Jackson County will host a Household Hazardous Waste collection event on Saturday, October 5th from 8:00am - Noon (or until trucks are filled) at Jackson County Public Works, 34900 E. Old US Highway 40, Oak Grove. 

Residents of Grain Valley, Oak Grove, Greenwood, Lake Lotawana, Lake Winnebago, Lone Jack, unincorporated Jackson County and other counties in the Regional HHW Collection program may attend this or any of the other mobile events free of charge.  ID with proof of residency is required.

Accepted materials include batteries, paint, lawn and garden chemicals, automotive fluids, florescent light bulbs, and household cleaners. Household waste only - no business waste. 

For more information on other HHW disposal options, visit recyclespot.org or call 816-701-8226. 

Jackson County Parks + Rec’s Fall Festival of Arts, Crafts and Music at the Missouri Town Living History Museum will be held Saturday, October 5 and Sunday, October 6.
 
This popular open-air event delights visitors as the entire village comes alive with the authentic music and dance of the mid-1800s. Start your holiday shopping with unique gifts that are handcrafted by talented artisans. Knowledgeable interpreters will share their passion for bygone skills such as cooking over a wood fire, wood working, blacksmithing, the art of tin smithing and a variety of fiber crafts. Watch the preparation of homemade apple butter and cider. Additionally, children will find fun and excitement with the time-honored games that were popular with kids over 150 years ago.

The 48th Annual Missouri Town Fall Festival will be held Saturday, October 5th and Sunday, October 6 from 10:00am – 5:00pm. Missouri Town Living History Museum is located at 8010 East Park Road, Lee’s Summit, MO 64064. The cost is $15 per car/van, $25 per school/commercial bus. 
                      
Additional highlights of the fall festival include:

• An Antique Tractor Display
• 1850’s Printing Press Demonstration
• A food court featuring your favorite festival foods
• Over 75 vendors selling historic items, crafts and art
• Children’s games, crafts and archery
• Entertainment by musicians, dancers, interpreters and storytellers
• Tractor and Wagon Rides

For more information, visit www.makeyourdayhere.com/missouritown.

Jackson County Parks + Rec is pleased to present “Food on the Missouri Frontier” on Saturday, September 21st at Fort Osage National Historic Landmark. Attendees will be able to take in the sights and smells of history in the making from 9:00am - 4:00pm at Fort Osage National Historic Landmark, 105 Osage ST, Sibley MO 64088.

See live demonstrations of hearth cooking and food preparation techniques from the early 1800s. Walk through our heirloom garden on one of our garden tours to see how fruits and vegetables have changed over time. Learn how the soldiers and civilians of Fort Osage preserved food for the long winter, and take home recipe cards for some of our favorite historic foods. Food and refreshments will be available on the grounds.

Admission is $8/adults, $4/youth and seniors. Fort Osage National Historic Landmark is open year-round, Tuesday through Sunday 9:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.

Downtown Grain Valley, in partnership with Grain Valley High School student government and Central Jackson County Fire Protection District, has revived the Community Pep Rally and Bonfire just in time for homecoming.

The community is invited on Wednesday, September 18th from 6:30pm - 7:30pm to the Grain Valley Community Gardens downtown for a spirit-packed rally. Cheer on GVHS sports teams, enjoy the pep band, and meet the Eagles mascot.

GVHS high school students will then have the space reserved for them from 7:30-9:00pm to gather around the bonfire and make some memories. 

Bring boxed or canned nonperishable food items to any Mid-Continent Public Library location from September 9th - 15th to pay off your overdue fines and support local food pantries. Each single food item will count as $1.50 off existing overdue fines or replacement card charges, up to $30. Patrons are also welcome to donate items even if no fines are due. At the Grain Valley branch, donations will support Community Services League, a partner of the Grain Valley Assistance Council.

Suggested Items

• Boxed meals
• Canned soup
• Canned meat, fruit, or vegetables
• Peanut butter
• Cereal
• Pasta
• Sugar free/low sodium/gluten free products

Please be aware:

• No expired items
• No damaged items
• No glass, plastic, or cardboard drink containers
• No open packages
• No non-nutritious items such as candy, chips, etc.
• Ramen noodles (and other multi-pack items) will be accepted at a value of 4 packages = $1.50

The Grain Valley Police Department is hosting "Cakes, Cops, and Conversations" on Saturday, August 31st from 8:00am - 11:00am at Armstrong Park.

Chris Cakes will be cooking up their famous all-you-can eat pancake breakfast for attendees. School resource officers, police officers, and staff members that serve the community will be in attendance to chat with community members. 

The event is free to attend and open to everyone. ​

Tuesday morning, Grain Valley Fair volunteer Justin Tyson dropped off a load of donations from the August First Fridays event downtown, where attendees were asked to drop off donations for the BackSnack program. 

Denna Coulson, a volunteer with the BackSnack program, said the donations go a long way toward getting them prepared to begin packaging snacks when the program kicks off again in early September. 

With more than 230 BackSnack packages to be packed weekly by volunteers, it takes a pantry full of snacks each week to get it done. 

"It takes a lot. The more donations we can get, the better," Coulson said. 

Volunteers from the Grain Valley High School Life Skills class come to the church each week to package the BackSnacks, and then deliver them to counselors at each school. 

Students enrolled in the program receive a selection of snacks to take home with them over the weekend. All snacks are kid-friendly and able to be easily accessed and prepared. Cans must be pop-top, and meals must be easily prepared in the microwave with limited ingredients. 

"We try to make it kid-friendly because we serve students from preschool to high school, and we don't know how much help they are getting from mom and dad at home or if they are just doing this on their own," Coulson said.

Coulson said donations are always welcome. Donations of snacks can be delivered to Faith United Methodist Church, 1950 SW Eagles Parkway, and online donations can be made easily at www.valleyfaith.church, selecting the BackSnack program on the online donation form. 

​

The Grain Valley Historical Society is hosting its annual Ice Cream Social in the courtyard of Iron Kettle Brewing next to the Historical Society building at 506 S Main on Thursday, July 25th from 5:00pm - 8:00pm. 

Tickets are $6/adults and $4/kids and can be purchased at the event. A variety of homemade ice creams and desserts will be featured and proceeds benefit the Historical Society.