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The Lawrence Vibe

Folk Style band on stage at the Kaw River Roots Festival
Lawrence KS artist and busker taking a photo with a passerby

Catch The Lawrence Vibe

There’s just something special about our bustling Lawrence vibe. It’s all about our lifelong curiosity and passion for building a creative and innovative community where everyone feels welcomed. It’s the kind of vibe that celebrates a rich downtown lifestyle, mixing business with pleasure, along with great shopping and eateries. It’s a vibrant, big-city culture in a college town setting that redefines what a college town is. And most of all, it’s a vibe that will have you calling Lawrence, “home.” 

Man and children posing for a photo at the Spencer Museum Reopening

Things to Do

In Lawrence, your “To-Do” list becomes a “Want-To-Do” list with a multiverse of fun, colorful activities and events throughout the year that brings us all together:

  • Art walks & festivals

  • Artisan craft fairs & farmers’ markets

  • Gallery showings & museum exhibits

  • Homegrown breweries & wineries

Downtown – Expect the Unexpected

Tree-lined streets, historic architecture, intimate cafes, and chic boutiques are all part of the charm that Downtown Lawrence has to offer with more than 100 shops, galleries, restaurants, and pubs. 

Take a stroll down Massachusetts Street, or “Mass Street” as we call it, one of our most popular tourist destinations. Visitors and residents alike enjoy spending the day exploring bookstores, discovering must-have gifts, trying on trends, and dining al fresco. 

Group of women cheering with wine and shotglasses

Perfect for Foodies

Foodies are right at home with a banquet of choices – chef-owned restaurants, diners, roadside stands, food trucks, and really great burgers - plus we offer a bounty of homegrown wine and craft beers!
Colorfully dressed person with butterfly wings in the foreground of a Lawrence KS pride parade event

A Place to Gather

New Year’s to Christmas, Lawrence loves a parade (lots of parades), as well as festivals, cultural events, outdoor movies, and fun-filled Final Fridays.
Band playing in lawrence

Vibrant Nightlife

We’re very entertaining. We electrify the night from the streets to the rooftops with an amazing and eclectic mix of live performances, music, and theater. 

Let's Celebrate!

We Love a Get Together!

women carrying a Lawrence KS Juneteenth Celebration banner during a Juneteenth parade
Dancer in traditional beaded attire dancing at a Haskell Indian Art Market event
Marching band walking down a Lawrence KS street
Lawrence KS Pride Participants joyfully walking and taking photos in the parade
Female performer in black and vibrant pink attire performing with pink hoops at the Lawrence KS buskerfest
Horse drawn carriage and couple on horseback walking down a christmas-lit Lawrence street in the Christmas Parade
Young band group performing at the Mid-Summer Night on Mass event in Lawrence KS
People celebrating the 2022 NCAA men's basketball tournament national championship for the KU Jayhawks

A City Within a City

With a wealth of amenities, activities, and academics, the impact of the University of Kansas and Haskell Indian Nations University adds to the Lawrence vibe, enhances our arts and cultural scene, and provides all the benefits of a city within a city.

Family riding in a classic car a the KU national championship parade

Sports Fans

Catch a game at local sporting venues such as Rock Chalk Park or the David Booth Kansas Memorial Stadium (scheduled to reopen in 2025). Championship men and women’s college athletics offer heart-stopping excitement and team spirit with hometown favorites like the University of Kansas Jayhawks and the Fighting Indians of Haskell Indian Nations. 

Or, fans can go pro with a full slate of major league sports nearby Lawrence:

  • Kansas City Chiefs (NFL)

  • Kansas City Royals (MLB)

  • Sporting Kansas City (MLS)

  • Kansas City Blues (MLR)

  • Kansas City Current (NWSL)

The University of Kansas is considered one of the most prestigious basketball programs in the country with the most conference titles in the nation.

Fun & Games

Lawrence offers a wide world of sports and fun for all ages and interests. Here are just some of the activities you can find. 

  • Golfing

  • Fishing

  • Skateboarding

  • Swimming

  • Kayaking

  • Sailing

  • Golfing

  • Tennis

  • Pickleball

  • Baseball/Softball

  • Basketball

  • Football

  • Kickball

  • Soccer

  • Volleyball

Outdoor Activities

The Baker Wetlands provides more than 11 miles of hiking trails filled with flora and fauna, and the Clinton Lake State Park has miles and miles of hiking/biking, swimming, fishing, camping, cross country skiing, and more.

Lawrence KS person riding a bicycle on the Lawrence Loop

Hiking & Biking Paradise

The Lawrence Park System maintains The Lawrence Loop greenway trails, along with 54 parks and recreational athletic centers.

87 out of 100
Walk Score
according to WalkScore.com

So. Many. Reasons.

Here’s your chance to learn more about the many reasons “Why Lawrence.” Download our story in convenient pdf brochure form.

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