photo by: Shawn Valverde

A monarch butterfly with a tag on its wing perches on a flower head at Monarch Watch's butterfly tagging event at the Baker Wetlands on Saturday, Sept. 21, 2024.

Friday, Sept. 19

68th Annual McLouth Threshing Bee and Fall Festival, three blocks south of Kansas Highway 16 and Kansas Highway 92 intersection, McLouth. Threshing 10 a.m. and 2 p.m., working blacksmith, steam engines, wood carving, children’s activities and more; see mclouththreshingbee.com for daily schedule. Continues through Saturday.

Waxman Candles: 55th Anniversary Party, 5-8 p.m., 609 Massachusetts St. Snacks, beverages, candle-dipping, storytelling and more. Shoppers, former employees and members of the public welcome. Bring a blank T-shirt and $6 to get a special Waxman logo transfer.

KU Center for East Asian Studies: Mid-Autumn Festival, 5-8 p.m., Kansas Union Ascher Plaza, 1301 Jayhawk Blvd. Live performances, lantern-making, games, calligraphy and more. Free and open to all ages. In case of inclement weather, event will move indoors to the KU Union Ballroom.

30th anniversary film screening: “Party Girl” (1995), doors 6 p.m., show 7 p.m., after-party 8:30-11 p.m., Liberty Hall, 644 Massachusetts St. More information and tickets at liberty-hall.com.

Guest Production: “El Árbol de Aguacate / The Avocado Tree,” 7 p.m., Lawrence Arts Center, 940 New Hampshire St. In-person and livestream; see lawrenceartscenter.org for tickets and more information.

“Next to Normal, 7:30 p.m., Theatre Lawrence, 4660 Bauer Farm Drive. See theatrelawrence.com for information and tickets.

Saturday, Sept. 20

68th Annual McLouth Threshing Bee and Fall Festival, three blocks south of K-16 and K-92 intersection, McLouth. Threshing 10 a.m. and 2 p.m., antique tractor pull, Parade of Power, flea market, Old West reenactment and more; see mclouththreshingbee.com for daily schedule.

Lawrence Farmers Market, 7:30-11:30 a.m., 824 New Hampshire St. 65+ vendors of locally grown food and farm products.

Lawrence Bird Alliance Field Trip: Fitch Natural History Reservation, meet 8 a.m. at Roth Trailhead, KU Field Station, 350 Wild Horse Road.

Monarch Tagging Event, 8 a.m.-noon, Baker University Wetlands, 1365 North 1250 Road. Free admission, all ages, no experience necessary, equipment provided; see monarchwatch.org for more details.

Border States Antique Show and Sale, 9 a.m.-2 p.m., Douglas County Fairgrounds, Building 21, 2120 Harper St. Free admission.

Kansas Book Festival, 9 a.m.-4 p.m., Washburn University, Topeka. Author panels, children’s activities, vendors, live music and more. Free and open to the public; see kansasbookfestival.com for full schedule and locations.

100 Good Women: Community Connections Expo, 10 a.m.-3 p.m., Douglas County Fairgrounds, 2110 Harper St. Food, prizes and more. Free admission.

Haskell Open Market, 10 a.m.-3 p.m., Stidham Union, 155 Indian Ave. Open to all. Food, art and other vendors.

MixMaster 2025, 10 a.m.-3 p.m., Lawrence Public Library Auditorium, 707 Vermont St. Local music conference; topics include careers, grants, funding, booking and more. Ticketed event, registration required; see lplks.org for more information.

Art for All: Big Headed at Bracker’s, free demonstration by Lawrence Arts Center ceramics instructor Ben Ahlvers, noon-1 p.m., Bracker’s Good Earth Clays, 1831 East 1450 Road. Free admission.

Volunteer Day, noon-2 p.m., Lawrence Community Orchard, 830 Garfield St.

