Over the summer, the streets of Lawrence serve a multitude of functions. Be it a cyclist’s race course, a musician’s stage, an artist’s gallery, or a farmer’s stand — a city block can transform. So come take a walk down the streets of Lawrence and see what you can find.

What to do

Lawrence Busker Festival, May 29-31

For street performers, the stage may be one of asphalt or concrete, but that doesn’t make the feats less thrilling. At the annual Busker Festival, crowds downtown gather around breakdancers, sword swallowers and fire dancers.

The festival, now in its eighth year, is bigger than ever this summer, with additional stages and performers, said Richard Renner, Busker Festival coordinator.

The three-day event will feature over 25 performing acts at six sites downtown. The festival will include stages dedicated to musicians, poets and magicians.

For those who want to take it all in at once, the festival is preluded by the Busker Ball. The ball, held May 28, includes a show where the buskers will perform their acts on stage at the Granada Theater. After the show, the audience can join performers for an informal meet and greet.

Free State Festival, June 22-28

Ideas, film, music and art –the Lawrence Arts Center’s sixth annual Free State Festival offers plenty of each. The week-long festival will feature an array of panel discussions, feature films and shorts, music performances and art installations.

Highlights of the festival will include a stand-up comedy performance by Tig Notaro, talks with Jon Ronson and Dennis Lehane, and a free outdoor concert downtown with George Clinton and Parliament-Funkadelic.

Tickets to individual events can be purchased as well as a film pass or a VIP pass.

St. John’s School Mexican Fiesta, June 26-27

Tamales, tostadas and enchiladas abound. Now in its 35th year, the annual St. John’s School Mexican Fiesta has come a long way from its modest beginnings. It started with a boom box and some parishioners selling tacos, said Jacinta Hoyt, of the Fiesta committee.

These days, the charity event draws thousands to St. John’s to partake in the outdoor, two-night fiesta. Each evening features an array of authentic Mexican cuisine, live Tejano bands, Mariachis and traditional dancers.

Proceeds from the fiesta go toward a scholarship fund for post secondary education of Mexican youth in Lawrence and the Spanish language program at St. John’s.

Tour of Lawrence, June 26-28

The whir of spinning spokes and brightly colored spandex will fill the streets as hundreds of cyclists compete in the 7th annual Tour of Lawrence.

Cyclists will race in sprint, criterium and circuit courses, testing both their speed and endurance for chances at $20,000 in cash prizes. The tour includes professional, amateur and youth categories.

Friday evening will bring the click of downshifting gears and cyclists off their seats as they vie to be the first to cross the finish line of the street sprints course, comprising a block and a half of Vermont Street. Live music, food and beverage vendors, and a kid’s zone with a bouncy house will add to the night’s entertainment.

On Saturday, cyclists test their stamina on the longest race of the tour, the circuit course at Haskell Indian Nations University campus.

Racers then return to downtown on Sunday for the multi-lap criterium course, looping the blocks between 7th and 10th streets. Sunday morning also features the kid’s zone and free kid’s race.

Douglas County Fair, July 27-Aug. 1

Even if you don’t have a prize hog or blackberry pie to enter into competition, there is plenty to partake in at the annual Douglas County Fair in Lawrence.

Carnival rides, fun houses and games with plush prizes offer entertainment for all ages. Food vendors will be on hand for fair favorites such as funnel cakes, corndogs and cotton candy.

For those who want to keep their feet on the ground, there is the petting zoo, concerts and the demolition derby. Concerts will be held each evening July 28-30. The demolition derby will be the evening of July 31 and the lawn mower demolition derby the evening of Aug. 1.

There are also pre-fair events July 24-26, including a barrel racing competition and horse show.

Kansas State Fiddling and Picking Championships, Aug. 23

Among the rows of red bud trees in South Park, the sound of the fountain will be joined by that of banjos, guitars and fiddles come the 35th annual Kansas State Fiddling and Picking Championships.

Approximately 70 musicians will compete in the event across nine categories, such as youth fiddle, flat-pick guitar and ensemble folk singing.

In addition to the competitions, the event includes concerts Friday, Saturday and Sunday, said Gayle Sigurdson, the event’s organizer. The Friday night concert will take place at the Replay Lounge. At South Park, there will be a concert and jam session Saturday night and several performances throughout the day on Sunday.

Lawrence Farmers Market

Saturdays, April 11 – Aug. 29

7-11 a.m.

Every Saturday morning, the parking lot at 824 New Hampshire St. fills with vendors selling locally grown foods and farm products.

With 80-90 vendors, the Lawrence Farmers Market offers patrons a variety. You can find fruits, vegetables and eggs as well as products like soaps, jams and baked goods.

The market also features live music and vendors serving hot breakfast and coffee, said Sally Sanko-Brown, market coordinator. And with picnic tables available, you can take a seat and enjoy a song with your breakfast.

If you can’t make it out Saturday, check out the Tuesday market from 4 to 6 p.m.

Final Fridays

The last Friday of every month means art of all forms will be on display. Final Fridays brings exhibition and performing arts to several dozen locations throughout Downtown, East and North Lawrence.

Free and open to the public, you can walk between events, exhibitions and activities. Events, which run from 5 until 9 p.m. every month, include visual arts, poetry readings, musical performances, theatrical productions and arts activities for all ages.

What to see:

The Watkins Museum of History, 1047 Massachusetts St., preserves the history of Lawrence and Douglas County through exhibits and educational programs. The museum hosts a permanent exhibit on Douglas County’s free-state and Civil War past, including Quantrill’s 1863 guerrilla raid on Lawrence. The Watkins Building itself is a part of history. The building, completed in 1888, was originally a bank and afterwards served as City Hall.

The Kansas University Natural History Museum, 1345 Jayhawk Blvd., features four floors of public exhibits. After marveling at the 60-foot-long mosasaur that hangs above the lobby, head to the museum’s historic Panorama. The Panorama is one of the largest continuous dioramas in the world, portraying the habitats of North America, each one with dozens of preserved animals. Exhibits also include live snakes and insects, fossils of extinct animals, and pre-Colombian archaeological artifacts. By the end of May, there will also be a new colony of bees in the museum’s beehive exhibit.

The Dole Institute of Politics, 2350 Petefish Drive, tells the life story of its namesake, former U.S. Senator and onetime Republican presidential nominee Bob Dole. It houses his congressional papers and other artifacts of his past. The institute also hosts a number of forums and lectures from noteworthy political figures.

For the family

Every Wednesday in June and July, Watkins will host a free family activity called the “Summer Games Series,” where different games are played each week. The games run from 10:30 a.m. to noon.

On June 6, the Spencer Museum of Art (which is currently closed for renovations) will host “Splat!”, as part of its Saturday Art Adventure events. Aimed at children ages 5 through 8, participants can create their own splatter painting. The event is co-sponsored with Student Union Activities and will take place on the west plaza of the Kansas Union from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m.

On June 20, Watkins is sponsoring “Larryville Offbeat Sports Day”, an exhibition of unusual sports played in Lawrence, at the East Lawrence Recreation Center, 1245 E. 15th St. During the event, which runs from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., participants can watch and get a chance to play odd Lawrence favorites such as Scary Larry Bike Polo, Kansas University Quidditch and pickleball.

On Aug. 22, Watkins will offer the daylong program “Civil War on the Western Frontier.” Activities will run from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and include presentations, live music, and city tours exploring the history of the Civil War era.