St. John Fiesta begins on Friday

The 24th annual Mexican Fiesta celebration will be Friday and Saturday at St. John the Evangelist Church, 1234 Ky.

The fiesta traditionally draws several thousand people over the two days with its live entertainment, Mexican food and other refreshments.

The event will also feature carnival games and children’s games, including a Moonwalk.

Friday’s entertainment will be provided by Rose Marie’s Fiesta Mexicana dance group and Paradize Band.

On Saturday, Mariachi Habaneros, La Mañana Band and Rose Marie’s dance group will perform.

A Mariachi Mass will be celebrated at 4:30 p.m. Saturday.

Admission is free. The church grounds will be open from 6 p.m. to 11 p.m. both days, with food sales until 10 p.m both nights. Money raised from food and other sales will benefit St. John School and be used to provide scholarships.

Watkins museum

Workshop to examine pets in family photos

The Watkins Community Museum of History will explore the trend of pets in family photographs in a presentation from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday at the museum, 1047 Mass.

Photographs of people and their pets throughout the last 100 years will be on display. Helen M. Krische, archivist and exhibits coordinator, will give the presentation.

The presentation is open to the public, and people are welcome to bring a picture of them with their pets to donate to the museum archives.

Registration is required, but in lieu of a registration fee, the museum will accept donations of food and supplies for the Lawrence Humane Society, 1805 E. 19th St. Suggested donations include dry Purina Kitten or Puppy Chow, kitty litter, paper towels and bleach.

The Lawrence Humane Society also will have some pets at the museum for adoption.

For more information or to register, call 841-4109 or send an e-mail to wcmhist@sunflower.com.

Public library

Dinosaur fossil focus of presentation

A commercial fossil hunter will present a program on dinosaurs at 7 p.m. Wednesday at the Lawrence Public Library, 707 Vt.

The library has the fossil skull of a triceratops on display.

Alan Detrich, the presenter, will discuss the hunt for Tyrannosaurus rex and triceratops fossils and how people can hunt for fossils.

Detrich also will talk about his campaign to name the Xiphactinus fish the official Kansas state fossil. He will bring fossils and other artifacts to view and touch.

The triceratops skull will be sold on the online auction site eBay. The auction will begin July 4. A portion of the proceeds from the sale will be donated to the library.

The free program is open to the public.

Antique car rally to hit Lecompton

The Veteran Motor Car Club of America will have a rally in Lecompton at 9:30 a.m. Tuesday.

The club encourages people to preserve, drive and restore antique and historically significant cars.

There are members of the club in all states. Similar rallies have attracted cars such as a 1914 Packard, a 1935 Auburn, a 1951 Studebaker and 1965 Mustangs.

More than 100 vehicles are expected in Lecompton. The Lecompton historic re-enactors group will make a presentation to the car owners.