Parkway Church of God’s float in a past Fort Scott Christmas parade.
The Fort Scott Downtown Christmas Parade is today, Tuesday, December 3, 2019, at 6:00 p.m.
The theme this year is Christmas Through the Years.
The parade will celebrate the culmination of the 100th anniversary of Fort Scott Community College with the Class of 1941 graduate Esther Anne Sewell as Grand Marshal.
Prizes will be awarded for 1st($75), 2nd($50), and 3rd($25). There are not prizes for each category.
Parade order pick up is today, Dec. 3 at the Fort Scott Chamber of Commerce office until 5 p.m.
The parade order number should be displayed on the right-hand (passenger) side of your entry for the judges viewing.
After 5 pm, numbers may be picked up at the Carriage House at 3rd and Main Streets.
The parade line-up will start at 3rd and Main Streets in front of the Carriage House, entries should be lined up no later than 5:50 pm.
The parade will go north on Main Street ending at Skubitz Plaza for the lighting of the Mayor’s Christmas Tree.
After the parade, Santa will be at the backroom of Papa Don’s to meet with children about their Christmas list and Walgreens will be taking photos.
Much to the delight of children young and old, Bigfoot returns to the stage at Fort Scott Community College during the theatre department’s presentation of “Santa ‘Claws’ is Coming to Town,” an original children’s play by Allen Twitchell, theater instructor.
Performance of the 25-minute play is set for 7 p.m. Friday in the Danny and Willa Ellis Family Fine Arts Center on the FSCC campus. Admission is free.
“The play is actually a prequel to last year’s ‘All I Want for Christmas is Bigfoot’s Teeth,” Twitchell said. “This time around, Bigfoot is enlisted by his young friends to help save Christmas from the dreaded Doctor Virus. Of course, there is a chase scene, a couple of slow-witted henchmen, a few holiday songs, and a sweet treat, courtesy of Walmart of Fort Scott, for everyone at the end.”
The cast features Isabella Loyd, a freshman from Fort Scott, as Bigfoot; Jazmin Havens, a freshman from Pittsburg, as Ben; Annabelle Moore, a freshman from Lyndon, as Grace; Abby Sweat, a freshman from Pleasanton, as Jordan; Colton Hofer, a sophomore from Fort Scott, as the Newscaster; Kaleb Morrow, a sophomore from Fort Scott, as Doctor Virus; Anthony Oneri, a freshman from Gardner, as Thug 1; Connor Chiarelli, a freshman from Belton, Mo., as Thug 2; Kassie Fugate-Cate, FSCC’s Director of Strategic Communications and Student Activities, as Mrs. Claus; and a guest appearance by Santa Claus himself.
Also assisting with the production are Michael Woodward, a sophomore from Fulton, and Phoenix Burk, a freshman from Pittsburg.
Fifth graders Lanie Jackson, Lillian Jackson, Jackson Montgomery, Icysis Reeder, Madi Davis, Karlee Hereford, Michaela Morrell, and Javon Steadman were nominated by Eugene Ware Elementary Music Educator MJ Harper to participate in Southeast Kansas Music Educator’s Association Elementary Honor Choir.
This event will take place in Frontenac on Saturday, January 18th. Students meet after school once a week and on
their own to prepare the five pieces and are eager to perform with their counterparts throughout the district.
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Contact: MJ Harper, 620-719-6633, [email protected]
Eugene Ware Youth Choir, under the direction of MJ Harper, will spread holiday cheer on Tuesday, December
3rd at 1 PM and 6 PM.
Presbyterian Village, Country Place, and the Board of Education will be serenaded in the
afternoon by 40 performers in 4th and 5th grade that rehearse once a week after school.
These young singers
will also carol during the Fort Scott Christmas Parade in the evening
Rosie’s Cabin and Event Center, 563 Maple Rd., Uniontown
Rosie’s Cabin Event Center Manager Kelsey Blythe was approached by a local entrepreneur to host a vendor show.
“Kelly Perry from Perry’s Pork Rinds is a very motivated entrepreneur with great ideas,” Blythe said. “She came to me with an idea to have a local vendor show. Since we have space, we were delighted to host.”
