photo by: Mike Yoder

Santa celebrates his arrival in Lawrence after a Lawrence-Douglas County Fire Medical crew used a ladder truck to rescue him from the roof of Weaver’s Department Store on Friday, Nov. 29, 2024.

Lawrence kicked off the holiday season on Friday with the annual downtown lighting ceremony — and Santa, as usual, got stuck atop Weaver’s and had to be rescued by a Lawrence-Douglas County Fire Medical truck.

photo by: Mike Yoder

Parents and children watch Lawrence-Douglas County Fire Medical use a ladder truck to rescue Santa from the roof of Weaver’s Department Store during the Santa Rescue and Lighting Ceremony Friday, Nov. 29, 2024, in downtown Lawrence.

photo by: Mike Yoder

Santa waves to the crowd from the rooftop of Weaver’s Department Store during the annual Santa Rescue and Lighting Ceremony on Friday, Nov. 29, 2024, in downtown Lawrence.

photo by: Mike Yoder

Santa waves to the crowd during the annual Santa Rescue and Lighting Ceremony on Friday, Nov. 29, 2024, in downtown Lawrence.

photo by: Mike Yoder

Parents and children watch Lawrence-Douglas County Fire Medical use a ladder truck to rescue Santa from the roof of Weaver’s Department Store during the Santa Rescue and Lighting Ceremony Friday, Nov. 29, 2024, in downtown Lawrence.

photo by: Mike Yoder

A child waves to Santa during the Santa Rescue and Lighting Ceremony on Friday, Nov. 29, 2024, in downtown Lawrence.

photo by: Mike Yoder

A child waves to Santa during the Santa Rescue and Lighting Ceremony on Friday, Nov. 29, 2024, in downtown Lawrence.