It’s a big event weekend in Lawrence with Mexican fiesta, pride parade, ‘How-to Fest,’ art and more

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June is Pride Month, and Lawrence has multiple activities on tap.

The end of June means Final Friday, with art exhibits and performances in many Lawrence locations. This weekend also includes the two-day pride celebration, with several happenings, including a Saturday afternoon parade. Weekend events also include a racially diverse music festival, live theater, pickleball, the annual St. John’s Mexican Fiesta, a clothing exchange, and a “How-To Festival” for learning new skills and hobbies.

FRIDAY

• This year’s theme for the Sunflower Music Festival in Topeka is a celebration of the legacy and continued artistry of Black composers and musicians. The concert series continues tonight and concludes Saturday with the chamber orchestra under the baton of special guest conductor André Raphel. All concerts begin at 7:30 p.m. and are free and open to the public at White Concert Hall on the Washburn University campus. See sunflowermusicfestival.org for full details.

• Lawrence PRIDE 2022 is a two-day celebration of the LGBTQ+ community. Special events tonight include “We’ll Have a Gay Old Time – Documenting Drag in Lawrence, Kansas,” by artist-photographer Fally Afani at the Lawrence Visitors Center, 812 Massachusetts St., 4-6 p.m., with a drag performance by MsAmanda Love at 4:30. Cuee and Friends will perform at Lucia Beer Garden, 1016 Massachusetts St., 7-10 p.m., and the Skittles Mini Ball “Taste the Rainbow” kicks off at 7 p.m. at the Granada, 1020 Massachusetts St. This is a free all-ages event, with donations accepted.

• It’s the Final Friday of June, with special exhibits at Lawrence’s galleries and museum spaces. A partial list:

Playwright Dan Born’s “Bang” focuses on Joan Volmer, who was shot and killed by William S. Burroughs 70 years ago. Performances at 6 p.m.

Mobile Art Supply Cart, 5-8 p.m., Ninth and Massachusetts streets.

Group exhibit 5-9 p.m. at Cider Gallery, 810 Pennsylvania St.

Encaustic painting by Nicki Kehr, 5-9 p.m., Studio U-Nick-Orn, 888 New Hampshire St.

Works by Jason Klinknet and Amy Bayless, 5-9 p.m., Sierra’s Tailoring, 820 New Jersey St.

“Local Waters: A Group Show of Clinton Lake,” 6-9 p.m., Phoenix Gallery, 825 Massachusetts St.

• Summer Youth Theatre presents “Peter and the Starcatcher” at 7 p.m., with repeat performances Saturday at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. Lawrence Arts Center, 940 New Hampshire St. Tickets and other info at lawrenceartscenter.org.

SATURDAY

• Intrigued by pickleball? Skilled players will present exhibition games to promote the sport, 9-11 a.m., at Sports Pavilion Lawrence, 100 Rock Chalk Lane. After the exhibition, courts will be available for open play.

• A free and fun opportunity to learn various hobbies or just get exposure to new interests happens today at the Lawrence Public Library, 707 Vermont St. From 10 a.m.-2 p.m., the 2002 How-To Festival will showcase community members demonstrating their helpful expertise in crafting, exercise, games, beer-brewing, hair-styling, exploring a library, identifying mushrooms, practical tasks such as operating a fire extinguisher or using public transit and much more. See the full list at https://lawrence.bibliocommons.com/events/624763785bd1622800ee53fb.

• Join Black Lunch Table and the Lawrence Arts Center this afternoon for a Wikipedia Edit-a-thon focused on the creation and refining of Wikipedia articles on underrepresented Black artists; 1-4 p.m. at the Lawrence Public Library, 707 Vermont St.; see https://lawrence.bibliocommons.com/events/62990ae3514d1536008f88fc for more information.

• One Hundred Good Women sponsors a clothing exchange at 2-4 p.m. in Building 21 at the Douglas County Fairgrounds, 2120 Harper St. Women’s, junior and men’s clothing will be accepted (no children’s clothing, please). Everything will be $1. See https://www.100goodwomen.org/events for more details.

• The Lawrence Pride parade begins at 4 p.m. from South Park and proceeds down the sidewalks of Mass all the way to Abe and Jake’s, 8 E. Sixth St., where the fun will continue with a community pride party. All are invited to meet on the west side of the park at 3:30 p.m. for the parade kick-off at 4 p.m. See https://www.downtownlawrence.com/2022/06/lawrence-pride/ for more details.

• St. John’s Mexican Fiesta, 4-10 p.m., 1234 Kentucky St: 4-9 p.m., authentic Mexican food; 4:30-6:30 p.m., Mariachi Girasol; 6:30-8 p.m., Ballet Folklorico de Topeka; 8-10 p.m., Ritmo Productions spinning Cumbias, Tejano, Norteno music; carnival games, kona ice, confetti eggs. No outside food or beverages, please.

SUNDAY

The Corpus Christi Parish Choir holds its end-of-year concert today at 2 p.m. at 6001 Bob Billings Parkway. Songs from throughout the liturgical year will be presented by singers, instrumentalists and soloists.

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