It’s Happening in Osage City!
To learn more about any of these events, contact the Osage City Chamber of Commerce at osagecitychamber@gmail.com.
2023 Chili Cook Off – November 11, 2023
Mix up your best batch of chili & enter in the “2023 Chili Cook Off” which will take place November 11, 2023 at the Senior Center, Osage City. Bring your entry to the Senior Center prior to 3:30. Judging will begin promptly at 3:30 pm. Chamber Bucks will be given to the top 3 places. 1st Place – $50; 2nd Place – $30; 3rd Place – $20.
Following the cook off at 4:30-5:30 pm, will be a chili feed open to the public. The cost will be a free will donation for a bowl of chili & cinnamon roll.
For registration, contact Shanda Koett at 620-560-5132.
Christmas On Market Street – November 11, 2023
Each November, area merchants kick off the holiday season with the annual Christmas On Market Street, featuring a parade, window decorating contest, raffle and more. Plan to visit Osage City to kick off your Christmas shopping, spend the day, and celebrate the holidays. The theme for the 2023 event is “Home for the Holidays”.
In addition to shopping, activities being planned include breakfast, lunch, visits with Santa, Jingle Bell Run 5K, in-store activities, RadioShack toy expo, portrait painting, gingerbread house kits, raffle drawing (Schedule and Prizes for 2023), Kansas City Chief’s Wolf mascot, free poker run, bake sale, emergency services showcase, story time, quarter bingo and the traditional lighted Christmas parade (more info and entry form here). The theme for the parade is “Home for the Holidays.” There is no entry fee for the parade.
Raffle tickets will be available starting Oct. 27 at the following Businesses: AuBurn Pharmacy, Bank of Osage City, Canine Country Clips, Furniture Loft, Hair Designs by Diane, Harmon Dental, Landmark National Bank, McCoy’s RadioShack, Osage City Public Library, Osage Garden & Produce, Osage Hardware, Ramblin’ Rose, and Subway. On the day of the event, you can purchase tickets at the Senior Center.
“Are you the 2023 Osage City Home Town Santa?”
Shop in your hometown, ask anyone that you meet on the street or in the businesses during the period of November 12 through December 24, “Are you the 2023 Osage City Home Town Santa”? If you are lucky & the person you ask is the Osage City Home Town Santa, you will receive a $20 Chamber Buck Certificate to be used at the participating business.
Christmas/Holiday Yard of the Month
The Osage City Chamber will again be sponsoring a Christmas/Holiday Yard of the Month contest which will be held from November 30-December 16. Final contest categories will be posted soon, but may include selection of a yard decorated with Synchronized Lights With Music & one with Christmas/Holiday Décor with lighted displays. The selection will be determined on December 15. In appreciation of the beauty and hard work for the selected yards, the home owners will a receive a $25 Osage City Chamber Bucks Certificate to be used at any participating Osage City business.
Drive-By Holiday Home Tour
With the uncertainty of COVID, the Chamber of Commerce sponsored “Holiday Tour of Homes” is being suspended for another year, a decision was made by the members to continue the 2021 Holiday Home Tour to a “Drive-By Holiday Outdoor Home Decorating Tour”. The 2020 tour included over 20 homes that were listed on the map as well as numerous homes decorated throughout the community that were not listed on the map. We would like to make the map listings even greater this year. Families decorate their home outdoors for the holidays and submit their home in the tour event which will be sponsored by the Chamber of Commerce. The committee will compile a list of the homes that are submitted & create a map with a route to tour the homes. This is not a contest, as we are anxious to have the holiday spirit spread throughout the community and try to end the year on a joyous mood. Deadline to have your name on the map is December 1. The committee also recommends, if possible to have your home decorated for the tour by December 12. Call Jeanette Swarts at 785/249-5451 with your name and address before December 1 or email to osagecitychamber@gmail.com
This is a separate event from the Yard of the Month contest.
Osage City Chamber Annual Awards Banquet
The first annual awards banquet will be held in Spring 2024 at St. Brigid Hall, 309 Lord St. Social hour begins at 6 pm and delicious buffet style dinner served at 6:30 pm. More information coming soo. See last year’s awards banquet page for details on award nominations, banquet agenda, and ticket information.
Cruis’n and Cook’n Car Show
The Twin Lakes Cruisers’ annual Cruis’n and Cook’n Car Show is held in conjunction with the Smoke in the Spring event. The popular yearly show has had as many as 300 classic or specialty vehicles on exhibit, making for a large, fun, community gathering in downtown Osage City. Have a car you want to show? Like to look at cars of all models and makes? Plan to be in Osage City on April 8, 2023, for the Cruis’n and Cook’n Car Show! See www.cruisnandcookn.com for more information.
