From time to time, local residents lovingly refer to the need to “keep Lawrence weird.”

Building on that theme Mayor Jeremy Farmer has proclaimed today through Sunday “The Official Weird Weekend” in Lawrence.

Maybe “unique” would be a more flattering term, or simply “special,” but, however you look at it, this weekend offers a number of opportunities to see something in downtown Lawrence that you just don’t see everyday.

The weekend kicks off tonight with the monthly Final Friday arts event along with opening acts for the Lawrence Busker Festival. The festival, which features a wide variety of offbeat performances has been held in August for seven years but made the move to late May to avoid the sweltering Kansas weather. Avoiding the rain may prove to be a challenge this year, but dodging a few showers is a good trade-off for 100-degree heat. At this writing, it looks like rain chances will taper off Saturday and Sunday and provide a perfect setting for the street performances.

The change in schedule also allows the Busker Festival to coordinate with a long-time Lawrence event, the Art Tougeau parade. Other communities may have street performers and arts events similar to Final Fridays, but no one else has Art Tougeau.

The event, which began in 1997, is billed on its website as “Lawrence’s Hometown Wheeled-Art Parade.” It features decorated bicycles, painted cars and perhaps an appearance by a wheeled flying saucer and a huge rolling dial telephone. If ever there was an event that made spectators say “only in Lawrence …” this is it. Parade vehicles will be on display in front of the Lawrence Arts Center tonight and the parade will start there “around noon” on Saturday and make a loop south to 11th street and down Massachusetts.

The Busker Festival will continue through Sunday with more than 25 acts at six sites around downtown. There will be jugglers, unicyclists and at least one juggling unicyclist. There will be music, a “comedy contortionist,” fire dancers and musicians. In other words, it’s an event that has something for everyone of any age — and it’s free, although performers would welcome tips. The full schedule is available at www.lawrencebuskerfest.com.

Lots of events mark summer weekends in Lawrence, but “The Official Weird Weekend” will be a great opportunity for both residents and visitors to enjoy and celebrate some of what makes Lawrence such a special place.