Christmas on the Bricks: A Hallmark Moment in Downtown Fort Scott
When the first weekend of December arrives, which this year is Dec. 4-7, downtown Fort Scott, Kansas, transforms into something straight out of a Hallmark movie. The glow of lights reflects off the brick streets, and the whole town seems to slow down to savor the season.
“The downtown historic area is adorned with brick roads - hence the name - and decorated swags that hang across Main Street with garland and a large wreath in the center of each. The mayor’s Christmas tree shines brightly at the north end of Main Street, and trees are lit with beautiful colored lights on Skubitz Plaza adjacent to the Fort Scott National Historic Site,” said Diane Striler, chair of Christmas on the Bricks. “It feels like you are walking into a small Hallmark movie.”
Every lamppost glows with holiday charm - strung with lights, banners and painted tin soldiers - inviting visitors to slow down, take photos with friends and rediscover the magic of simpler times.
“As you walk around the town and visit the different stores and events scattered throughout, it feels a little bit like going back a few years when people took time to enjoy the simpler things in life,” Diane said.
The Spirit of Fort Scott
Fort Scott, with its historic downtown and welcoming residents, has always been a place where tradition and hospitality intertwine.
“There is just a feeling of warmth that you will experience when you are in Fort Scott,” she said. “Life slows down a little bit and people still take the time to say hi to one another and greet a newcomer with a smiling face.”
The town’s 19th-century architecture adds to the storybook setting, with buildings dating back to the late 1800s.
“You can enjoy our lively downtown where the majority of the buildings were built in the late 1800s, and our community is working hard to update and maintain them,” she shared. “There is also so much history here with the Fort Scott National Historic Site located at the north end of downtown.”
Building the Magic
Christmas on the Bricks began in 2023 as part of a larger vision to enhance the quality of life in Fort Scott and attract visitors to its vibrant downtown.
“Three years ago, our city manager, Brad Matkin, asked me to join a group we called Elevate Fort Scott,” Diane said. “The purpose of the group was to create events that would increase the quality of life for our community while attracting people to town to support our local businesses and restaurants.”
Her goal was to design an experience that filled the downtown with life - both indoors and out.
“I wanted activities scattered throughout the downtown area: inside businesses, restaurants and outside, so people could walk through town and experience everything we had to offer. I also wanted to schedule activities throughout the weekend to encourage visitors to stay in our hotels and have a variety of events to choose from.”
That first year set the tone for what would become one of the most beloved weekends in Fort Scott.
“The first thing I really wanted to find was carriage rides,” said Diane. “I found a company called Orange Sky Carriage Rides from Arkansas that has been coming since the first year.”
From there, the list of activities grew rapidly: gingerbread decorating contests, a live nativity, s’mores around firepits, holiday art classes, Christmas karaoke and even a Candy Land adventure.
The second year brought even more festive flair.
“We added a synthetic skating rink that stays open through the winter months, strolling characters like a reindeer, snowman and Cindy Lou Who, cookie decorating and a Santa’s workshop where kids can write letters to Santa, color, do crafts, and parents can get free gift wrapping for items purchased in town,” she said.
This year, the lineup is expanding once again with a downtown scavenger hunt; a mini train ride for kids; a country Christmas band; wreath-making class; beer, whiskey and wine tastings; and even a Christmas-themed hay climb with slides.
A Hallmark Dream Come True
The inspiration behind Christmas on the Bricks came from Diane’s love of the season, and her Hallmark-movie heart.
“At one of our first Elevate Fort Scott meetings, Brad mentioned he wanted to have some cutouts downtown for Christmas that people could use for photo ops,” she said. “I told him, ‘I got this.’ I love Christmas!”
From there, her imagination took off.
“I’m kind of a Hallmark girl and love watching the movies during the holidays,” she shared. “A lot of my ideas stemmed from there.”
Partnering with Lindsay Madison, president and CEO of the Fort Scott Chamber of Commerce, the two set the event for the first weekend in December to coincide with the city’s traditional Christmas parade, Mayor’s Tree Lighting, and the Fort Scott National Historic Site’s 44th Annual Candlelight Tour.
“We figured that people would already be coming to town, so it would be a great event to build on.”
More Than Just a Celebration
Beyond the lights and festivities, Christmas on the Bricks has become an important boost for the local economy and a source of pride for residents.
“I think the community looks forward to the event,” Diane said. “It gives them a sense of pride to see how much joy everyone experiences and to know that it’s in their hometown. They don’t have to travel to a larger city to enjoy so many of the same activities we host.”
The event’s affordability and family-friendly focus have made it accessible to everyone.
“We host several free activities and try to keep everything at a reasonable price so parents can afford to bring their kiddos,” she said. “Skating is $5 and includes skates, carriage rides are $40 for four people, s’mores are just a $1 donation, and there are plenty of free activities like outdoor movies, the hay climb, live nativity and mini train rides.”
Local businesses have felt the impact as well.
“Several business owners have said they’ve seen a dramatic increase in sales the weekend of Christmas on the Bricks,” Diane continued. “The Artificers Gallery said their first year they saw a 70% increase in sales, and over half of those came from out-of-state visitors.”
That kind of feedback fuels the committee’s efforts each year.
“Last year at the skating rink, my husband and I overheard a young boy tell his mom he was so happy that we had a rink here so he didn’t have to go all the way to Kansas City to skate,” she said. “Moments like that make all the work worth it.”
Family, Faith and Community
For Diane, the event is as personal as it is public.
“My husband and I look forward to our kids and grandkids coming to the event and enjoying all the activities,” she said. “We usually fill up all three of the carriages and enjoy a family ride around town. Then the kiddos run from activity to activity, and we try to keep up.”
But her favorite moments are often the quietest ones.
“I think my favorite time of the event is when I walk around and check on all the activities and get to witness all the people having so much fun. That is what it’s all about—bringing something to Fort Scott that can bring joy during the Christmas season.”
Looking Ahead
As the event continues to grow, Diane hopes to keep building on its success while maintaining the charm that makes it special.
“My vision for the future is to add a few activities each year, encourage more people to get involved and leave a lasting impression on visitors so they’ll spread the word about our event. I hope Christmas on the Bricks will become a tradition that families look forward to attending every year.”
Diane also emphasized the importance of community collaboration.
“We’ve had tremendous support from the city, city and county employees, different organizations, businesses and individuals to be able to put on this event,” she said. “We couldn’t do it without all the volunteer support we get!”
The festivities begin on the first Thursday of December with the lighting of the mayor’s Christmas tree. From there, Christmas on the Bricks carries the celebration into the weekend, filling Friday through Sunday with activities and holiday spirit – a fitting finale to a weekend of community and Christmas cheer.
For all the details, go to fortscott.com/christmas-on-the-bricks or www.facebook.com/fortscottchristmasonthebricks.
______________________________________________________________________________
The 2025 Christmas on the Bricks Committee
Christmas on the Bricks is made possible by a devoted team of volunteers, including Diane Striler (Chair), Lindsay Madison, Norma Tinsley, Leslie Godden, Lisa Dillon, Rachel Carpenter, Colleen Quick, Cheryl VanHoeke and Denise Beaman.
