Here’s where you can find Lawrence Times coverage of all things holly, jolly, merry and bright in 2025.
Don’t forget to check our calendar for events, and to submit your own event for publication!
Holiday lights in Lawrence
We’re bringing back our festive map of holiday homes!
We need to update the map for 2025, but here’s where you can find the 2024 edition.
If you can help us confirm that a location will have lights again in 2025, or if you know for sure that we need to remove a location from the map, please fill out the quick form at this link.
Coverage of the holiday season
Lawrence Holiday Homes Tour, benefiting Habitat for Humanity, to return
An annual holiday homes tour that helps fund a nonprofit’s efforts to create affordable housing is coming up Sunday, Dec. 7.
Molly Adams / Lawrence Times
Crafts, hobby horses and scavenger hunt at Watkins Museum to get kids in the holiday spirit
Although Lawrence’s Old-Fashioned Christmas Parade won’t take to the streets this year, the show will go on for the Watkins Museum’s accompanying Tails and Traditions Holiday Festival.
Nathan Kramer / Lawrence Times
Annual Festival of Trees now open in downtown Lawrence
Dinosaurs, board games, the KC Current and more inspired themes at this year’s Festival of Trees. Here’s a sneak peek at the sights this season.
Cuyler Dunn/Lawrence Times
Low brass musicians from Lawrence schools, community to join for holiday concert
Low brass instrumentalists from ages 12 to 80 will soon join onstage for Brassmas, an annual holiday concert in Lawrence.
Molly Adams / Lawrence Times
Lawrence’s Bizarre Bazaar draws holiday shoppers; local art market reopens Saturday
Holiday shoppers packed the Lawrence Arts Center Friday evening and picked out quirky and distinctive art from the more than 90 vendors at Bizarre Bazaar.
Molly Adams / Lawrence Times
Rosy-cheeked rascal from the North Pole gets stranded again; Lawrence firefighters to the rescue
Lawrence was abuzz ahead of Friday’s downtown holiday lighting ceremony, wondering if Santa would once again find himself in an embarrassing predicament. The jolly man did not disappoint.
KU School of Music to present annual Vespers concert
KU instrumentalists and choral singers will perform at the 101st annual Vespers concert next week.
Nathan Kramer / Lawrence Times
Van Go’s Adornment art show, Eudora Holiday Market and more coming up in Douglas County
There are plenty of festivities coming up around Douglas County to do your holiday shopping and support local artists and makers. Here’s a guide to events happening this weekend and in coming weeks.
August Rudisell/Lawrence Times
Festival of Trees opening soon in downtown Lawrence
Festival of Trees, with its evergreens bedecked with everything from candy canes to Jayhawks to Christmas movie DVDs, will bring its quirky holiday spirit back to downtown Lawrence this week to benefit The O’Connell Children’s Shelter.
Lawrence’s Old-Fashioned Christmas Parade canceled because of horse virus outbreak
The Lawrence Old-Fashioned Christmas Parade has been canceled this year because of an outbreak of equine herpesvirus affecting horses in multiple states, according to parade organizers.
Lawrence Lights, a festive fundraiser for local nonprofits, opens soon
Lawrence Lights, a drive-thru holiday light extravaganza benefiting local nonprofits, will open this week.
Wulfe Wulfemeyer/Lawrence Times
Here are Lawrence-area restaurants that will be open on Thanksgiving, plus info on some free meals
Here are the restaurants in and around Lawrence that have confirmed that they’ll be open Thanksgiving day, plus where to get a free holiday meal.
August Rudisell/Lawrence Times
When parking is free, when trash pickup is delayed and more Thanksgiving holiday notes
Here’s info on when parking downtown is free, when trash pickup will be delayed, what’s closed when and more for the Thanksgiving holiday weekend in Lawrence.
Lawrence, Douglas County law enforcement to boost seat belt enforcement over Thanksgiving week
The Lawrence Police Department and Douglas County Sheriff’s Office will have enhanced patrols to boost enforcement of seat belt usage over the next week.
August Rudisell/Lawrence Times
Lawrence holiday lighting, Santa rescue coming up: Will the jolly man get stuck again?
Despite his expertise with high-flying reindeer and tight chimney squeezes, Santa has a bad habit of getting stranded on top of the Weaver’s Department Store, and Lawrencians are waiting with bated breath to see if it will happen again this year.
Molly Adams/Lawrence Times
Parkside Christmas owners retire Lawrence light show after 16 years
After 16 years bringing cheer to Lawrence, the synchronized holiday display known as Parkside Christmas will not return.
August Rudisell/Lawrence Times
20 upcoming Lawrence holiday markets offer ways to shop local
Check two boxes off your list this holiday season by shopping local and getting some one-of-a-kind gifts for your loved ones with this guide to 20 upcoming vendor fairs and art markets, starting this weekend in Lawrence.
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