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Category Archives: Fort Scott Chamber of Commerce
2023 Christmas Light Trolley Tours Offered
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Chamber Coffee Hosted by Compassionate Ministries on December 7
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Sign-Up For A 2024 Chamber of Commerce Coffee Event
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Deadline for Community Christmas Lighting Contest is Tomorrow, Dec. 5
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2023 Christmas Parade Winners
The Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce would like to thank all who attended or participated in the 2023 Christmas Parade held Thursday, November 30th in the Downtown Historic District.
The theme was “A Candy Land Christmas” and many of the entries did an exceptional job of coordinating with the theme.
The parade was sponsored by Briggs of Fort Scott.
The panel of judges selected the following winners out of fifty-four entries: 1st place as Extrusions, Inc., 2nd place as Fort Scott FFA, and 3rd place as Carhelp/Washateria.
The contribution of many is what makes events like the Christmas parade successful. The Chamber is sincerely appreciative of all who volunteered, announced, judged, and otherwise had a part in the parade.
Contact the Chamber for more information at 620-223-3566.
Museum of Creativity Candy Land Adventure on December 2
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Sending on behalf of Chamber Member The Museum of Creativity….. |
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Chamber Coffee at Sunshine Boutique on November 30
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Community Christmas Light Contest
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First Ever Christmas on the Bricks: Something For Everyone
The inaugural Christmas on the Bricks Festival is this weekend and behind the scenes, the committee has been working like elves in Santa’s workshop. Today is the deadline for parade entry and sponsorship gathering, see at end of the feature.
“There will be a variety of things that people can do,” Diane Striler, Elevate Fort Scott Christmas Chairman said. “It will be a unique event that people will want to come back to each year.”
The group formed in the spring of 2023, and there are several committees.
Beside Striler, on the Christmas on the Bricks committee are Lindsay Madison, Brad Matkin, and Josh Jones.
“Brad Matkin wanted to start a group to bring awesome things to the community,” Striler said. The group started talking about Christmas. “Brad saw cutouts for photo opportunities at Branson (MO.) I love Christmas and said ‘Let me help with that!’, ” she said.
“So many people have helped out,” Striler said. “Denise Beaman is helping with the Fort Scott Downtown Christmas Tree Contest for businesses. The city workers are helping downtown get ready for the event. Mid Continental Restoration is supplying generators for the booths that will be set up downtown. Southeast Kansas Career and Technical Education Center (CTEC) instructors and students designed the booths, and Structural Panel Innovations (SPI) cut the walls for the booths. Niece Products made and donated the firepits that will be used for making s’mores.”
Many, many people have donated time, expertise, or materials to the event, she said.
Fort Scott Chamber of Commerce has had a Christmas Parade for years, ending with the lighting of the huge Mayor’s Christmas Tree at the end of North Main Street.
This year has been added St. Mary’s Catholic School students (Fort Scott) will be singing at the lighting ceremony, and fireworks will go off as the tree is lit.
Striler said she is a TV Hallmark Channel fan and many of her ideas have come from those romantic drama movies.
One of the first things Striler did was to find horse-drawn carriages that would give rides. “We have Orange Star Carriages from Arkansas who are bringing three carriages. The cost is $40 for four people, with small children sitting on a lap for free. We are encouraging people to pre-register ahead of time. They will be at Wall and Scott Avenue (the depot building) from 6 to 10 p.m.”
The downtown businesses will be open until 8 p.m. each evening.
Businesses are competing in a Christmas tree decorating contest. “This will bring awareness to the businesses downtown. The public can vote at the Courtland Hotel at 1st and Scott Street,” she said.
Vendor booths will be selling “Quality Christmas-related items, that don’t compete with our businesses,” she said.
There will be a public information booth on Wall Street.
At that booth will be sold Fort Scott Christmas on the Bricks commemorative items, including t-shirts and sweatshirts (price range $30 to $55) and mini-brick Christmas ornaments created by the Artificers owners, Kate and Trent Freeman, which will sell for $20.
Striler said she has been “asking God to handle the little things and the weather.”
The following is provided by the Fort Scott Chamber of Commerce:
Click HERE for a printable PDF copy of the flyer.
