Back to ‘Cool’ Ice Cream Social
🍦😎 Back to ‘Cool’ Ice Cream Social — FREE! 😎🍦
Cool off and get ready for the school year with a sweet community celebration!
🗓 Monday, August 17
⏰ 5:00 – 7:00 PM
✨ FREE ice cream plus:
🎯 Games
🎨 Crafts
🍎 Snack packs
📚 Books
✏️ School supplies
Bring the kids, bring your friends, and enjoy a relaxed evening of fun before school starts. Let’s head Back to ‘Cool’ together! 🍦🎒
Join Us at the 2026 LaPlata Soybean Festival!
🌱🎉 Join Us at the 2026 LaPlata Soybean Festival! 🎉🌱
🗓 September 5–7
Celebrate community, music, and fun all weekend long during the 2026 LaPlata Soybean Festival! We’ve got something for everyone:
🎶 Salt River Band live on stage with toe-tapping bluegrass
🌟 Live performances from our Gary Cunningham Talent Show
🎬 LHS FCCLA Kids Movie Night — family fun for the little ones
🍦🥧 Enjoy ice cream and pie served throughout the festival, with proceeds benefiting the GCEC Community Fund — treats that give back!
Bring your friends, bring your family, and come enjoy a full weekend of entertainment, food, and hometown fun. You won’t want to miss it! 🌽🎶💛
Halloween Spooktackular Dance
🎃👻 Halloween Spooktackular Dance — FREE! 👻🎃
Get ready for a frightfully fun night of music, dancing, and costumes!
🗓 Friday, October 30
⏰ 6:00 – 9:00 PM
🎧 Featuring DJ Andre Swift
🕺💃 FREE dance & costume party for ALL ages!
Dress up in your spookiest, silliest, or most creative costume and hit the dance floor with friends and family.
Music, costumes, and Halloween fun — you won’t want to miss this Spooktackular night! 🕸🕯
2nd Annual Community Thanksgiving Dinner
🦃🍂 2nd Annual Community Thanksgiving Dinner — FREE! 🍂🦃
Join us for a time of fellowship, gratitude, and a shared meal as we come together as a community.
🗓 Saturday, November 21
⏰ 11:00 AM – 1:00 PM
The LaPlata Upsilon Mu Sorority is proud to host this FREE Community Thanksgiving Dinner, open to everyone.
Whether you come with family, friends, or on your own, you’ll find a warm welcome and a delicious meal. Let’s celebrate the season of thankfulness together. 💛🍽
2nd Annual Winter Wonderland
❄️🎄 Winter Wonderland — FREE! 🎄❄️
Step into the magic of the season and join us for a day full of holiday cheer and family fun!
🗓 Saturday, December 19
⏰ 10:00 AM – 7:00 PM
✨ FREE Winter Wonderland activities include:
🎅 Visits with Santa
🧸 Toys for kids (registration link coming in October 2026)
🍲 Soup supper
🎶 Christmas carol sing-along
🎉 Fun for the WHOLE family all day long!
🎁 Don’t miss our Special Silent Auction, with proceeds benefiting the GCEC Community Fund — celebrate the season while giving back.
Mark your calendars and make Winter Wonderland part of your holiday tradition! ❤️🎄
AMERICA'S 250TH BIRTHDAY BASH
AMERICA'S 250TH BIRTHDAY BASH
Join us as we celebrate 250 years of freedom, patriotism, and community at the Gary Cunningham Event Center!
July 3, 2026
10:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Gary Cunningham Event Center
Event Highlights:
Gary Cunningham Citizen of the Year Award
Essay Winners Awards
Art Entries Displays
Flag Dedication
Patriotic Sing Along
Liberty Kids & Games
FREE Flags for the First 50 Uncle Sam Costumes!
Food & Treats:
Frosted Flamingo Ice Cream Push Cart
Rae's Home Cooking
• Pork Sandwiches
• Pulled Pork
• Walking Tacos
Quilt Raffle benefiting the Community Fund!
Featured Vendors:
Happy Market – Jeana Curtis
Marla Head – Tupperware
India Hermann – T-Shirts
Wendy Creed – Beaded Keychains, Ink Pens & Lights
Bring your family, friends, and your patriotic spirit for a day filled with food, fun, freedom, and community as we honor America's 250th Birthday!
#Americas250thBirthday #BirthdayBash2026 #Patriotism #CommunityCelebration #LibertyKids #GaryCunninghamEventCenter #SupportLocalVendors #FamilyFun #CelebrateAmerica
Mother & Daughter Tea Brunch
🌸☕ Mother & Daughter Tea — FREE! ☕🌸
Celebrate the joy of motherhood with a beautiful brunch experience just for moms and daughters.
🗓 Saturday, May 9
⏰ 11:00 AM – 1:00 PM
🍽 Brunch provided
🎤 Guest speaker & live entertainment
A special time to connect, celebrate, and make lasting memories together. 💕
Easter Sock Hop
🐰🎶 Easter Sock Hop — FREE! 🎶🐰
Hop on over for an afternoon of dancing, fun, and Easter excitement!
🗓 Saturday, April 4
⏰ 2:00 – 4:00 PM
🎧 Music by DJ Shane Cassady
💃🕺 FREE dance fun for kids!
Enjoy kid crafts, snacks, games, and lots of smiles at this high-energy Easter celebration. Bring the whole family and let’s dance! 🌸🐣
Salt River Band Bluegrass Concert
🎶🌾 Bluegrass for a Cause! 🌾🎶
Join us for an evening of toe-tapping bluegrass music with the Salt River Band — all to support a great cause!
