The Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce invites members and guests to a Chamber Coffee this Thursday, November 6th at 8am hosted by the VFW Post 1165, 1745 S. National Ave. Coffee, juice, and light refreshments will be served, and attendees will have the opportunity to win a door prize drawing.
The VFW is a nonprofit veteran’s service organization comprised of eligible veterans and military service members from the active, guard, and reserve forces. VFW is the largest and oldest war Veteran’s service organization, and they have a long and proven history of providing vital assistance and support to America’s service men and women worldwide.
Special events the VFW has planned for Veterans Day include:
· Kicking off at 7am will be posting of the Avenue of Flags along East National Avenue and through the National Cemetery.
Volunteers are welcome. Flags are recovered at 4pm and stored for the winter.
· The Veterans Day Service is held at the Rostrum at the National Cemetery beginning at 11am. The featured speaker is veteran and
Fort Scott’s own Arnold Schofield.
· Following the service the VFW Auxiliary will host a free-will donation ham and bean feed at the Post Home from
11:30 -2:00am. All are welcome.
For more information, contact the Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce at (620) 223-3566. Visit the Events Calendar on fortscott.com and click on the “Chamber Coffees” category for upcoming hosts and locations.
The Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce invites members and guests to a Chamber Coffee this Thursday, October 30th at 8am hosted by the Fort Scott Area Community Foundation (FSACF). The event will be held at Landmark National Bank, main bank location, 200 S. Main St.
Coffee, juice, and light refreshments will be served, and attendees will have the opportunity to win a door prize drawing.
During the coffee, the Fort Scott Area Community Foundation will announce 26 grant recipients from the Grant Application Cycle – celebrating the incredible organizations making a difference in our community.
Since its inception in 2007, FSACF has provided over $500,000 in competitive grants to Fort Scott and Bourbon County nonprofits. These grants are awarded through an annual open application process. Including competitive and directed grants through donor-advised, designated, and field-of-interest funds, FSACF has distributed more than $3.8 million in total grants supporting local impact.
Match Week will be held November 10–14th, 2025. Thanks to the generosity of the Patterson Foundation, contributions made to FSACF during Match Week will be matched, amplifying your impact and helping continue to support local initiatives.
For more information, contact the Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce at (620) 223-3566. Visit the Events Calendar on fortscott.com and click on the “Chamber Coffees” category for upcoming hosts and locations.
The Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce invites members and guests to a Chamber Coffee this Thursday, October 23rd at 8am hosted by the First United Methodist Church, 301 S. National Ave. Coffee, juice, and light refreshments will be served, and attendees will have the opportunity to win a door prize drawing.
The First United Methodist Church of Fort Scott is pleased to host the next Chamber Coffee and share information about several upcoming community events:
• Fellowship Soup Luncheon – Friday, October 24th, 11:30am-1pm
• 5th Annual Trunk or Treat – Friday, October 31st, 5:30-6:30pm (in the parking lot behind the church)
• 3rd Annual Nativity Showcase – part of Christmas on the Bricks the first weekend in December.
The church will also provide updates on Feeding Families in His Name, a weekly community meal ministry that continues to be blessed by generous local support.
For more information, contact the Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce at (620) 223-3566. Visit the Events Calendar on fortscott.com and click on the “Chamber Coffees” category for upcoming hosts and locations.
The Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce announces an Election Candidate Forum that will be held on Wednesday, October 22nd in the meeting rooms of the Ellis Fine Arts Center, located at 2108 S. Horton St.
Doors will open at 5:30pm
with a Meet & Greet with the candidates
The forum will begin at 6pm.
The order of the forum will be as follows:
1. USD234 School Board
2. Fort Scott Community College Board of Trustees
3. City of Fort Scott Commission
4. Bourbon County Commission
Candidate Questions:
Residents of the community are encouraged to submit questions for the candidates to the Chamber by 1pm on Monday, October 20th.
Questions may be emailed to [email protected], mailed to 231 E. Wall St., or dropped off in person at the Chamber office.
The forum will also be broadcast live on the Facebook page Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce for those unable to attend in person.
Candidates in these races are asked to RSVP to the Chamber by October 20th to confirm attendance.
For more information, contact the Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce at 620-223-3566.
Thank you to our Chamber Champion members below!
Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce | 231 E. Wall Street | Fort Scott, KS 66701 US
Stacy Racy, facing, left, Lindsay Madison, and Wayne Racy at the Downtown Quarterly Meet and Greet at Common Ground Coffee Shop on Oct. 17.
The Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce Downtown Quarterly Meet and Greet is a meeting to share events and opportunities that are coming.
Stacy and Wayne Racy, owners of Common Ground Coffee Co., 12 E. Wall, were introduced by Lindsey Madison, Chamber CEO.
The Racy’s took over ownership in May 2025, from the Fort Scott Church of the Nazarene, where they are members. Since then, they have been revamping the menu to some healthier options and featuring evening entertainment periodically. They are having a spaghetti dinner fundraiser for the Honor Flights program for military veterans on Oct. 25 starting at 4 p.m. To learn more:
The City of Fort Scott Housing and Community Development Coordinator Lisa Dillon spoke about work done on a possible Main Street Program designation. Main Street assists in developing strategies to revitalize or strengthen downtown areas.
