photo by: Kim Callahan/Journal-World

A City of Lawrence crew, pictured Friday, Oct. 30, 2026, works to string nearly 50,000 lights on the light tunnel in South Park for the holiday season.

Even before Halloween is crossed off the calendar, Lawrence’s popular light tunnel is taking shape for the Christmas season.

The tunnel’s sprawling white PVC framework had been laid out in South Park by Thursday afternoon, and on Friday morning city workers were engaged in the time-consuming process of stringing tens of thousands of lights across it.

photo by: Kim Callahan/Journal-World

A City of Lawrence crew, pictured Friday, Oct. 30, 2026, works to string nearly 50,000 lights on the light tunnel in South Park for the holiday season.

The 260-foot tunnel, which debuted in 2024, has become a beloved spot for nighttime winter photos with its starry backdrop of golden lights.

It will be lit the day after Thanksgiving like the thousands of other lights that adorn downtown Lawrence’s trees and buildings during the holiday season.

Because this is the third year for the tunnel, city workers said it had become easier to assemble now that they’ve had some practice. It’s still laborious, but it’s a labor of love, the four-member crew working on it Friday agreed.

Forestry Supervisor Levi Parkin told the Journal-World that he got the idea for the tunnel from a similar feature at the Topeka Zoo. He said at the time that he hoped it would prove popular and become a Lawrence tradition.

photo by: Kim Callahan/Journal-World

A City of Lawrence crew, pictured Friday, Oct. 30, 2026, works to string nearly 50,000 lights on the light tunnel in South Park for the holiday season.

photo by: Kim Callahan/Journal-World

The Perez family — from left, Daniel, Desmond, 3, Amelia, and Arthur, 10 months — enjoys the light tunnel in South Park on Tuesday, Dec. 17, 2024.

photo by: Kim Callahan/Journal-World

Melissa Corbin and her dog, Bentley, pose for a photo Tuesday evening, Dec. 17, 2024, in the light tunnel at South Park.