photo by: Shawn Valverde

Downtown Lawrence is pictured in November 2024. The view is of Massachusetts Street, center, looking north toward City Hall.

If you want to jump right into your New Year’s resolutions with a run, hike or bike ride, there are several planned in and around Lawrence on Thursday — even though it might get a little chilly.

While the high temperature for Wednesday was forecast to be in the 50s, a cold front will cause the highs to dip into the low 40s for the rest of the week, including around 41 degrees for the holiday on Thursday. But Ad Astra Running and the Lawrence Mountain Bike Club will both be hosting organized outdoor events, and the 2026 First Day Hike at Clinton State Park will be on as well.

For those who’d rather take in a game indoors, there’s a University of Kansas women’s basketball game at Allen Fieldhouse Thursday afternoon.

Here’s a look at what’s happening in the community on New Year’s Day and which offices and services will be closed or adjusted for the holiday.

Things to do on New Year’s Day

• The 11th annual New Year’s Day Run at Ad Astra Running, 835 Massachusetts St., begins at 9 a.m. with 1-mile and 5K options for runners and walkers of all ages and paces. The free event is organized by “Running for the Hill of It,” a noncompetitive women’s running group. A special sale will also be held at Ad Astra Running along with free refreshments, including cookies, coffee, cocoa, bananas, orange juice and mimosas. Sign up for the event at the Ad Astra Running website.

• Clinton State Park will be hosting the 2026 First Day Hike at 11 a.m. It will take place on the 1.5-mile Prairie View Nature Trail, which offers views of the lake, the historic Barber School House and the overlook from Bunker Hill. Register on Facebook at www.facebook.com/share/1FVYtVdJXT/; meet at the swim beach parking lot.

• The Lawrence Mountain Bike Club will be hosting its annual New Year’s Day Ride at noon in North Lawrence, followed by refreshments at Johnny’s Tavern. The ride is open to participants of all skill levels; it will begin on the levee, and riders can go as far as they’d like on the 9-mile river trail. Meet at the parking lot across from the Lawrence Visitors Center at the intersection of North Second and Locust streets, just north of the river.

• University of Kansas women’s basketball will be playing West Virginia at Allen Fieldhouse, 1651 Naismith Drive, at noon. Purchase tickets at the KU Athletics website.

Holiday closures and scheduling

• City of Lawrence offices will be closed on Thursday.

• Solid waste pickup won’t happen on Thursday. Customers who typically have solid waste collection on Thursday will move to Friday this week, and Friday collection will move to Saturday.

• Lawrence Transit’s fixed-route, paratransit and on-demand buses will not run on Thursday. Central Station will also be closed.

• Parking at meters, lots and garages in downtown Lawrence will be free on Thursday.

• Lawrence Parks & Recreation’s administrative office and cemeteries office in South Park will be closed Thursday. In addition, the Community Building, East Lawrence Recreation Center, Holcom Park Recreation Center, Sports Pavilion Lawrence, Prairie Park Nature Center, the Indoor Aquatic Center and Eagle Bend Golf Course and Learning Center will be closed.

• The Douglas County District Attorney’s Office and Douglas County District Court offices will be closed on Thursday. Starting Jan. 2, there will also be a change to the DA’s office’s hours going forward: it will no longer be closed during the lunch hour, so its hours will be from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.

• Douglas County government offices, including the Treasurer’s Office, Administration and Register of Deeds will be closed Thursday.

• The Senior Resource Center for Douglas County will be closed Thursday.

• Offices on the University of Kansas campus will be closed Thursday.

• The Lawrence Public Library will be closed Thursday.

• All LMH Health clinics will be closed Thursday, but the hospital and emergency department will remain open 24/7.

• Heartland Community Health Center, Panda Pediatrics, River City Pharmacy and Bluestem Wellness will be closed Thursday.

• Bert Nash Community Mental Health Center’s outpatient services will be closed Thursday. For those in crisis, the Treatment & Recovery Center of Douglas County will be available for walk-ins. People can also call/text crisis support and response at 988.

• Lawrence-Douglas County Public Health’s clinic and office will be closed Thursday.