There will be music, there will be beer and there will be dancing in the streets to kick off this weekend's Kansas University homecoming activities.
In other words, it will be just like old times.
The Lawrence Chamber of Commerce, Downtown Lawrence Inc. and the KU Alumni Association are teaming to present Get Downtown, a free music event that will turn a one-block stretch of downtown into a party zone Friday evening.
Can you say: Rock ('n' roll) Chalk Jayhawk?
"You can have parties anywhere, but I don't think there is anywhere in the country that has a better place for an event like this than downtown Lawrence," said Susan Henderson, director of marketing for the Lawrence Convention and Visitors Bureau. "And this is a great time to have a party."
The event starts at 5:30 p.m. Friday and will last until 10:30 p.m. Crews will block off Eighth Street between New Hampshire and Massachusetts streets to provide room for a stage and a beer garden area.
KU's pep band, spirit squad and Jayhawk mascots will get the event started. At 6 p.m., the Michael Beers Band will take the stage, with Dr. Zhivegas, a funk and disco band, following at 8:30 p.m. Entry to the event is free; five local vendors will sell beer, burgers, burritos, barbecue and other fare.
The event will serve as a warm-up for fans heading to the 11 a.m. Saturday homecoming tilt between KU and Texas A&M at Memorial Stadium.
But the party isn't just for returning KU alumni. Rick Marquez, executive director for Downtown Lawrence Inc., said the event also is designed to remind Lawrence residents of what downtown has to offer.
"What we want to do is show people what we have," Marquez said. "Hopefully, they'll come and park in the parking garage, walk a couple of blocks and look in the shops along the way."
Henderson said the organizers are preparing for "several thousand" people to attend.
"The great thing is that there really is no limit on the number of people downtown can hold," Henderson said. "We're expecting it to be big."
Henderson said she hopes the event becomes an annual tradition.
"A lot of communities have a signature event, especially on a game day weekend, and we think this could become something like that," Henderson said.
Organizers have received all necessary permits and approvals from the city to close the one-block stretch of street and allow consumption of beer in the fenced area.
Comments
Hoots 7 years, 6 months ago
How about joining the party? If you live downtown you must have chosen the location for a reason. If you didn't you messed up. The downtown party scene is nothing new by several decades. So here's a towel to cry on. Like the KCI airport...don't expect it to move. You move.
Bruce Springsteen 7 years, 6 months ago
Roger - You sound like a sane citizen. How near is "near?" Or, rather, how far do you have to be from downtown to feel safe from getting your home hijacked by officially authorized, amplified recreational noise? Just looking for some numbers from reasonable people. Is plainly audible music indoors at one mile away too loud? Two? Ten?
roger_o_thornhill 7 years, 6 months ago
$5000? Seems a bit expensive. Maybe Dr.- whatever that damn disco band is called- command a premium these days. As for noise: Living near downtown is like living near an airport--you can complain about the noise, but lots of money is made on selling booze and noise down there (the same way airports make lots of money) and $$$ is tough competition.
Bruce Springsteen 7 years, 6 months ago
Have the leaders of this city gone nuts? How do they justify having repeated outdoor music events in the middle of town that force everyone living in a two-mile radius to give up the quiet enjoyment of their homes, when we have ordinances prohibiting boom cars and private parties from creating similar - but much shorter - assaults? Absolutely, stunningly irresponsible. This will not stand.
lynnd 7 years, 6 months ago
It's not in this article, but was in an article from 8/26/06. They asked the city for $5000 to help put this on. Maybe more businesses downtown could have sponsored and paid this $5000, had they been asked.
quietgirl 7 years, 6 months ago
Where does it say that the city paid for part of this? Did I miss something in the article?
lynnd 7 years, 6 months ago
I don't know how the vendors were chosen. However since this is a downtown event, sponsored in part by DLI, I strongly believe that ALL downtown businesses should have been given the opportunity to participate. Maybe they were and chose not to- I don't know. But I do know of one business in particular that offered sponsorship and was not taken up on that offer. Seems kinda wrong that the event used money from the city to help put it on....when getting additional sponsorships could have lessened the money needed from the city.
Bone777 7 years, 6 months ago
I wonder how they chose which vendors would be allowed to sell at this shin-dig? Especially the beer sales.
Commenting has been disabled for this item.