The heat is rising, and summer is officially here in Miami County! We are looking ahead to a season of celebration, community gatherings, and meaningful causes.
Tune in to read this month’s highlights, plan your holiday weekend, and check out some very important upcoming events!
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Check out this month’s spotlight events!
🎆 Celebrating America’s 250th Anniversary!
America will celebrate its historic 250th anniversary on July 4, 2026. Here in Miami County, our community is pulling out all the stops to mark this milestone.
Here is how our local towns are celebrating:
Osawatomie: Lights on the Lake
We hope everyone had a fantastic time kicking off the festive season early! Osawatomie hosted its annual free, family-friendly Independence Day celebration at the Osawatomie City Lake back on Saturday, June 27th.
Paola: 250th Independence Day Celebration
The Paola Chamber of Commerce is hosting a massive celebration at Lake Miola to mark the anniversary. Get ready for an incredible day packed with family fun, sand volleyball, local food trucks, a live DJ, and a spectacular fireworks display at dusk!
- 🗓️ When: Friday, July 3, 2026
- 📍 Location: Miola Lake, Paola, KS
- 🔗 Check out the event website here for the full schedule and details!
Louisburg: Freedom Fest Fourth of July Celebration
Freedom Fest is Louisburg’s annual celebration at Lewis-Young Park. It’s an unforgettable evening of classic country music, kids’ activities, food vendors, and fireworks.
- 🗓️ When: Saturday, July 4, 2026
- 📍 Location: Lewis-Young Park, Louisburg, KS
- 🔗 Check out the event website here for the full schedule and details!
https://louisburgkansas.gov/233/Freedom-Fest
The Miami County Non-Profit Gathering Returns This Fall
Building connections and sharing resources helps our entire county thrive! I am so excited to invite our local Miami County non-profit organizations to our upcoming Fall gathering. Mark your calendars so you don’t miss this opportunity to network and collaborate.
Event Details
- 🗓️ Date: Friday, August 21st
- 📍 Location: Wildwood Outdoor Education Center
- 🕒 Time: 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM
- 🎟️ Cost: FREE (Lunch is provided!)
Click here to register! https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1mrZ_nUt113MakSvJwRw84rOm-ajpwUYHmQTVB926ITQ/viewform?edit_requested=true
Stomp Out Suicide 5K Walk/Run
We are proud to stand behind causes that make a profound difference in the lives of our neighbors. Grab your walking shoes and join us on the trail to support mental health awareness, honor loved ones, and bring our community closer together.
- 🗓️ Date: Saturday, September 12th, 2026
- ⏰ Time: 9:00 AM
- 📍 Location: Flint Hills Trail, Osawatomie, KS
Check out how to register here → https://givebutter.com/stomp-out-suicide-walk-2026
Match Day Celebration 2026!
It’s almost that time of year again! Keep your eyes peeled for our official event flyer coming soon. This event is sponsored by our incredible partners at First Option Bank, and the Patterson Foundation: they will match up to $100K if we raise $200K during the month of September!
Events like the Match Day Celebration are not just an occasion to share an evening of food and music with friends and loved ones, but it’s an opportunity to help Miami County grow: the funds from this event will support our programs, scholarships, and events.
📢 Important Note: Reservations are not open yet! Stay tuned for the official registration launch and details coming your way soon!
🍓 Local Recipe Spotlight: 4th of July Berry Dessert Pizza
I make this every year for our 4th of July celebration! Looking for the perfect, patriotic sweet treat to bring to your neighborhood block party or family barbecue? This colorful dessert pizza looks just like a flag and tastes like pure summer!
Ingredients:
- For the Cookie Crust:
- 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
- ¾ cup granulated sugar
- 1 large egg
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- ½ teaspoon baking soda
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- For the Cream Cheese Topping:
- 8 oz cream cheese, softened
- ½ cup powdered sugar
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- For the Toppings:
- Fresh strawberries, blueberries, and raspberries (or any combination of red, white, and blue berries)
Instructions:
- Preheat the Oven: preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Make the Cookie Crust: in a mixing bowl, cream together the softened butter and granulated sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in the egg and vanilla extract until well combined. In another bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, and salt. Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture until just combined. Press the dough into a flat circle on the prepared baking sheet, about ¼ inch thick. Sprinkle with a little extra sugar if desired. Bake for 12-15 minutes or until the edges are lightly golden. Allow to cool completely on a wire rack.
- Prepare the Cream Cheese Topping: in a mixing bowl, beat the softened cream cheese until smooth. Gradually add the powdered sugar and vanilla extract, mixing until well combined. In a separate bowl, whip the heavy cream until stiff peaks form. Gently fold the whipped cream into the cream cheese mixture until smooth and creamy.
- Assemble the Dessert Pizza: once the cookie crust has cooled, spread the cream cheese topping evenly over the crust. Decorate with fresh berries, arranging them in a festive pattern to represent the colors of the flag.
- Serve: slice the dessert pizza into wedges and serve chilled. Enjoy this refreshing and colorful treat at your 4th of July celebration!
If you don’t know me
I am Tammy Booe, Executive Director of MICOCF. You can read about me in this article. I’m so excited to get to know you all better and continue making a difference together!
Stay Connected with Me and the MICOCF Family
I love getting to know more of you and seeing all the ways we can work together to make Miami County even better. Keep following along, sharing our updates, and letting me know what you want to see in future newsletters! We’re in this together, and I’m so grateful to be on this journey with you.
Have a local talent or small business you’d like to spotlight? Know a hidden gem in Miami County that everyone should visit? Or maybe you have a fall season tip or fun activity you love to do in the County?
Drop us a message, and we might just feature you in our next newsletter or social media!
Sending you all the love,
Tammy Booe
Executive Director, MICOCF
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