Lawrence Bird Alliance: Birding Basics – Endless Summer, Endless Picnic, with Jackie Augustine, 4-6 p.m., Lawrence Public Library Auditorium, 707 Vermont St. Learn about challenges faced by migrating birds.

KU Football vs. West Virginia Mountaineers, 5 p.m., David Booth Kansas Memorial Stadium.

Art Unveiling; Javy Ortiz, public artwork celebrating the La Yarda community, 5:30 p.m., Eighth and Delaware section of the Lawrence Loop. Ribbon-cutting followed by brief walk to reception at Van Go (715 New Jersey St.). Live music from Mariachi Habanero and local band Maria the Mexican; food from La Tropicana. Free and open to the public.

Third Saturday Game Night, 6 p.m., Trinity Episcopal Church, 1011 Vermont St. Bring your own games or play from the collection.

Guest Production: “El Árbol de Aguacate / The Avocado Tree,” 7 p.m., Lawrence Arts Center, 940 New Hampshire St. In-person and livestream; see lawrenceartscenter.org for tickets and more information.

Skeptic’s Guide to the Universe, 7 p.m., Liberty Hall, 644 Massachusetts St. Ticketed, reserved-seating show; see liberty-hall.com for more information.

“Next to Normal, 7:30 p.m., Theatre Lawrence, 4660 Bauer Farm Drive. See theatrelawrence.com for information and tickets.

1313 Mockingbird Lane’s Late Night Frights presents: “Evil Dead 2” (1987), 9 p.m., Liberty Hall, 644 Massachusetts St. See liberty-hall.com for ticket info.

Sunday, Sept. 21

September English Dance, beginner lesson 1:30 p.m., dance 2-4:30 p.m., Sinkers Lounge, 722 Massachusetts St. Music by The Mad Robins; caller Jill Allen. Sliding scale entrance fee.

Science Sunday: “One Scientist’s Journey to Protect the World’s Most Threatened Vertebrates,” 2 p.m., KU Field Station, Armitage Education Center, 350 Wild Horse Road. Space limited; RSVP to wendyholman@ku.edu.

Guest Production: “El Árbol de Aguacate / The Avocado Tree,” 2 p.m., Lawrence Arts Center, 940 New Hampshire St. In-person and livestream; see lawrenceartscenter.org for tickets and more information.

Slow Art Sunday: “The Possessors,” 2-3 p.m., Spencer Museum of Art, 1301 Mississippi St. Free admission.

Fieldwork Fun with K-POP, 2-4 p.m., KU Natural History Museum, 1345 Jayhawk Blvd. Fossil-digging, insect-collecting, meteorological tracking and more. Free, all-ages event.

Kansas Book Festival at LPL: Poetry by Kevin Young, 2:30-4 p.m., Lawrence Public Library Auditorium, 707 Vermont St. Registration required; see lplks.org.

“Next to Normal, 2:30 p.m., Theatre Lawrence, 4660 Bauer Farm Drive. Audio-described performance. See theatrelawrence.com for information and tickets.

Extinction for Beginners, 3-4 p.m., Meeting Room C, Lawrence Public Library, 707 Vermont St. Reading and writing exercise on human extinction.

Free Community Meal, 3:30-5 p.m., ECM, 1204 Oread Ave.

Sunday Afternoon Dances of Peace, 4-5 p.m., Prairie Moon Waldorf School, 1853 East 1600 Road. Donations appreciated but not required. See dancesofuniversalpeace.org for more information.

Concerts at the Campanile, 5-6 p.m., Memorial Drive and surrounding area, KU campus. Free weekly carillon concert. Best sound is at least 200 feet from the tower.

Movie screening: “Mikey and Nicky” (1976), 7 p.m., Liberty Hall, 644 Massachusetts St. See liberty-hall.com for tickets.

Monday, Sept. 22

Volunteer night, 5:30-7:30 p.m., Lawrence Community Orchard, 830 Garfield St.

Autumnal Equinox Garden Tour, 6-8 p.m., KU Native Medicinal Plant Research Garden, KU Field Station, 1865 East 1600 Road. No registration required; check social media for weather-related updates.

