Explore Lawrence

10/01/2026

Happy October! We're looking ahead to cooler temps, colorful trees, and Halloween fun. What's your favorite thing about this time of year?

09/29/2026

Boo! Happy spooky season, everyone! Are you feeling the Halloween spirit yet? For those of you who are BIG fans of the holiday, this is a great month to get out. For the rest of you, there are still plenty of ways to soak up fun fall activities. Here is a look at some of our Hometown Happenings for the month of October!

https://www.explorelawrence.com/blog/post/hometown-happenings-october-in-lawrence-2026/

Cover photo by Haley Fleisner.

Boo! Happy spooky season, everyone! Are you feeling the Halloween spirit yet? For those of you who are BIG fans of the holiday, this is a great month to get out. For the rest of you, there are still plenty of ways to soak up fun fall activities. Here is a look at some of our Hometown Happenings for....

09/29/2026

Don't be frightened - our Halloween Events Calendar is here to guide you through the month of October. 🎃👻🧛🏻‍♀️ Check it out here: https://bit.ly/4hTqAJf
We'll be updating it all month long as events are announced.

What's happening this spooky season in Lawrence, Kansas? Here are all the Halloween events in one place!

09/28/2026

LAWRENCE LIVE MUSIC: Well, they don’t call it Rocktober for nothing! This month, it’s time to shake off the sleepy summer heat that extended too far into fall. There are plenty of places to get that energy out as the seasons change. Rockers, headbangers, and hip-hop heads all have something to look forward to this month. There’s even something for the country music fans of all ages. Here are our best bets for October in Lawrence, Kansas:

https://bit.ly/4ju3Alj

Well, they don’t call it Rocktober for nothing! This month, it’s time to shake off the sleepy summer heat that extended too far into fall. There are plenty of places to get that energy out as the seasons change. Rockers, headbangers, and hip-hop heads all have something to look forward to this m...

09/28/2026

The Department is excited to welcome Pulitzer Prize-winning poet Jericho Brown to KU.

Join us for the John F. Eberhardt Memorial Lecture, “Love Poems No Matter What!” on Monday, September 28 at 7 p.m. at the Hall Center Conference Hall.
Brown is the author of The Tradition, winner of the Pulitzer Prize for Poetry, and a professor and director of the Creative Writing Program at Emory University.
The Raven Book Store will be on site selling books.

This event is co-sponsored by KU English and the Hall Center for the Humanities.
Learn more at the link in our bio.

09/28/2026

There's always something happening in Lawrence, Kansas! Here are 7 ideas for this week.

Don't forget to check out our full Events Calendar for even more Lawrence events! https://www.explorelawrence.com/events/

09/26/2026

Nothing quite like a cool fall morning in Lawrence, Kansas. Rev it Up Car Show and Street Fest is on at South Park until 3 PM - head on down!

📸: onthetownphoto

09/25/2026

Watch now!
A name makes a stranger visible.
Lawrence Transit bus driver Eddy Martinez has spent years learning every regular on his bus route by name. The Name for Blue is a portrait of what it takes to actually notice the people around you.

Experience transit in Lawrence from a new angle in this 10-minute film from Resonate Pictures.

Convinced that a name is what makes a stranger visible, Eddy Martin...

09/25/2026

It's the first official Final Friday: Fall edition for 2026, and it's a big one! You can get all the details at the link below, but here's a brief summary of what you can find happening around town tonight:

Phoenix Gallery - The vibrant mixed-media paintings of Janice Schoultz-Mudd, as well as the work of Nada Bayazid, a painter and printmaker from the Kansas-City Area and alumni from the University of Kansas. Opening night music will be provided by local musician Thomas Kehr.

Park(ing) Day is back in Downtown Lawrence! - This year’s theme is “Picnic in the Park(let)” where we’ll be partnering with the Lawrence Farmers Market and Lawrence Restaurant Association. Come and experience creative installations placed in select parallel parking spaces throughout Downtown.

Art Emergency - BE THE PEOPLE II Brings Art, Activism, Humor, and Community Together

OpenStudios at 938 Massachusetts St - Kansas Punk, Q***r, Activist Community Art

C***r Gallery - Her Harvest Hue to Hold: New Works by Hannah Lindo, with food from Taco Zone and live music.

Lawrence Arts Center - Join us for Final Friday showcasing the current exhibitions: Gayle Singer | Bridging Form, Karen Matheis | Migratory Maps, and Song for Artists | Group Exhibition. Plus, visit the main lobby for two free self-guided art-making activities inspired by our 2026-27 artists in residence: paper ghosts and collaborative mural drawing.

Grounded Coffee - celebrating the works of Kenzie Schaeffer.

The Bourgeois Pig - Living in Oblivion, a Final Friday show with artist Abhimanyu Sandal.

Off-Site Art Space - Decorative Digitalism: a Student Exhibition

Espurresso Cat Cafe - featuring the colorful and whimsical cat art of Callista Studer.

The Oread - Join us for the grand opening of the Bookstore Lounge located in the Oread Hotel Lobby for "Soft Rock", an art exhibition featuring the work of Jesse and Jonah Gray, John Sebelius, Jeromy Morris, Adam Lott, Ryan Storck, Lukas Butkus, Norea Menold, Tiana Williams, Alycia Earnart, and more. See you there for w**e specials, live music, and great vibes!

The Peoples Market - Fall Fest! Grab the family and join us for an evening packed with delicious food, fun games, creative art activities, and plenty of family-friendly fun. It’s the perfect chance to get outside, let the kids play, get creative, and enjoy everything we love about fall.

C*D American Shaman - The Shaman Art Bazaar! An indoor art market designed for artists and art lovers to celebrate and support local talent. Stop by to discover unique local art and enjoy FREE C*D samples to elevate your Final Friday experience!

More info: https://www.explorelawrence.com/events/annual-events/final-fridays/

09/24/2026

It's that time of year!! Schaake's Pumpkin Patch Opening Day is this Saturday. 🎃🎃🎃 What kind of pumpkin are you looking for this year?

This family tradition includes no admission fee, free parking, a free spooktacular hay maze, a free playground including swings, a straw romp, and straw slides, a number of farm animals, and a variety of waterfowl, game birds, and chickens.

Visitors can also enjoy a unique gift shop that is full of crafts and decorative items. Many of the items are “one of a kind” and hand-made by members of the Schaake family.

Open Monday-Thursday, 12-6 PM, and Friday-Sunday, 9 AM-6 PM.* Please note the first operating day is Saturday, September 26.