Lawrence has no shortage of holiday events and traditions, ranging from old-fashioned to, um, very Lawrence.
We’ve recently rounded up all the upcoming holiday markets, musical performances and chances to see Santa that we can find. Here are some more opportunities for festive fun.
Want to make sure you don’t forget about the events you see here? Click the linked day in each event to jump over to it on our calendar, where you can quickly add it to your Google, Apple, Outlook or other virtual calendar or share it on social media and tag the folks you want to take with you.
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Find plenty more holiday and non-holiday events on our calendar at lawrencekstimes.com/events.
• The annual Holiday Lighting Ceremony and Santa Rescue will begin at 6 p.m. Friday, Nov. 29 near Weaver’s Department Store, 901 Massachusetts St. Read more about the beloved downtown Lawrence tradition at this link.
• Lawrence Lights: Making Spirits Bright! is an outdoor, drive-thru holiday light show at the Youth Sports Complex, 4911 W. 27th St. The event raises funds for local charitable organizations and tickets are available for a suggested donation of $20 per car. The show will be open from 5:30 to 9:30 p.m. Tuesdays through Sundays, beginning Saturday, Nov. 30 and running through Friday, Dec. 27. Learn more at lawrence-lights.com.
• Hosted by the Lawrence Police Department’s charity, Deck the Halls with Blue Santa will include a Christmas tree and gift giveaway, hot chocolate, treats and a visit from San-Dee Claus. The event is set for noon to 4 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 1 at Flory Meeting Hall at the Douglas County Fairgrounds, 2110 Harper St., and San-Dee Claus said he’ll be there from 1 to 4 p.m.
• Holiday Trivia at the Festival of Trees is set for 7 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 4 at Maceli’s, 1031 New Hampshire St. Tickets to the fundraiser for the O’Connell Children’s Shelter cost $25 per person, or you can purchase tickets for a team of four for $100. Tickets might be available at the door but they’ll probably sell out ahead of time via this link.
• Theatre Lawrence’s holiday production, “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory,” opens at 7:30 p.m. Friday, Dec. 6 at 4660 Bauer Farm Drive. Shows continue through Sunday, Dec. 22. Read more about it at this link and find ticket info at this link.
• “Very festive puppies” will be on hand for the Lawrence Humane Society’s Holiday Puppy Yoga, with sessions set for 10:30 and 11:30 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 7. The fundraiser always sells out, but tickets were still available for $25 at this link as of the time of publication.
• Free food is our favorite kind. Taste of the Holidays is set for 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 7 at Hy-Vee, 3504 Clinton Parkway. “Taste your way through the holiday season” with samples of holiday appetizers, entrees, side dishes, desserts and more throughout the store.
• Tails & Traditions at the Watkins Museum of History, 1047 Massachusetts St., will feature holiday-themed crafts and activities for kiddos, the famous Watkins hobby horses “and the return of a new favorite, the Ellie on the Shelf scavenger hunt.” That’s set for 9 to 11 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 7. Then head outside and grab a seat outside for …
• … The Lawrence Old-Fashioned Christmas Parade, now in its 31st year. “Authentic horse-drawn carriages parading down Massachusetts Street is the perfect way to kick off the holiday season. Cozy up with hot cocoa and blankets.” That’s set to begin at 11 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 7.
This year’s route: The parade will head from the Douglas County Fairgrounds to 15th Street along Harper Street; west to Prairie Avenue; north to 13th Street; west to Delaware Street; north to Eighth Street; west to New Jersey Street; north to Seventh Street and finally west to Massachusetts Street, where it will turn south to pass by folks crowded along downtown’s main stretch. It will return to the fairgrounds by heading east on 15th Street back to Harper Street and south.
• 1313 Mockingbird Lane and Liberty Hall are teaming up to screen “Silent Night Deadly Night,” a Christmas horror classic. Trivia, a costume contest for scariest Santa, and prizes will kick the night off at 9 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 7 at 644 Massachusetts St., and the screening will begin at 9:30. Tickets are $12.50 each.
• The 20th Annual Lawrence Habitat Holiday Homes Tour is set for noon to 5 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 8. The tour will feature several Lawrence homes “beautifully decorated for the holiday season and put on display for your viewing delight!” The event benefits Lawrence Habitat for Humanity, which builds and repairs homes to help people become homeowners through sweat equity. Tickets are $35 each and available at this link.
• Performances of the Lawrence Arts Center’s The Nutcracker, A Kansas Ballet begin at 7 p.m. Friday, Dec. 13, and there will be shows at 2 and 7 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 14 and 1 and 5 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 15. The in-person shows sell out quickly each year, but livestream tickets are still available at this link.
• Get your photo with Krampus at 1313 Mockingbird Lane, 1027 Massachusetts St., between noon and 2 p.m. and 3 to 5 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 14. Donations will be accepted for the Lawrence Humane Society. There will also be Krampus merch available. Naughty and nice welcome.
• There are a lot of opportunities to see Santa in Lawrence this year, but there’s probably only one chance to see this many Santas in one place. SantaCon 2024 will start at 1 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 14 at the Sandbar, 17 E. Eighth St. A caravan of Santas of all shapes, sizes and fallalery will gather for the bar crawl fundraiser, this year benefiting the Ballard Center.
• The Festival of Nativities at Centenary United Methodist Church, 245 N. Fourth St. in North Lawrence, will have more than 450 nativities on display from all around the world. “Many of those are tiny crèches, but the overall impact is quite impressive,” according to organizers. Viewing hours will be from noon to 4 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 8 and Saturday and Sunday, Dec. 14, 15, 21 and 22.
• For those who prefer their nativities in motion, the Living Nativity is set for 1 to 4 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 15 in the indoor arena at the Douglas County Fairgrounds, 1930 Harper St.
• Rabbi Zalman Teichtel of KU Chabad will lead the Amazing Olive Press Storytime at the Lawrence Public Library, 707 Vermont St. “We will squeeze olive oil and make a wick to use in a menorah for Hanukkah!” That’s set for 10:30 a.m. Monday, Dec. 16.
• A Very Ruby Christmas – A Holiday Extravaganza with Ruby Mae & Friends will be “wholesome and celebratory with a little bit of holiday spice.” Doors open at 7 and the show is set to begin at 8 p.m. Friday, Dec. 20 at Liberty Hall, 644 Massachusetts St. “Join Ruby Mae and a full cast of Lawrence Luminaries on the longest night of the year for a first-annual classic holiday variety show! Featuring: singing, dancing, lights, cookies, and a Krampus or two.” Tickets are $15 each, general admission.
• Barbwire Barbecue at 601 E. 10th St. in Eudora is planning a taco bar and Christmas movie trivia night. That’s set for Monday, Dec. 23, time TBD; keep an eye on their Facebook page for more details.
What are we missing?
We made a list and checked it twice, but please let us know if there’s another event that we should include here.
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