Lawrence City Commission Candidate Forum, 6:30 p.m., Peaslee Tech Center, 2920 Haskell Ave. Open to the public. Attend in person or for virtual link see Peasleetech.org (select Directory, click on Candidate Forum).

Lawrence Bird Alliance: Game Night, 7 p.m., Baker Wetlands Discovery Center, 1365 N. 1250 Road. Bird-related charades and games. Free, all-ages event.

Auditions: “The Rocky Horror Show,” 7 p.m., Theatre Lawrence, 4660 Bauer Farm Drive. Full audition details at theatrelawrence.com. Through Tuesday evening.

Tuesday, Sept. 23

First day of “Walk to Rivendell” and “Bike Middle-Earth” challenges, where participants will walk, swim, bike, ride or move 397 miles (or choose your own goal) by the winter solstice. Details, goals and email sign-up at lplks.org.

Tour and Community Meal, 6-7 p.m., Sunrise Project, 245 N. Fourth St. Tour Sunrises’s new space and gardens, learn about projects, harvest greens and enjoy a meal together. Limited space, registration required; see lplks.org, or email twinters@lplks.org with questions.

Dole Forum: Water for Our Future, 7 p.m., Dole Institute, 2350 Petefish Drive. Bipartisan conversation with legislative members of the Water Program Task Force. Hybrid event; see doleinstitute.org for details.

Tuesday Concert Series: Women Songwriters Night, 7 p.m., Lawrence Arts Center, 940 New Hampshire St. Free admission with voluntary tip jar; tonight’s donations benefit the Lawrence Arts Center.

Auditions: “The Rocky Horror Show,” 7 p.m., Theatre Lawrence, 4660 Bauer Farm Drive. Full audition details at theatrelawrence.com.

Wednesday, Sept. 24

Turning Research, Policy Solutions and Civic Engagement into Results for Kansas Women, 4 p.m., Dole Institute, 2350 Petefish Drive. Hybrid event; see doleinstitute.org for details.

Farmers Market, 4:30-6:30 p.m., Clinton Parkway Nursery, 4900 Clinton Parkway.

Community Potluck: Nacho Night, 5-7 p.m., Sunrise Project, 245 N. Fourth St.

Science on Tap: “Making the Most of Biomarkers,” 7:30 p.m., Free State Brewing Company, 636 Massachusetts St. Free event; limited seating.

KU Symphony Orchestra: “Visions and Temptations,” 7:30 p.m., Lied Center, 1600 Stewart Drive. Tickets or free livestream link at lied.ku.edu.

Thursday, Sept. 25

Medicaid Counseling & Support with GraceMed, 10 a.m.-noon, Lawrence Public Library, 707 Vermont St.

Drop-in Peer Support with ALIVE Inc., noon-1 p.m., Lawrence Public Library Study Room 4, 707 Vermont St. Peer support for mental health and substance use challenges and more.

Cottin’s Hardware Farmers Market, 4-6 p.m., 1832 Massachusetts St.

KU Department of English: Cottonwood Literary Magazine’s 60th Anniversary, 6-8 p.m., Watson Library 3 West, 1425 Jayhawk Blvd. Featuring readings by Thomas Fox Averill, Victor Contoski and more. Free and open to the public.

INSIGHT Art Talk: Matthew Willie Garcia, 7 p.m., Lawrence Arts Center, 940 New Hampshire St. Free admission.

Movie screening: “The Producers” (1967), 7 p.m., Liberty Hall, 644 Massachusetts St. See liberty-hall.com for ticket information.

KU Faculty Recital Series: Michael Davidson, trombone, 7:30 p.m., Swarthout Recital Hall, Murphy Hall, 1530 Naismith Drive.

“Next to Normal, 7:30 p.m., Theatre Lawrence, 4660 Bauer Farm Drive. See theatrelawrence.com for information and tickets.