The Backwoods Holiday Mart is scheduled for December 7 at Rosie’s Cabin – 563 Maple Road Uniontown, just 20 minutes from downtown Fort Scott.
“Everyone is invited,” Blythe said. “The more support our local vendors get, the better for all of the community in Bourbon County.”
The event is from 9 am – 4 pm on Saturday, Dec. 7.
There will be giveaways, prizes, and samples.
Santa Claus will be available for family photos by Erica George Photography.
“Loads of people will be setting up a booth to sell and advertise their products,” Blythe said. “There are so many different kinds of vendors coming, it’s going to be so fun to look around.”
“There will be hand made jewelry, wines, nuts, knives, Perry’s Pork Rinds, homemade baked goods, homemade dog treats, leather goods, woodworking, Tupperware, homemade Christmas wreaths and many many more. Come support your local business people!! Most of these vendors travel to vendor shows and put their heart into their products.”
Blythe is considering this an annual event and possibly bi-annual
“to give hard-working people a good chance to sell LOCALLY! What would be better than to have one of your best shows be here in Bourbon County,” Blythe said.
Pittsburg Youth Chorale, under the direction of MJ Harper, will perform Christmas Carols at many venues this
holiday season:
Sunday, December 1st , Pittsburg Youth Chorale will provide music for the service at First United Methodist
Church (415 N. Pine), 8:30 AM.
Monday, December 2nd , 6 PM, Root Coffeehouse (402 N. Broadway) will host a Pre-Parade Prelude featuring
Pittsburg Youth Chorale.
Saturday, December 7th , performers will serenade Via Christi Villages (1502 E. Centennial) at 10 AM and
during the Kiwanis Pancake Feed at Memorial Auditorium (503 N. Pine) at 11 AM.
Monday, December 9th , 6 PM, Pittsburg Youth Chorale will sing for the “Remember Me Tree” celebration at Meadowbrook Mall (202 E. Centennial).
Tuesday, December 10th at 5:15 PM, Pittsburg Youth Chorale will host the public at First United Methodist Church (415 N. Pine) for a Holiday Finale Concert, free of charge.
Thursday, December 12th wraps up PYC’s holiday caroling with a performance at 1st Christian Church (705
Centennial Drive), 6 PM.
Area youth in 4th, 5th, or 6th grade meet Tuesdays 5-6 PM at First United Methodist Church (415 N. Pine) and
are available for future bookings.
If you are interested in booking this ensemble or enrolling for Spring 2020, contact MJ Harper at 620-719-6633 or email [email protected] .
Georgia Brown of Sunshine Boutique visits with customers during Fall Extravaganza in a prior year.
FREE childcare and an evening of shopping are offered Nov. 25.
The 10th Annual Fall Extravaganza is next Monday from 5-8 p.m. in the Fort Scott Middle School gym and commons areas. The school is located at 1105 E. 12th Street. The childcare is provided by Fort Scott High School PRIDE.
Don’t miss this opportunity to check out local crafters and businesses.
Homemade articles of cloth and wood, jewelry, locally made food items and other local small business offerings can be found at the event.
With over 60 vendors, there should be something for everyone on the holiday gift list.
There will be a full meal for sale from the 8th-grade Washington Workshop students, and chances to win raffle prizes.
There will also be six $25 cash prize giveaways:
1) Every adult who comes to our event will be allowed to add a middle school child’s name into a drawing. At the end of the night, two student names will be drawn and those students will win $25 cash!
2) Every USD 234 employee who attends will have a chance to be entered into a drawing. At the end of the night, four names will be drawn and those employees will win $25 cash!
The event is sponsored by the FSMS VIPs, which is the parent group at the middle school.
“This is one of about five fundraisers we do every year to raise money for our school,” Stephanie George, coordinator for the event and a middle school teacher. “Teachers and students benefit. Every year we look at the needs of them both and decide what to do with the money.”
” In past years, we have purchased laptops and iPads for student and teacher use, we have given money to the science teachers for lab supplies and to the music teachers for sheet music and instruments, and we give money each year to the teachers to purchase school supplies at the start of the year. We also pay for software that the district wasn’t able to afford when budgets were cut years ago: we have paid for Accelerated Reader (a reading supplement) for over five years now and we pay for video subscriptions that teachers want like Flocabulary and BrainPop.”
