Crisp autumn air and vibrant fall colors have officially arrived in Miami County. October is packed with opportunities to celebrate, connect, and enjoy everything our county has to offer.
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Check out this month’s spotlight events!
Match Day 2026: What an Unforgettable Night!
What an incredible evening! Thank you so much to everyone who came out to Town Square Events on Saturday, September 26th, to make our Match Day 2026 an absolute success.
From the high-energy Dueling Pianos performances by Max Cooper and Kevin Coon to the mouthwatering local barbecue by Paola’s BBQ Shack, the atmosphere was packed with community spirit, lively bidding, and non-stop entertainment.
Most importantly, your incredible support directly fuels vital community programs, non-profits, and local initiatives across Miami County. Thanks to your generosity, and the extraordinary support of our matching sponsor, the Patterson Family Foundation, we made a massive impact together!
💰 Total Raised: $22,000
My biggest THANK YOU goes to our table sponsors, event volunteers, local non-profit partners, and every single attendee who bought a ticket or placed a bid in our auctions. Miami County showed up in a big way, and we couldn’t be more proud to serve this amazing community!
Walking Together for Hope: Stomp Out Suicide 5K Recap
A big high-five to everyone who laced up their sneakers and joined us at the Flint Hills Trail in Osawatomie on Saturday, September 12th, for the Stomp Out Suicide (SOS) 5K Walk/Run!
Seeing our community come together to step onto the trail, honor loved ones, and break the silence surrounding mental health in honor of Joshua, Brain and Debbie McQuay’s son, is a powerful way of turning a tragedy into a beacon of hope and action for Miami County.
Thanks to your participation, SOS can continue its vital work equipping local schools across Miami and Linn counties with critical suicide prevention training and early-intervention mental health resources.
Cozy Season is Here: October Events Across Miami County!
Autumn is in full swing, and October is bringing non-stop energy, crisp air, and vibrant seasonal celebrations to our community! From colorful fall festivals to costume-filled Halloween parades, there is something happening every weekend in Osawatomie, Paola, and Louisburg.
Here is a look at the incredible hometown traditions coming up this month!
🍩 Louisburg Cider Mill Ciderfest
- When: Saturday, Oct 3 & Sunday, Oct 4 (8:00 AM – 6:00 PM)
- Where: Louisburg Cider Mill, 14730 K-68 Hwy, Louisburg, KS
- Admission & Registration: Free admission & parking! No tickets or pre-registration required. (Note: Optional Family Farm pumpkin patch & corn maze access requires separate paid admission).
- The Highlights: Following a fantastic opening weekend in late September, Ciderfest wraps up its final weekend! Enjoy the morning Lions Club Pancake Breakfast, live music, craft vendors, fresh apple cider pressing, and warm cider donuts.
- Website: Cider Mill Ciderfest
🎨 Sugar Mound Arts & Crafts Festival
- When: Saturday, Oct 10 & Sunday, Oct 11
- Where: Linn County Fairgrounds, 8476 Kansas Hwy 7, Mound City, KS
- Admission & Registration: Free admission! No registration needed. (Note: Leave pets at home, as animals are strictly prohibited on festival grounds).
- The Vibe: One of the region’s premier fall traditions featuring hundreds of arts, crafts, and food vendors spread across the fairgrounds.
- Pro-Tips: Free public shuttle parking is available at the local high school and grade school. Arrive early or visit on Sunday for easier parking and lighter crowds!
- Website: Sugar Mound Arts & Crafts
🍁 Baldwin City Maple Leaf Festival
- When: Saturday, Oct 17 & Sunday, Oct 18
- Where: Downtown Baldwin City, KS (Main streets centered along 8th & High St)
- Admission & Registration: Free to attend! No registration or tickets needed for visitors (only parade entries, 5K runners, and quilt show entrants need prior sign-up).
- The Vibe: Running since 1958, this massive regional tradition celebrates peak fall foliage with over 300 handmade craft booths, local food vendors, live music, and a Kids Zone.
- Don’t Miss: The 5K run, the annual Quilt Show, and the signature Saturday morning parade at 11:00 AM!
- Website: Maple Leaf Festival
👻 Spooktacular Halloween Parades & Trick-or-Treating
Grab your costumes and get ready for trick-or-treating! Our towns are hosting family-friendly Halloween parades packed with costume contests, sweet treats, and community fun.
🎃 Local Halloween Parades & Celebrations
Louisburg — Halloween on Broadway:
- When: Saturday, Oct 24 | 4:00 PM – 6:00 PM
- Where: Broadway St, Downtown Louisburg, KS
- What to Expect: Early trick-or-treating fun! Downtown streets close so kids and families can safely gather treats from local businesses and organizations. Free & open to all.
- A link to the event will be available later this month.
Osawatomie — Chamber’s Halloween Celebration:
- When: Friday, Oct 30 | Starts at 5:00 PM
- Where: Main St (from 5th to 7th), Osawatomie, KS
- What to Expect: Kick off the evening with an expanded costume contest with great prizes, followed by a parade down Main Street behind the band! Enjoy free hot dogs, hot cider, and treats passed out by local businesses. Free & open to all.
- Website: Osawatomie Halloween Celebration
Paola — Annual Halloween Parade:
- When: Oct 31, 2026 | 5:00 PM
- Where: 1 S. Pearl St., Paola, KS 66071
- What to Expect: A beloved town tradition packed with costumes and downtown trick-or-treating around the Square. (Businesses & clubs looking to pass out candy can sign up via the Chamber form!)
- Website: Paola Annual Halloween Parade
Local Recipe & Educator Spotlight
This month, we are delighted to feature Annie Goode, a 6th Grade Language Arts teacher in Louisburg!
Beyond her everyday dedication in the classroom, Annie has spent the past six years pouring her heart into the TeamMates Mentoring Program. Through her work as a mentor, she has seen firsthand the life-changing power of simply showing up for a child.
As Annie shares, “Mentoring is about so much more than offering advice or academic support: it’s about building a relationship, earning a child’s trust, and being someone they know they can count on.”
Over the years, Annie has watched her mentee grow in confidence, tackle tough challenges, and truly begin to believe in herself and her future. “Sometimes, simply having an adult who listens, encourages, and reminds the mentee of their potential can make all the difference,” Annie reflected.
Programs like TeamMates help local students understand that they are seen, valued, and capable of achieving far more than they ever thought possible.
We are so lucky to have dedicated, caring educators like Annie guiding and inspiring the youth in our Miami County schools! Thank you for sharing this recipe with us.
Skillet Enchiladas
Ingredients
- 1 pkg. hamburger
- 1 can cream of mushroom soup
- 1 can enchilada sauce
- Corn tortillas
- Vegetable oil
- Shredded cheese
- Chopped olives
- Toppings: Shredded lettuce, tomatoes, sour cream, and salsa
Directions
Brown the hamburger, then add the cream of mushroom soup and the enchilada sauce. Let ingredients simmer on low.
In another pan, heat a small amount of vegetable oil. Gently place a corn tortilla in the oil and then quickly remove. Place a small amount of cheese and a spoonful of chopped olives in the tortilla, roll, and place into the hamburger mixture. Repeat until you reach your desired number of enchiladas.
Top enchiladas with lots of cheese and simmer on the stovetop. When melted, garnish with lettuce, tomatoes, sour cream, and salsa!
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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