Click HERE for more details on the individual activities listed.
Events that require pre-registration include:
* Horse-drawn Carriage Rides
* Candlelight Tours of the Fort
* Gingerbread House Making Contest
* Christmas Paint Party at Pizza Republic
* Floral Centerpiece Making Class
For places to stay during the event: click here
The organizers for the Christmas on the Bricks want to recognize the event sponsors.
To be added to the sponsors for promotion, printed signs, and materials for the event, contact the Fort Scott Chamber of Commerce today, Monday, November 27 by 1 p.m.
From the Chamber press release:
The festival will be packed full of holiday cheer, events, shopping, and activities for all ages with aspirations to be a destination for an Old-Fashioned Christmas.
The weekend will kick off with the“Candy Land Christmas” Parade of Lights on Thursday, November 30th at 6 pm, followed by the Lighting of the Mayor’s Christmas Tree, Music by St. Mary’s School Choir, Holiday Fireworks, and Pictures with Santa insideBe the Light Boutique at 12 N. Main St.
Click here to enter the parade by 1 pm on 11/27!
Events taking place on BOTH Friday and Saturday,
December 1st and 2nd, include:
• 42nd Annual Candlelight Tours, Fort Scott National Historic Site, Fri. 6:30-9 pm, Sat. 5-9 pm
• Downtown Business Christmas Tree Decorating Contest cast your vote @ the Courtland, your vote will also enter you in a drawing for prizes!
• The Artificers 7th Annual Christmas Show, Fri. 5-9 pm, Sat. 10 am-9 pm, Sun., 12-5 pm
• Downtown Stores Open Late for Shopping, until at least 8 pm each night
• Crooner’s Outdoor Patio decorated for photo opportunities, open to the public Fri.-Sun.
• Nativity Showcase, First United Methodist Church, Fri. 5-8 pm, Sat. 10 am-2 pm
• Holiday Market Booths at Wall & Main St., Friday 6-10 pm, Saturday 12-10 pm
• Carriage Rides departing from the Depot, 6-10 pm each night
• Firepits with S’mores on Skubitz Plaza, 6-10 pm each night
• Live Nativity by Bethel Church, 1st St. & Scott Ave., 5:30-8:30pm each night
• Pictures with Santa, Be the Light Boutique, Fri. 5-8 pm, Sat. 12-2 pm & 5-8 pm
• Historical Trolley Tours from the Chamber & Visitor’s Center, Fri. 11 am-2 pm, Sat. 10 am-2 pm
Friday-only events include:
• Outdoor Movies at Lowell Milken Park, 6 pm until over
• Live Music by Holly Crays 6:30-7:30pm & Morgan Rohr 8-9 pm, Heritage Pavilion, 1st & Main St.
• Christmas Karaoke at Sharky’s North Pole Pop-up Christmas Bar (3rd floor), 9 pm-1 am
Saturday-only events include:
• Gingerbread House Making Contest, Brickstreet BBQ, 10 am
• Candy Land Adventure, Museum of Creativity, 10 am-4 pm
• Christmas Paint Party at Pizza Republic, 1-3 pm
• Christmas Cookie Decorating and Storytime, Hedgehog.INK!, 2pm
• Chili Feed by FSPD & FSFD, Empress Event Center, 5:30-8 pm
• Bourbon County Revival live band, Empress Event Center, 6-8 pm
• Late-night SINGO, Memorial Hall, 8-11 pm
Sunday-only events include:
• Cohn’s Cafe Holiday Family Style Brunch, 10 am-2 pm, reservations strongly recommended, call or text 620-418-6209
• Floral Centerpiece Making Class by Sunshine Boutique, 1 pm
Be sure and look for the Christmas cutouts throughout Downtown for photo opportunities with your friends and family, being made by Mike & Danyell Miles.
The Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce and the City of Fort Scott express sincere thanks to ALL the sponsors, volunteers, and staff who are making this event possible, including:
Event Chairperson and Chamber Board Member, Diane Striler; Chamber President & CEO, Lindsay Madison; Communications & Events Coordinator Emily Clayton.