A Taste of Osage City
On Friday night of Smoke in the Spring weekend, April 7, 2023, A Taste of Osage City offers everyone a chance to sample the fine cuisine smoked up by championship barbecue competitors. Selected barbecue cooks serve their choice of smoked meats and other backyard dishes in exchange for BBQ Bucks, which can be purchased at the event or in advance. In addition to the giant outdoor smorgasbord, the evening includes live music and a party open to all ages.
Smoke in the Spring
Smoke in the Spring, a Kansas City BBQ Society sanctioned contest and a state barbecue championship, will be April 7-8, 2023. The signature event attracted approximately 100 barbecue teams in 2020, along with a like amount of certified barbecue judges. The event receives strong support from the city, county and area residents who extend their hospitality to visitors. With Smoke in the Spring’s goal to offer the best barbecue experience possible, Friday night of Smoke in the Spring weekend includes a giant public barbecue party, allowing everyone to have A Taste of Osage City. Learn more at www.smokeinthespring.com.
Osage County Fair Parade
The Osage City Chamber of Commerce hosts the annual Osage County Fair Parade. All floats or other entries are welcomed in the parade which travels from west to east on Osage City’s Market Street, ending downtown. The 2023 parade is Friday, July 21 at 6:30 p.m.. Click here for the entry form. Read the full parade information here.
In conjunction with the Fair Parade, there will also be the Kid’s Bicycle Parade. It will be open to children up to age 12. Decorate their bike, wagon, power wheel or scooter. Participants wear their helmet. Children under 6 years must be accompanied by an adult. The parade will begin at Lincoln Park, parade line up is at 6:00 p.m. and the parade begins at 6:15 p.m. The parade will end at 7th & Market. Prizes will be given to decorated entries. For more information or to pre-register, call Becky Siljenberg at 785-217-7342 or email osagegardenandproduce@gmail.com or Jeanette Swarts at 785-249-5451 or email jdswarts@mchsi.com. Would like to thank Sonic, First National Bank, Landmark National Bank, Bank of Osage City, Subway, and the City of Osage City for their donations.
Osage City Citywide Garage Sales
The Chamber hosts the Osage City citywide garage sales in the Spring, April 14 and 15, 2023 and in the Fall, September 15 and 16, 2023. The Chamber also produces a map of garage sales locations selling sponsorships on the map to support the Chamber’s Osage City High School scholarship program. Contact Tricia Gundy at 785-528-3301 or email at gund88@hotmail.com for more information. The Chamber would like to encourage you to have your garage sale listed on the map for a nominal donation fee of $5. The proceeds go towards a scholarship awarded every year to an Osage City High School boy and girl graduate that is going to college.
Osage City Fall Festival
The Chamber of Commerce will be hosting a Fall Festival which will be held on October 14, 2023 from 3:00 pm to 7:00 pm downtown on 5th Street & the Santa Fe Park.
The event is also going to include the annual Disc Golf Tournament which will be held at the Jones Park Disc Golf Course. Registration is at 10:00 a.m., Start at 11:00 a.m. Contact Shanda Koett at 620/560-5132 for questions regarding the disc golf tournament. See the disc golf information flyer with the QR code to register.
The Committee wanted to make this a family event where the entire family can come & participate in the many youth & adult activities including a corn hole tournament, inflatables, face painting, pumpkin decorating, sack races, build a scarecrow, beer stein contests, keg roll and pretzel eating contest, There will be food trucks, beer garden & local craft & food booths. There will be a DJ providing music throughout the event.
Shopping local will be available as the businesses are planning to stay open throughout the event & will have special sidewalk sales. Be sure to check them out.
Holiday Tour of Homes CANCELED INDEFINITELY
The Chamber of Commerce Holiday Tour of Homes have been canceled indefinitely.
Tickets will be $5.00 available prior to the tour at Ramblin’ Rose and at the selected homes the day of the tour.
Community Appreciation Dinner – Everyone is welcome CANCELED INDEFINITELY
With utmost disappointment, the Osage City Chamber of Commerce, local Churches and organizations have decided to cancel the Holiday Community Dinner for indefintely. With the uncertainty of the COVID situation, safety to the public is the utmost concern with regards to the event.
An invitation is extended to anyone that would like to attend and also showing appreciation to those that support and participate in the events throughout the year. The date for the dinner will be announced soon and the dinner will be at the Osage County Senior Center. The center will be open at 11:00 a.m. if you choose to participate in some activities or just visit with your friends and family. Starting at noon, the traditional Thanksgiving meal will be served until 2:00. A free will donation is optional. Come and enjoy a delicious meal and participate in some activities for the young and the old. If you want to help with the meal, sign up here.
