If you headed down to the Lawrence Post Office at closing time on Thursday, you probably ran into this:

That’s the Alferd Packer Memorial String Band at their annual tax day party. They’ve been showing up at the downtown post office for many years (in costume) to celebrate the last minute tax filers. They play the William Tell Overture as the procrastinators file in just before the postmaster locks the doors.

Every year, it’s a party. This was the best thing to come home to after a five-day trip from the other side of the state. Your friends and neighbors were there. Even balloon man showed up! I was also glad to see I wasn’t the only person who showed up with a baby (she slept through all the music by the way).

This year a couple of folks managed to get in seconds before they locked the doors. They were met with loud cheers and a round of applause. I’ve only been going to this event for about three years, but I imagine that’s how rowdy it was back in the day before everyone filed their taxes online.

Having a newborn, I didn’t get to stay too long, which means I missed the dancing. But here’s a clip of one of the songs they played right before the post office locked their doors. Enjoy the animal noises in the middle of the song: