photo by: Kim Callahan

Volunteers with Just Food were busy decorating downtown Lawrence for the holiday season on Monday, Nov. 19, 2018. Kelli Szrot, from left, Elizabeth Stephens, Just Food's director of volunteers and community engagement, Bob McTaggart and Luke Bass were delivering garlands and bows to adorn light posts on Massachusetts Street.

The holiday season is upon us, and with it comes some of the city’s own local traditions.

On Thursday, all are invited to partake in Lawrence’s community Thanksgiving dinner. The annual dinner will be served from 1 to 2:30 p.m. Thursday in the LINK dining room of the First Christian Church at 10th and Kentucky streets. Volunteers help host the event, and it is free and open to all.

The city’s annual Holiday Lighting Ceremony and Santa Rescue will take place at 5:30 p.m. Friday at the intersection of Ninth and Massachusetts streets. Friday’s event begins with musical performances, followed by illumination of the downtown holiday lights and the rescue of Santa from the rooftop of Weaver’s department store, according to the event announcement. Santa will arrive at 6:15 p.m., and local firefighters will use their ladder truck to rescue him.

The city installs holiday lights in downtown Lawrence annually, and this year about 350 trees have been decorated, according to Horticulture Manager Crystal Miles. Mayor Stuart Boley will lead the lighting ceremony prior to the arrival of Santa.