Locals and visitors are encouraged to make plans to enjoy this
This is a FUN weekend on the bricks of the Downtown Historic Fort Scott District!
Contact the Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce at (620) 223-3566 or [email protected] for questions or more information.
Deadline for Christmas Parade Entry Is Today, November 27
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Buying Gifts In The Community Is Beneficial to the Community
Graphic from the Fort Scott Chamber of Commerce Facebook page.
This year Small Business Saturday falls on November 25th and is a day when shoppers are encouraged to buy from local, small businesses for the good of the community they live in.
Supporting local small businesses is beneficial to both the buyer and the business. Savings on gas fill-ups and time are some of the benefits to buyers for buying local, and then there are the benefits to those businesses they buy from.
“What a difference a few dollars spent per shopper can make! ” said Fort Scott Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Lindsay Madison said. And the Chamber has been working to encourage local shoppers.
The Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce is registered as a Neighborhood Champion for Shop Small, Small Business Saturday, a program initiated by American Express, according to Madison.
Neighborhood Champions work to rally the community to shop at local small businesses.
The Chamber has put together a Shop Small Passport that shoppers may pick up from local retailers this Friday and Saturday, she said. “If shoppers earn three or more stamps by purchasing $5 or more, they turn in the passport at their 3rd store for an entry to win $50 in Chamber Bucks. The drawing will take place on Tuesday, November 28th. Chamber Bucks can be used like cash at over 60 Chamber member businesses and restaurants.”
“If you don’t already, we ask you to Like and Follow the Chamber’s Facebook page, Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce,” she said. “We have been posting a social campaign over the last couple of weeks to illustrate the importance of shopping local and what a difference a few dollars spent per shopper can make! Some of those social posts have included the following messaging:
- “Per score.org, for every $1 you spend at a small business, 67 cents stays in the local community. Forty-four cents goes to the small business owner and employee’s wages and benefits and 23 cents gets reinvested in other local businesses,” she said.
- “Your $20 spent locally does more than purchase goods, it weaves a community tapestry, where every thread strengthens the whole. That same $20 circulates. You eat at a local restaurant and tip the wait staff, the wait staff then goes and gets a haircut, the stylist then goes and buys a cup of coffee, the barista then buys a candle at a gift shop, and so on. When you spend $20 online, that $20 is gone out of our community.
- “Ten dollars spent at a local store can have a sizable impact. It’s estimated that over $9.3 billion would be returned to our U.S. economy if every family spent just $10 a month at a local business. That’s not even one meal’s worth of spending a month! It’s only a few cups of coffee or a glass of wine a month. What a tremendous impact we could have if everyone could commit to that.”
“As you Shop Small over the weekend, be sure to pick up your Passport,” Madison said. “Have some fun and earn a chance to win while you’re supporting our local businesses are hit up year-round to sponsor events, support school fundraisers, and more. It’s our turn to give back to them.”
The Chamber received a limited amount of promotional products from American Express that is being distributed to locally owned Chamber member small businesses to use during Small Business Season, said Madison.
Check out our Chamber member businesses and links to their websites here! https://fortscott.com/members/
#fortscottchamber
#smallbusinessseason
#shoplocal
#supportsmall
#shopsmall
From Amanda Clasen, Kansas State Extension Community Vitality Agent’s, weekly column:
“In 2010, American Express started the Small Business Saturday effort to help direct consumer’s dollars to local businesses. The nationwide holiday is held the Saturday after Thanksgiving. Some ideas to help you shop locally this holiday season may include:
- Use a local print shop to see if they offer greeting cards or other unique gifts.
- Support local flower shops by sending unique holiday arrangements that can be displayed throughout the holiday season.
- Shop at local craft shows that showcase youth and Local Entrepreneurs. If your recipient likes to cook, buy a cookbook from a local fundraiser and attach dry ingredients to a new recipe.
- Purchase from local grocery stores or farmer’s markets for ingredients in your holiday meals.
- Purchase gift cards to local businesses, restaurants, and businesses of interest.
- Recognize your own talents that you may have as well to provide a heartfelt gift that may not necessarily be bought at a big box store.