Winter Wonder Weekend

December 3,4 & 5, 2021 in Downtown Lawrence

Spend the weekend Downtown and experience the heart of the holidays in the heart of the city! We have everything you need for holiday shopping, dining, and entertainment . . .

Click on each event below for more detail.

Monday, November 29 – December 5
Lawrence Festival of Trees
Liberty Hall, 644 Mass.

Join us for the 35th Annual Festival of Trees at Liberty Hall in beautiful downtown Lawrence, KS. More than 50 trees and wreaths decorated and donated by local individuals and groups, and will be sold by silent and live auction.

Check out the Auction page at: fotlawrence.givesmart.com

Viewing Times:

Monday, November 29: 10 am – 8 pm Cookies w/ Santa 3:30-5:30pm
Tuesday, November 30: 10 am – 8 pm Cookies w/ Santa 3:30-5:30pm
Wednesday, December 1: 10 am – 8 pm
Thursday, December 2: 10 am – 4:00 pm
Friday, December 3: 10 am – 8 pm
Saturday, December 4: 10 am – 4 pm
Sunday, December 5: 10 am – 2 pm

Admission: Suggested donation of $5 for adults and children older than 12.

Masks Required.

Proceeds benefit O’Connell Children’s Shelter, which has provided support for youth and families in Lawrence and the surrounding communities since 1979.

Gala Auction Party at 7 PM, Friday, Dec. 6th $50

Admission: Suggested donation of $5 for adults and children over 12
Please see our Events tab for more information!

Join us to celebrate the 2021 holiday season at the 35th annual Lawrence Festival of Trees.

The Auction Party will be held on Thursday, December 2 at Liberty Hall. Doors open at 6 pm; the live auction begins at 7 pm.

More than 40 trees and 20 wreaths decorated by local individuals and groups will be sold during the Auction Party by silent and live auction.

$50 general admission reservation includes heavy appetizers and desserts, plus wine and beer. Jump the line and pre-register! Admission can also be paid at the door on auction night. Pre-register here: fotlawrence.givesmart.com.

Gingerbread Festival benefitting Big Brothers and Big Sisters of Douglas County
Friday, November 26- Sunday, December 12

Gingerbread 2021 is an online auction of twelve delightful gingerbread creations made by the some of the finest culinary artists in the area. Gingerbread brings the wonder of the holidays to Downtown Lawrence, Kansas, and all proceeds go to benefit Kansas Big Brothers Big Sisters serving Douglas County. Take a stroll down Mass. Street dressed in all its holiday garlands and lights and view the incredible artistry of these culinary creations! Click HERE to bid on these artworks!

See the gingerbread goodies at the following Downtown locations:

Au Marche, 931 Massachusetts
Brits, 929 Massachusetts
Delaney & Loew, 800 Massachusetts
The Eldridge Hotel, 701 Massachusetts
Lawrence Public Library, 707 Vermont
Mark’s Jewelers, 817 Massachusetts
Mass Street Soda, 1103 Massachusetts
Salon di Marco & Day Spa, 733 Massachusetts

Sylas & Maddy’s Home Made Ice Cream, 1101 Massachusetts
Waxman Candles, 609 Massachusetts
Weaver’s, 901 Massachusetts

Winfield House, 645 Massachusetts

Pulling for Change
Monday, November 29 & Tuesday, November 30 4:30-8pm
Sunday, December 12 noon-5pm
Monday, December 13 & Tuesday, December 14 4:30-8pm

Eldridge Hotel
701 Massachusetts

Enjoy a relaxing horse-drawn carriage ride through downtown Lawrence.

A charity event to benefit the O’Connell Children’s Shelter.

Meet on the North Side of the Eldridge on 7th Street in the Valet Area.

ALL DATES ARE WEATHER PERMITTING. WE WILL ANNOUNCE ALTERNATE DATES IF NECESSARY.

Carriage Rides are $10 per person or $40 per family. Cash, Check or Credit Card accepted. Additional Donations Accepted.

Thank you to our sponsors: Grand Builders, Silver Lake Bank, Eldridge Hotel, McGrew Real Estate, Lawyers Title of Kansas, Inc, Scott Temperature, and Clouse Inspection Services, LLC.

After your ride, dine at the Eldridge House Grille. The Eldridge will donate 10% of your dinner bill to the O’Connell Children’s Shelter

28th Annual Lawrence Old-Fashioned Christmas Parade
Mass. St. from 7th to 15th Street, 11am

Marking the 28th year of tradition, this is a Christmas Parade you and your family don’t want to miss. As one of the most unique parades in the nation, the Lawrence Old-Fashioned Christmas Parade kicks off the holiday season with exclusively authentic horse-drawn carriages parading down Massachusetts Street. Cozy up with hot cocoa and blankets and feel the true holiday spirit while watching dozens of beautiful horses and wagons adorned in garland and bells. Join us to celebrate American heritage and keep our tradition alive this holiday season.