“The first year of our event was 2009,” George said. “We had 29 vendors and we held it all in our commons. By year 3, we had so many vendors we had to expand into our gym. This year we have 69 spots sold, plus a few booths manned by middle school student groups (Washington Workshop and the 8th Grade Technology Class), which is bigger than last year by one vendor.”
Approximately 400 people from the community come to shop during the event each year, she said.
Come to Fort Scott Public Library for the 5th Annual Holiday FamilyParty on Monday, December 16, at 4 p.m.
Miss Val will read and sing with everyone, and then families will experience the party in smaller groups.
Activities for teens will be held upstairs while games, snacks, and crafts for children and adults will be downstairs.
Children first grade and below must be accompanied by an adult at all times.
The party will run from 4 – 5:30 p.m. Registration will open at 3:45.
All kids and teens will receive a gift and book.
This event is FREE and open to the public.
Volunteers are needed to help supervise the activities.
Please contact youth librarian Valetta Cannon at [email protected], fill out a donation form at the library, or call 620-223-2882 if you would like to help. Happy Holidays from Fort Scott Public Library!
The big rock shelter house at Gunn Park is lit by Christmas as part of Christmas in the Park in 2017.
Christmas in the Park 2019 organizers hope to provide the community with a great holiday experience, according to Tom Robertson, one of the event coordinators. Robertson is the director of the Fort Scott Recreation Center. He and Diana Mitchell are spearheading the annual event.
Food, entertainment, crafts, and photo opportunities are provided with help from the City of Fort Scott many community volunteers who donate time and materials.
“If you haven’t been before, come,” Mitchell said. “It’s a wonderful evening. Where else can you go and spend three hours and it cost nothing.”
The event will take place on December 7th from 5 – 8 p.m. at Gunn Park.
The activities include chili for the family, a live band by Danny Brown Christmas music, real reindeer for viewing, a live nativity by Bethel Community Church, Christmas crafts for children to make, and a visit with Santa, portrayed by James Wood.
New this year is a coffee/hot chocolate bar with all the fixings and a selfie bar for fun family photos.
“The selfie bar will be provided by the Terrell Vann family,” Mitchell said. “You can hold crazy things up with a backdrop.”
Bring the camera for many other photo opportunities with Santa and real reindeer, Mitchell said.
All participants will be bussed into Gunn Park from parking lots at the Fort Scott Community College Nursing Department at 8th and Burke Street and the Fort Scott Professional Building at 8th and Osbun Street. Fort Scott Community College, USD 234, and some nursing homes are providing busses.
“We bus for the safety of participants,” Mitchell said. “Traditionally, there are about 1,600 people there.”
Some adventurous people walk into the park, she said.
“And that is acceptable, it is three-fourths of a mile to the center of the park,” Mitchell noted.
There will be long lines to some of the activities and patience is asked of participants.
The event is coordinated by members of the community in conjunction with the City of Fort Scott, according to Robertson.
The Fort Scott Police Department, the Fort Scott Fire Department, Fort Scott Community College, individual families, Winfield Scott Elementary School first-grade teachers and the Eye Center all are a part of the annual event.
“We want to provide a great holiday experience in a beautiful park in Fort Scott,” Robertson said. “It will allow our patrons to eat, listen to Christmas music, make crafts, decorate a sugar cookie, pet a live reindeer and of course… see Santa.”
Gunn Park will be closed to the public from Wednesday, Dec. 4 until the event to prepare for the event, Mitchell said.
The following is where the activities are scheduled:
Park at parking lots and buses will pick up attendees at those sites.
Shelter 1-chili will be served.
Outside of a tent near this shelter will be the live band, provided by Danny Brown playing Christmas music. Inside the tent will be the hot chocolate/coffee bar and kids can decorate a cookie.
Shelter 2- the selfie bar is provided for photo opportunities, bring your camera.
Outside of the selfie bar will be live reindeer from Towanda, KS.
Shelter 6-Santa will be available for listening to Christmas requests.
