Upcoming events include Civil War on the Border series, KU football kickoff party, Pooch Plunge, movies and more
photo by: Mike Yoder/Journal-World
FRIDAY
• The Lawrence Police Department is holding a fundraiser for Special Olympics Kansas. “Cops at Donut Shops” will be from 7 to 10 a.m. at both Dunkin’ locations in Lawrence, 1400 W. Sixth St. and 521 W. 23rd St. Visitors can donate cash or scan a QR code to make a digital donation.
• The Kids’ Action Club at the Lawrence Public Library has created a silent auction event to benefit the Lawrence Humane Society. Original art by KAC and local artists will be on display in the library atrium, 707 Vermont St., where visitors may place bids. The finale reception will be from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m.
• The Civil War on the Border series presents this year’s Quantrill’s Raid Walking Tour, 8-9:30 a.m., hosted by the Watkins Museum of History, 1047 Massachusetts St. Local historian John Jewell will lead the downtown walks, sharing locations and stories from the 1863 massacre. Tickets must be purchased in advance; see www.watkinsmuseum.org. The tour will also take place Saturday and Sunday, 8-9:30 a.m.
• In keeping with this year’s Civil War on the Border theme of “Food Insecurity, past and present,” R. Douglas Hurt presents a live online discussion, “Food and Agriculture during the Civil War,” 5-6 p.m., on the Watkins Museum’s Facebook and YouTube pages; see watkinsmuseum.org for links.
• This evening’s Civil War on the Border walking tour, “Black Civic Leaders in Maple Grove Cemetery,” will take place from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Historian Jeanne Klein will share stories of civic leaders, activists, school board members and more. Admission is $25; see watkinsmuseum.org for registration and ticket purchase.
• Kansas Football invites the public to its inaugural Kickoff Party from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. at the Indoor Practice Facility at the David Booth Kansas Memorial Stadium, 11th and Maine streets. This free, family-friendly event will offer music, games, food trucks and children’s activities.
• The Free State Festival’s Microcinema series offers a screening of “Little Satchmo” and the short film “Trust,” with a virtual Q&A afterward. The show starts at 7 p.m. at the Lawrence Arts Center Black Box, 940 New Hampshire St. See lawrenceartscenter.org for film information. General admission is $10.
• The Lawrence Opera Theatre will present Georges Bizet’s “Carmen” at 7:30 p.m. at Theatre Lawrence, 4660 Bauer Farm Drive. Tickets can be purchased online at theatrelawrence.com or by calling 785-843-7469. Another performance will take place Sunday at 2:30 p.m.
SATURDAY
• In addition to Saturday’s 8 a.m. Quantrill’s Raid Walking Tour (see Friday morning’s event above), Civil War on the Border will present “Resting Place: Oak Hill Cemetery and the Creation of the Citizens Memorial” with guide Brittany Keegan, from 8:30 to 9:30 a.m. Cost is $25; see watkinsmuseum.org for ticket info and other details.
• The centerpiece event of Civil War on the Border, the memorial service for victims of Quantrill’s Raid, begins at 10 a.m. A talk by Fred Whitehead, “The Union Cause in Missouri,” will follow. In person at the Watkins Museum of History, 1047 Massachusetts St., and online; see watkinsmuseum.org for links.
• This afternoon’s Civil War on the Border’s “Bleeding Kansas” bus tour is sold out, but as of this writing, spots were still available on the “Women of Early Lawrence” bus tour, 3-5 p.m. Tickets are $35 ($25 for Watkins Museum members). See watkinsmuseum.org for tour info and tickets.
• The Old Depot Museum in Ottawa, 135 W. Tecumseh St., is one of only six sites in Kansas (and the only site in northeast Kansas) to host a traveling Smithsonian exhibit, “Voices and Votes: Democracy in America.” The exhibit opens at 10 a.m. and continues through Oct. 1. Several related free events will be held in August and September at the Franklin County Historical Society Archives & Research Center; see www.olddepotmuseum.org for more information.
• The Vintage Church Summer Concert Series will present Jack Summers and Byron James at 7 p.m. at 1501 New Hampshire St. A $10 donation is suggested.
• The Lawrence Public Library, 707 Vermont St., will host the “Last Bash Movie on the Lawn.” All ages are welcome at 7 p.m. to celebrate the conclusion of the summer reading program with a free outdoors screening of “Lilo and Stitch.”
• The Lawrence Opera Theatre will present “A Very Disney Cabaret” at 7:30 p.m. at Theatre Lawrence, 4660 Bauer Farm Drive. See theatrelawrence.com for more information and tickets.
SUNDAY
• The Quantrill’s Raid Walking Tour will take place one more time, from 8 to 9:30 a.m. Tickets were still available as of this writing; see watkinsmuseum.org for details. The morning and afternoon Quantrill’s Raid bus tours are sold out.
• Civil War on the Border will close out this year’s program with a free screening of “I’m So Glad: Kansas City and the Roots of Black Gospel Music,” 3-5 p.m., at Watkins Museum of History, 1047 Massachusetts St.
• The Science Sundays series at the Armitage Education Center, KU Field Station, will present “Afield: Art and Learning in Nature,” a talk on the intersection of art and science with multimedia artist Kirsten Taylor, at 2 p.m., 350 Wild Horse Road. Space is limited; RSVP to wendyholman@ku.edu.
• “Garden Pest Management” will be the topic of an expert panel on common garden critters and how to manage them in an environmentally friendly way, from 2:30 to 4 p.m. at the Lawrence Public Library, 707 Vermont St.
MONDAY
• Knitters, crocheters, cross-stitchers and all others are invited to a gathering from 2 to 3 p.m. at S & S Artisan Pub and Coffee House, 2228 Iowa St. Come and stitch, network, learn and discuss world issues. Registration requested at lplks.org.
• The Lawrence Outdoor Aquatic Center will hold its annual Pooch Plunge from 4 to 7 p.m. (rescheduled from last week). The pool chemicals have been neutralized to make it safe for your pups. Toys and treats will be available. All dogs must have current documentation of vaccinations and be under their owners’ control at all times. Register for $5 at Lawrence Parks and Recreation or at the gate.
• Yoga at the Library will take place from 6 to 7 p.m. at the Lawrence Public Library, 707 Vermont St. No registration is required; beginners are welcome.
• Join fiber artists for today’s “Walk & Gather” at Blazing Star, 1111 Wild Horse Road, from 6 to 8 p.m. The group will walk the prairie, gather native plants and discuss natural dyeing and working with plant-based fibers. RSVP via email at nativelandsks@gmail.org. The rain date is Aug. 28.