June Fourth Friday is here; don’t miss KC/DC this week
The second Fourth Friday celebration of the year is this Friday! You won’t want to miss KC/DC on the main stage.
The annual celebrations, sponsored by the Olathe Chamber of Commerce’s Olathe Convention & Visitors Bureau and the City of Olathe, are back in downtown Olathe this summer. The first one will be from 6 – 9 p.m. this Friday, June 23.
June’s event will feature a Sip ‘n’ Shop event along Cherry Street between Loula and Cedar, a beer garden, face painters, balloon artist, a magician, an interactive puppet experience throughout the event and a car show with the KC Corvette Club. And don’t forget, the Downtown Library is open until 8 p.m. with craft activities for children on the second floor. The gaming room will also be open for teens.
Fourth Fridays is presented by Honda and Subaru of Olathe. And a big thanks to our other Fourth Fridays sponsors Azura Credit Union, City of Olathe, Fry Orthodontics, Humana, LeBlanc & Associates Dental, Olathe Communities that Care and Tommy’s Express Car Wash.
Bring your appetite on Friday because the food trucks will be there. Smoke ‘n’ Seoul, Taste of Brazil, Ate 1 Six Food Truck, Eat Schmidt, the Melt, the Rub, the Hungry Hatch, Ohana’s Shave Ice of Kansas City, One More Scoop and Waffoozles will be serving up food and sweets all night long.
Join us for our second Chamber Social
The second Olathe Chamber of Commerce Social of the year is next week. Please join us for the Chamber Social from 3:30 – 5 p.m. on Thursday, June 29.
June’s Chamber Social will take place at the Country Club Bank, 23600 College Blvd. It will be a perfect setting for our new networking opportunity on what is sure to be a wonderful summer evening.
Our weekly Chamber Coffee sponsors are Country Club Bank, Olathe Health, Harlan and Jason Parker State Farm Insurance and Xfinity.
Advertising opportunities available in community map
Advertising sales for the Olathe Chamber of Commerce community map have begun.
More than 10,000 maps are printed and given to residents, sports teams, corporate travelers, conference attendees and leisure travelers. There’s also a digital version of the map that we share. This map is the only official map endorsed and distributed by the Olathe Chamber.
Our MetroMedia Publishing partner will be reaching out to members to offer advertising opportunities in the guide. This is an excellent chance to promote your business and be visible with an engaged audience. For more information on advertising, contact Town Square, a MetroMedia Publishers partner.
Check out more info about this awesome project here.
Celebrate red, white and blue in Olathe
There’s something for everyone during the Red, White & Blue celebration in Olathe next month.
Begin the Independence Day fun from 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. on July 1 at the Mahaffie Stagecoach Stop & Farm for fun Independence Day activities. Bring your blankets and lawn chairs for the All-American celebration.
The fun continues from noon – 2:30 p.m. on July 4 at Beach Fest at Lake Olathe Beach. Then, make your way to College Boulevard Activity Center, 11031 S. Valley Road, for July 4 fireworks. The show begins at approximately 9:45 p.m.
A couple of days later, head back over to Mahaffie from 6 – 10 p.m. on July 6 for Family Fun Nights and 1860s style fireworks. Finish the week at Olathe Live! with the always popular Liverpool from 7 – 10 p.m. on July 7 at Stagecoach Park.
WHAT'S NEW
Garmin Olathe Marathon named best Kansas marathon
The Garmin Olathe Marathon was, once again, crowned the top marathon in Kansas in Race Raves’ Runners Choice: 2023 Best Marathons in the U.S. poll.
The annual race presented by the Olathe Chamber of Commerce’s Convention & Visitors Bureau is one of the area’s top events and includes a half marathon, 10K and munchkin marathon for the youngsters.
The Garmin Olathe Marathon in the Land of Oz is a Wizard of Oz themed race that just celebrated its 21st anniversary with more than 3,000 runners at its April race.
Check out more about the Race Raves poll here.
OUT AND ABOUT
Benton House Groundbreaking
Congratulations to Benton House on their groundbreaking last week. The newest addition to their space has a targeted opening of early 2024.
CHAMBER CONNECTION
New York Times bestselling author, Katherine Center, will speak about her work from 3 – 4 p.m. this Saturday, June 24 at the Olathe Indian Creek Library. She writes bittersweet, comic, laugh-and-cry stories about love and family. Her fourth novel The Lost Husband just became a feature film starring Josh Duhamel, and her novel Happiness for Beginners is in production as a Netflix original movie starring Ellie Kemper. Learn more here.
Save the date for the latest Johnson County Community College Continuing Education Business Breakfast Series event from 7 – 9 a.m. on July 18 at the Capital Federal Conference Center in the Regnier Center at JCCC. More information about the event, “Reboot Retention: Engage, Equip and Empower Employees” can be found here.
Join MidAmerica Nazarene University faculty, staff, and student services at their in-person open house. Learn about earning your associate’s, bachelor’s or graduate degree, or advanced certificate. Designed specifically for adult learners, explore the online, on-site and blended degree options. Learn about the new RISE Opportunity Scholarship. Register here.
Inspired Homes is holding a grand opening weekend at Huntford Phase 2 from 2 -4 p.m. on Saturday, June 24 at 24990 W. 145th St. Enjoy face painting, sidewalk games, a bounce house, treats from Kona Ice and a chance for a $200 Quick Trip gift card.
The Johnson County Small Business Recovery Grant Application has reopened and the Enterprise Center in Johnson County is currently accepting all new applications. Check here to apply. The link also includes the complete process for meeting eligibility requirements, a Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) page and the link to complete the online application.
GateWay of Hope would like to invite you to sign up and take a tour of their facility. They are offering guided tours of the space where women come find hope, healing, and wholeness. You can sign up for the session at noon on Thursday, June 22 to learn how the GateWay staff is serving women across the greater Kansas City area! Register here.
The Early Childhood Transition Task Force is charged with creating a framework for a model single-agency governance structure for early childhood programming that consolidates initiatives and funding under the leadership of a new cabinet-level position by Kansas Governor Laura Kelly. There will be several community engagement meetings for the task force. The closest to our area will take place at 10 a.m. on Friday, June 30 at Shawnee Mission School District Center for Academic Advancement at 8200 W. 71st St. in Overland Park.
DID YOU KNOW
Want to increase your visibility with the Olathe Chamber of Commerce? We have a sponsorship package for every budget. Give us a call at 913-764-1050 or contact Susie Carson for more information.
A LOOK AHEAD
NOTE: You can reach the Olathe community and beyond through the Chamber’s online calendar of events. Members can complete the online form and then submit their events online for approval by staff. If you have multiple day events, a form must be submitted for each day. Listings must meet the established criteria.
2021 E. Santa Fe, 10:30 a.m.
21400 W. 153rd St., 9 a.m.
701 N. Mur-Len Road, 11 a.m.
RECENT CHAMBER MEMBERS
COUPONS AND DISCOUNTS
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