🗓 Saturday, March 21
⏰ 4:00 – 6:00 PM
🎻 Live Bluegrass Concert
This fundraiser benefits the NEMO Senior Citizens Meal Delivery Program, helping seniors in Kirksville and LaPlata receive nutritious meals.
💵 $10 suggested donation
🍿 Snacks & drinks available for purchase
🎟 Raffle prizes you won’t want to miss!
Come enjoy great music, support local seniors, and make a difference in our community. Bring a friend and help us spread the word! ❤️🎶
FREE Mother & Son Paint & Pizza Party
🎨🍕 Mom & Son’s Paint & Pizza Party — FREE! 🍕🎨
Looking for a fun way to spend your Saturday together? Join us for a creative (and delicious!) afternoon of painting, bonding, and pizza!
🗓 Saturday, Feb 21
⏰ 1:00 – 4:00 PM
🎨 Paint, canvas & supplies provided
🍕 Pizza included — come hungry!
👕 Don’t forget to bring your own smock and get ready to make memories (and masterpieces!) together.
Don’t miss out on this FREE family event! 💙👩🎨👦
Winter Wonderland
Get ready for a weekend full of holiday cheer! 🎄✨
Join us at the 1st Annual Winter Wonderland at the Gary Cunningham Event Center, where magic, music, and memories come to life. Bring your family and friends for three days of festive fun, community spirit, and Christmas joy!
🎶 Friday, December 19 – Free Soup Supper, Carols & Silent Auction
Warm up with a Free Soup Supper, enjoy timeless Christmas carols, and explore our Silent Auction filled with holiday surprises. It’s the perfect way to kick off a weekend of celebration!
🎅 Saturday, December 20 – Santa Comes to Town!
Santa’s sleigh is stopping in La Plata!
Bring the kids for a jolly good time and register your child for a FREE gift from the big man himself. Capture the magic and create unforgettable Christmas memories!
Child’s Gift Registration
❄ Sunday, December 21 – Lighting Displays & Festive Tours
The Center is open for visitors to stroll through a sparkling Winter Wonderland of lights and enjoy festive tours.
✨ Don’t forget to pick up your Silent Auction winnings before you go!
🎄 A weekend of joy, lights, and community awaits you!
Spread the word and join us for La Plata’s newest holiday tradition.
Community Thanksgiving Dinner
🍂🦃 You’re Invited! 🦃🍂
The Gary Cunningham Event Center & Upsilon Mu Chapter of Beta Sigma Phi are thrilled to host a Community Thanksgiving Dinner — and YOU are part of the family!
✨ When: Saturday, November 22, 2025
🕚 Time: 11:00 AM – 2:00 PM
📍 Where: Gary Cunningham Event Center
💲 Cost: No charge (donations welcome)
Let’s come together in gratitude, community, and fellowship over a delicious Thanksgiving meal. 🥧🍴
After November 1: NO RSVP NECESSARY!
Send your RSVP to:
Mary Carter
660-342-1260
carterml14@gmail.com
Kelcey Smith
660-342-4446
rkwlsmith@gmail.com
Debbie Simmons
660-651-4433
debsimmons4433@gmail.com
#CommunityThanksgiving #GratitudeGathering #CelebrateTogether
Spooktacular Halloween Dance
🎃🕸️ You’re Invited! 🕸️🎃
🎃🕸️ You’re Invited! 🕸️🎃
Get ready for a night full of fang-tastic fun! 🦇✨
Join us at the Gary Cunningham Event Center for the
Spooktacular Halloween Dance 👻💃
📅 Saturday, October 25th
🕕 6:00 PM – 10:00 PM
🎭 Wear your most spook-tacular costume
🎶 Dance the night away to thrilling tunes
🍬 Treats, tricks, and memories await!
Don’t miss the party everyone will be howling about! 🐺🎶
Bring your friends, bring your costumes, and let’s make it a night to remember.
👉 Mark your calendars & share the scare!
Independence Day Celebration
***FREE EVENT AT THE GARY CUNNINGHAM EVENT CENTER**
Join us for an Independence Day celebration like no other!
FREE BBQ catered by Raspberry’s BBQ
Music & Games
Essay & Art Contest Winners will be announced
Essay winners will read their essays
All art will be on display
Lifeline's Father's Day Game Day Brunch
Join Lifeline in celebrating Father's Day with a special Game Day & Brunch. Fathers and awesome male role models, grab your kiddos and join in the fun!
Yard Games
*Bounce House*
*Board Games*
*Photo Booth*
*Craft Station*
All attendees will be entered to win door prizes!
A suggested donation of $5 to support Lifeline's DadLine Program.
Mother’s Day Brunch
All mothers, grandmothers, aunts, daughters, and sisters welcome! Suggested Donation of $5 for persons over 10 years-old.
RSVP on Facebook by May 5, 2025
Entertainment: Live music/performance & Special Thoughts from Paula Thompson
Easter Bunny Sock Hop
***FREE EVENT AT THE GARY CUNNINGHAM EVENT CENTER***
Join us for a FREE family-friendly fun sock hop featuring DJ Shane Cassady! Enjoy Easter games, activities, pictures with the Easter Bunny, and more!
*Sensory Supports: Earplugs and limited supply of noise-cancelling headphones available to use during the event.
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