photo by: Shawn Valverde

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

Dance parties, live music, family crafts and museum celebrations are among the many Valentine’s Day events happening in Lawrence this weekend.

• LOCAL, 615 Massachusetts St., is having a Galantines pop-up event for people 21 and older on Friday from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. The event will feature a live DJ, Valentine’s Day-themed drinks, vintage and clothing vendors, permanent jewelry, henna, flower bouquets, snacks and more.

• The Watkins Museum of History, 1047 Massachusetts St., will host its second annual Valentine’s Day celebration on Saturday from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. for kids and families featuring holiday-themed crafts, a cookie decorating station and a scavenger hunt. There is no registration required for the event, and it is free and open to the public.

• The University of Kansas Biodiversity Institute and Natural History Museum, 1345 Jayhawk Blvd., will be celebrating Valentine’s Day as well as Charles Darwin’s birthday on Saturday from 1:30 p.m. to 4 p.m. Attendees can learn about Darwin’s life, colleagues and contemporaries, and their scientific discoveries. This is a family-friendly, drop-in event offering birthday cake. Admission is a suggested contribution of $7 per adult and $4 per child. KU students and members are free. All proceeds support the museum.

• Liberty Hall, 642 Massachusetts St., will host its annual Valentine’s Day tradition of screening “The Princess Bride.” The shows are scheduled for 3 p.m. and 7 p.m. on Saturday.

• The Raven Book Store, 809 Massachusetts St., is hosting a meet-cute from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. on Saturday. Name tags will be available for attendees to write their name and favorite book along with what they’re looking for, whether that’s books, friends or to flirt. There will also be bracelet making, a typewriter to write love letters, and queer archival love letters and zines provided to the bookstore by the Close Friends Collective out of New York City. Proceeds will go towards the bookstore’s Perfectly Queer Little Library.

• The Lied Center of Kansas Pavilion, 1600 Stewart Drive, will host a Lawrence Community Orchestra concert with dance lessons Saturday titled “Shall We Dance?” Audience members can join local dancers and instructors at 6 p.m. for lessons and learn dances to accompany the string orchestra before the concert begins at 7:30 p.m. Dancers can buy tickets online for $43 per person, and attendees there for only the concert can buy tickets for $27.

• The Arterra Event Gallery, 2161 Quail Creek Drive, will have an evening dinner and dance party. The doors and dinner will open at 6 p.m., music and dancing will start at 7 p.m. and dessert and chocolates will be served at 8 p.m. There will be a cash bar and the event will accept song requests. The event is $90 per person, and tickets can be purchased online. For groups of 3 or more desiring reserved seating, email carswellandhope@gmail.com.

• Lucia, 1016 Massachusetts St., will have live music from Kansas City’s original music jam band, Orbital Velocity, on Saturday. The doors will open at 8 p.m. with the show beginning at 9 p.m.