Shelter 7-Christmas crafts for children sponsored by Buck Run Community Center.
Buses will transport attendees back to the parking lot to their cars.
Download ebooks, audiobooks, comics, TV episodes, movies, music, and more. All you need is your library card login and a valid email address. Ask us if you need assistance.
Download ebooks and audiobooks from the State Library of Kansas. All you need is a Kansas Library eCard. Ask us if you need assistance.
5th Annual Family Holiday Party
Join us for a family holiday party! Enjoy holiday stories, songs, games, snacks, crafts, prizes, and gifts. Be sure to invite your friends or share on your timeline, too! Children 2nd grade and under must be accompanied by an adult at all times. Activities include cookie decorating, candy cane hunt, “snowball fight,” teen games, and crafts. All children and teens will receive at least one gift and a free book!
We are looking for volunteers to help supervise the activities and groups, and donors to help provide food. Please pass the word along and let Miss Val know at [email protected] or by calling 223-2882 if you want to help.
For Kids
Storytime
Join Miss Val for Storytime on Tues. or Wed. at 10 am weekly for a themed children’s program! Storytime features stories, crafts, snacks, singing, and sometimes, special guests, all centered around seasonal themes or ideas from attendees. The program is free and open to all ages! Each event also features a play and coloring table, which families with energetic little ones or special needs children find especially helpful. Join us and see for yourself! Upcoming themes: Firefighters & Fire Trucks (with a special appearance by our Fort Scott Fire Dept. on Nov. 19!), Thanksgiving, Royalty, Dragons & Fantasy Creatures, and the Holidays.
Miss Val is always seeking volunteers to help with programs and prep. Interested? Contact her at [email protected].
1,000 Books Before Kindergarten
Join our free early literacy program and steer your baby or preschooler toward academic success! Studies show that children who are read to from an early age develop better vocabulary, make more connections in their brains, and form the needed skills to read by themselves much quicker than their average peers who are not read to. Sign up by stopping in at the library for your first reading log, welcome letter, and other paperwork. Take a look at our awesome readers here.
For Families
Come to Holidays Maker Monday!
December 9, 4 – 5 pm
Create holiday gifts, cards, ornaments, and decorations with Miss Val! Enjoy snacks & water and work as a family at this free program. Kids 2nd grade and below must be accompanied by an adult at all times.
Marvelous Monday
November 18, 2 – 3 pm
Go on an Autumn and Digital Walking Scavenger Hunt down Main Street at our Marvelous Mondays program for homeschool families and friends! Each participant may try to fill in our BINGO hunt cards and earn a free book for each BINGO. After our walk, we will share treats and crafts in the event room, and complete a brief survey to share tips with fellow homeschool families. In case of inclement weather, we will have an indoor library scavenger hunt.
FIGHTERS for Teens & Tweens
Middle & High School Students, come on Wednesdays at 4:15 p.m. for a free program just for you! Join our ongoing reading challenge, which will run through the end of next May. Reading prizes and books will be awarded for every 500 pages of reading. FIGHTERS stands for Familiar Inviting Group Helping Those Entities Recover from School. The name was chosen and voted on by our members.
November & December meetings will run as follows:
November 20, 4:15 – 5 pm: Steampunk-Themed Games & Snacks Night
November 27: NO MEETING DUE TO THANKSGIVING
December 4, 4:15 – 5 pm: Community Service: Decorate the library for the Holidays & Winter
December 11, 4:15 – 5 pm: Holiday craft night
December 18, 4 – 6 pm: Teen & Tween Holiday Party Games Night
NO Meetings on Dec. 25 or Jan. 1 due to Christmas & New Year’s.
Need a ride from public school to FIGHTERS? Parents or guardians, call Joe Allen at 223-0800 to arrange bus transportation for your student.
Three murders in different regions of England reveal the work of a sinister killer who is sacrificing victims for an evil agenda, compelling Charlie Parker’s gripping search for clues in multiple countries.
Returning to Ireland after her mother’s death, Elizabeth Keane is focused only on saying goodbye to that part of her life until, while she is going through her mother’s belongings, she discovers a small stash of letters that reveal a startling truth.