The Main Street Program will give technical assistance, training, access to design services, available state and national grant funds and membership to the Main Street America Network, according to info provided by Dillon.
Dillon said it has proven to be successful for communities enhancing the downtown area, but there must be community engagement in the process.
“After meeting four times over the past six months to plan and discuss this effort, we’re now at the point of collecting letters of support for our application,” Dillon said later.
Fort Scott National Historic Site Superintendent Jill Jaworski told the group that the annual Christmas Candlelight Tour will proceed, but because of the government shut down during the planning season for the event, ” it may not be what it was in the past.” Tickets will go on sale on Nov. 1.
The City of Fort is sponsoring a live music concert by Almost Kiss on Oct. 25 at 9 p.m. at the pavilion on North National Avenue, with costumes encouraged, said Rachel Carpenter, Special Project Coordinator.
Carpenter also told of a new app that she is using that can tell how many visitors visited the city, for example: Fortfest 2025 had 2,500 visitors. Additionally, it can tell spots the visitors went to while here.
The city is sponsoring Haunted Trails at Riverside Park on Oct. 31 and Nov. 1. Actors are still needed, those “who like to scare people.”
Contact Carpenter at 620-223-0550 Ext. 205.
The annual children’s downtown Halloween Parade will start at 10 a.m. on Saturday Oct. 25, with preliminary fun activities and pizza and drink to end the event. Drink donations are appreciated. Call the Chamber of Commerce at 620.223.3566.
Small business Saturday is November 29.
The Christmas Parade is Thursday, December 4 with a theme of Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree.
During Christmas on the Bricks festival event, stores will stay open late and entertainment will abound in the downtown. Diane Striler is the facilitator of this annual event. There will be a cookie making site, a wreath making site, a skating rink, carriage rides, a new event at the splash pad area for children, various alcoholic tasting spots around the downtown, a scavenger hunt and tree decorating contest among many others. See their Facebook page for more info: https://www.facebook.com/fortscottchristmasonthebricks
The Chamber downtown map that has been in the making is nearing completion, Madison said.
The Chamber Guide and Directory deadline is Oct. 31 for reviewing all info.
There is a Chamber sponsored candidate forum on Oct. 22 at the Ellis Fine Arts Center at Fort Scott Community College, doors open at 5:30 p.m.
Upcoming Chamber Coffees: 10/23 is First United Methodist Church, 10/30 is Fort Scott Area Community Foundation Grant Awards at Landmark Bank.
There are E-community grants and Grow KS grants available: contact the Chamber for more details.
Quarterly Downtown Meet & Greet scheduled for Friday, October 17th!
The Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce announces a Downtown Meet & Greet will be held Friday, October 17th at Common Ground Coffee Co., from 8:30 to 9:30 am.
These informal, quarterly meetings are hosted by the Chamber for downtown business owners, representatives, and community members to network and share ideas on events, promotions and anything related to downtown. Coffee, juice, and light refreshments will be served.
Contact the Chamber at 620-223-3566 with any questions.
Thank you to our Chamber Champion members below!
Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce | 231 E. Wall Street | Fort Scott, KS 66701 US
The Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce invites members and guests to a Chamber Coffee this Thursday, October 16th at 8am hosted by Labconco Corporation, 2500 Liberty Bell Rd. Coffee, juice, and light refreshments will be served, and attendees will have the opportunity to win a door prize drawing. There will be plant tours offered at the end of the Coffee for anyone interested.
Labconco is proud to celebrate 100 years of advancing scientific discovery, having begun in a small Kansas City garage in 1925. Over the past century, the company has grown into a global leader in lab equipment, serving researchers in more than 130 countries with solutions that support breakthroughs in medicine, forensics, environmental science, and more.
An important part of Labconco’s legacy is their facility in Fort Scott, which opened in 1988 and continues to play a key role in the company’s manufacturing operations. As Labconco looks ahead to its next century, it remains committed to innovation, sustainability, and supporting the scientific community with high‑quality instruments and service.
Contact the Chamber of Commerce at (620) 223-3566 for more information. Visit the Events Calendar and category of Chamber Coffees on fortscott.com for upcoming locations.
Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce invites you to the
Downtown
“Trick-or-Treat”
Halloween Parade
& Festivities!
Sponsors needed!
The past couple of years the attendance has been growing for the Downtown Trick-or-Treat parade with 600+ kids in attendance! At the end of the parade, we serve a slice of pizza and a drink to each child who is in costume. We have been very thankful for the gracious donations from you all in the past!
If your business is interested in making a donation, please contact us!
We will accept monetary donations or other items such as pop, juices,
or bottled water.
Schedule of events:
Saturday, October 25, 2024
10-11am: Halloween photo backdrop for pictures with your own camera.
Face painting will be offered by the Fort Scott High School Community Empowerment Club and Thespian Clubs!
11am: Parade will start at La Hacienda, down the west side of Main Street to 2nd, then back down the east side of Main Street to Skubitz Plaza.
