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:
https://www.facebook.com/search/top/?q=fort%20scott%20honor%20flights
Later than evening the coffee company will feature live music by Serenade at 7 p.m. on Oct. 25 Admission is free for this concert.
For updates on happenings at the coffee company: https://www.facebook.com/fscommonground/
Main Street Approach
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.
To create a letter of support:
Other news from the meeting:
- 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.
- The Cohn’s Fall Murder Mystery Dinner is Oct. 30.
- The coffee bar at Hare and Crow Barber Shop opens soon.