Festivals, Inc. is – Celebrating creativity through a series of festivals, artisans in action and a vibrant downtown market to earn and maintain Mt. Vernon’s Festival Arts City reputation. Mt. Vernon’s festivals are known for embracing the extraordinary and providing creativity with a twist in Mt. Vernon, IL where creativity is constantly being redefined. Mt. Vernon Festivals, Inc. is an Illinois nonprofit corporation and tax exempt under Section 501(c)3 of the Internal Revenue Code.