Can’t make it in person? Check out the livestream or playback on the Downtown Lawrence Facebook page!

Tails & Traditions Family Holiday Program & Activities
Watkins Museum, 1047 Mass., 9am-2pm

Bringing the kids downtown for the Lawrence Christmas Parade? Visit the Watkins Museum first for holiday crafts from around the world!

Featuring:

* Spencer Museum of Art: Snowflake cutouts
* Dole Institute of Politics: Stained-glass American flag ornaments
* Max Kade Center for German-American Studies: Pickle Christmas tree ornaments
* Kansas African Studies Center: African drums
* Center for Russian, East European and Eurasian Studies: Russian cathedral collages
* Center for East Asian Studies: Korean culture coloring sheets
* Watkins Museum: hobby horses and beanbag toss

Visit all craft stations to be entered in a drawing for a $50 gift card to The Toy Store!

Santa’s Workshop at Vibe & Lucia
1014 Massachusetts, 10am-1pm

Come before during or after the parade for Hot Cocoa, Cider, (spiked drinks available for Santa’s helpers) and DIY $5 dollar ornaments with AR Workshop. We even heard a couple of Princesses might be accompanying Santa!!

Open at 10AM before the parade. Patrons to Lucia and Vibe will have access to the patio beer garden for prime viewing.

Pop-Up Play Shop
926 Massachusetts
December 4 – January 30 (Wed, Sat, and Sun)
Click HERE for a full schedule

The opening weekend of the Pop-Up Play Shop in Downtown Lawrence! Bring your kids in to give them the experience of true play where they make up the rules and create the playground. We are open for 2 months, Wednesdays, Saturdays and Sundays. It’s free to come play, donations are requested but not required.

Snow Globe at Dempsey’s
623 Vermont

The Merriest Place on Earth! Snow Globe Christmas Bar at Dempsey’s is a Christmas Explosion! A pop-up Christmas bar and a Family-Friendly magical Arendelle brunch every weekend featuring live princesses!

Click HERE to make your reservations!

Americana Music Holiday Soiree
Sunday, December 5; 5-7pm
LiMESTONE Pizza Kitchen
814 Massachusetts

First annual Holiday Soiree fundraiser to support your favorite local nonprofit music school!
Americana Music Academy has been working to preserve and teach American roots music since 2002. We are proud to call Lawrence, KS home and we are so grateful to our community for their continued support over the years!
A $50 donation per ticket gets you a welcome cocktail, wine, beer, passed appetizers and a delicious Limestone Pizza buffet!
This is a COVID-conscious event held on the back patio of Limestone with plenty of air flow and tall ceilings. Proof of vaccination against COVID-19 is required per Limestone’s policies.

Santa Sightings Downtown! Click HERE to find the big guy Downtown!!!

All weekend and all season long:

#Shoplocallawrence #Shopsmall #Shoplocal at over 100 local retailers specializing in unique gifts, fashions, local art & more!

Dine at over 40 local restaurants and coffee shops

#Shine bright under the incredible holiday lights on Mass. Street!

The heart of the holidays is in the heart of the city!

December 3,4 & 5, 2021 in Downtown Lawrence

Spend the weekend Downtown and experience the heart of the holidays in the heart of the city! We have everything you need for holiday shopping, dining, and entertainment . . .

Click on each event below for more detail.

Monday, November 29 – December 5 Lawrence Festival of Trees Liberty Hall, 644 Mass.

Gingerbread Festival benefitting Big Brothers and Big Sisters of Douglas County Friday, November 26- Sunday, December 12

Pulling for Change Monday, November 29 & Tuesday, November 30 4:30-8pm Sunday, December 12 noon-5pm Monday, December 13 & Tuesday, December 14 4:30-8pm

Eldridge Hotel 701 Massachusetts

28th Annual Lawrence Old-Fashioned Christmas Parade Mass. St. from 7th to 15th Street, 11am

Tails & Traditions Family Holiday Program & Activities Watkins Museum, 1047 Mass., 9am-2pm

Santa’s Workshop at Vibe & Lucia 1014 Massachusetts, 10am-1pm

Pop-Up Play Shop 926 Massachusetts December 4 – January 30 (Wed, Sat, and Sun) Click HERE for a full schedule

Snow Globe at Dempsey’s 623 Vermont