Following parade: A slice of pizza and a drink will be served to the kids in costume provided through the generous donation of local businesses!
***Businesses along Main Street will be handing out candy during the parade, and businesses not on Main Street as well as any community organizations, are welcome to set up a table along Main to pass out candy, coupons, promo items, etc.***
Please email the Chamber if your business or organization will be passing out candy, so we
can plan accordingly!
Click HEREto visit the FS Downtown “Trick-or-Treat” Halloween Parade
Facebook Event Page!
Thank you to our Chamber Champion members shown below…
We invite you to our next Quarterly Downtown Meet & Greet to be held FRIDAY, October 17th from 8:30 to 9:30am in the back room of Common Ground Coffee Co., where owners Wayne & Stacy Racy, are excited to host!
Please note that the Quarterly Meet & Greets are normally held the first Tuesday of each quarter, but we are trying a Friday this quarter to accommodate business owners not able to join us on Tuesdays.
We hope to see you there where we will go over details for upcoming Downtown events and other information related to our Downtown Historic District!
Saturday, 10/25 – Downtown Halloween Parade, activities 10am, actual parade 11am
>>> The City is hosting Almost Kiss for a concert at Gathering Square the night of 10/25 from 9-10:30pm, weather permitting, if not then Memorial Hall, costumes encouraged, bring your own chair.
Thursday, 11/6 – Holiday Open House Shopping Main Event, 5-8pm (open house continues Fri/Sat)
Saturday, 11/29 – Small Business Saturday
Thursday, 12/4 – Christmas Parade, 6pm
Thursday, 12/4 to Sunday 12/7 – Christmas on the Bricks, stores open late until at least 8pm (Candlelight Tours of the Fort Fri/Sat nights)
The Glide Synthetic Ice Skating Rink will be open at Gathering Square from Friday 12/5 thru at least the first weekend of January.
Let me know if you have anything particular you would like included on the agenda!
There will be coffee, water, and light refreshments available for the meeting, but feel free to arrive early or call in ahead to order anything you would like to support Common Ground at 620-223-2499.
The Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce invites members and guests to a Chamber Coffee this Thursday, October 2nd at 8am hosted by the Gordon Parks Museum, 2108 S. Horton, on the campus of Fort Scott Community College. Coffee, juice, and light refreshments will be served, and attendees will have the opportunity to win a door prize drawing.
The Chamber Coffee will kick off the 22nd Annual Gordon Parks Celebration to be held this weekend for which the full schedule of events may be found on gordonparkscenter.org. The Celebration is in honor Fort Scott native Gordon Parks, noted photographer, writer, musician, and filmmaker. Kirk Sharp, Executive Director of the Museum, and the committee work throughout the year to bring in artists, speakers, programs, and events that have enriched our community and world for all ages.
This year’s event features two meaningful dedications. On Thursday, October 2, from 4:30 to 5:30 p.m., there will be a tribute to the historic Wayman Chapel AME Church at 301 S. Lowman St., established in 1866, with a ribbon–cutting to inaugurate the new commemorative park and honor its enduring legacy. The next day, Friday, October 3, from 4:15 to 4:45 p.m., the community will gather for the unveiling of the mural “No Place Like Home” by Cbabi Bayoc. This mural celebrates Gordon Parks and his strong connection to his hometown of Fort Scott, and it will be displayed on the Wilder House building at 18 E. Wall Street.
A highlight this year is the “Celebration Dance Party” featuring The Full Flava Kings at the River Room, 3 W. Oak St. on Friday, October 3rd starting at 8pm. The Full Flava Kings, from Tulsa, Oklahoma, are one of the best party bands in the region.
Tickets are available at the Gordon Parks Museum, online at gordonparkscenter.org, or call 620-223-2700 ext. 5850.
Contact the Chamber of Commerce at (620) 223-3566 for more information. Visit the Events Calendar and category of Chamber Coffees on fortscott.com for upcoming locations.
The Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce invites members and guests to this week’s Chamber Coffee, hosted by The Kitchen Collective + Collaborative (The Kitchen C+C). 12 S. Main St., on Thursday, September 18th, at 8am. Coffee, juice, and refreshments will be served, and attendees may register to win a special drawing.
The Kitchen C+C is celebrating its one-year anniversary as a fully licensed food incubator, retail kitchenware store, grab-and-go meal and sweets provider, and event space in downtown Fort Scott. Over the past year, it has become a hub for local food entrepreneurs, community events, and culinary creativity.
This past April, co-founders Rachel French, Bailey Lyons, and Angela Simon were recognized with the Community Spirit Award at the Chamber Annual Dinner, honoring their passion and dedication to initiatives to better Fort Scott and the downtown area.
Located in historic McDonald Hall,
The Kitchen C+C offers a shared commercial kitchen/incubator for personal, group, or resale food preparation; retail kitchenware; grab-and-go meals; event and class space; and community-focused programming.
For more information, contact the Chamber of Commerce at (620) 223-3566 or visit the Events Calendar and category of Chamber Coffees on fortscott.com for upcoming locations.
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