photo by: Chad Lawhorn/Journal-World photos

A large crowd showed up at the Douglas County Fairgrounds on Oct. 14, 2021 to see the Budweiser Clydesdales.

A famed team of horses – the Budweiser Clydesdales – are returning to Lawrence next week for two occasions.

The Budweiser Clydesdales are a famous team of large Clydesdale horses used in promotional appearances and advertising for Budweiser. The horses typically travel as a hitch, or team, and pull a historic-style red Budweiser wagon. The wagon is modeled after the horse-drawn delivery wagons that breweries once used to transport beer before motorized trucks.

The public will have a chance to see the horses in Lawrence at two events next week. The first event will be on Wednesday, Sept. 9 from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the Douglas County Fairgrounds, 2120 Harper St. There will also be samples of Budweiser and Bud Light for attendees of legal drinking age.

Additionally, before kickoff for the University of Kansas vs. University of Missouri football game on Friday, Sept. 11, the Budweiser Clydesdales will parade by the stadium on Mississippi Street. Kevin O’Malley, owner of O’Malley Beverage, said the time the horses will trot by the stadium is still up in the air, but he’s estimating it will take place around 5 p.m.

The horses will hitch up around 1 p.m. near 11th and Massachusetts streets in an empty lot before going by the stadium.

photo by: Chad Lawhorn/Journal-World photo

The Budweiser Clydesdales are pictured on Oct. 14, 2021 at the Douglas County Fairgrounds. The famed team of horses was in town for an event honoring volunteers who helped with the community’s pandemic response.

Both of the events are meant to honor the first responders in the community, O’Malley said. The Budweiser Clydesdales have a long-standing partnership with the nonprofit Folds of Honor, which gives educational scholarships to the spouses and children of fallen or disabled military members and first responders.

During Wednesday’s event, O’Malley said the public’s encouraged to submit donations to Folds of Honor so the money can go towards the educational scholarships.

The horses are coming to Lawrence for a few reasons, O’Malley said. As the Journal-World reported, O’Malley Beverage, which is the distributor of Budweiser and Anheuser-Busch products throughout northeast Kansas, recently won the 2025 Ambassador of Excellence National Champion award from Anheuser-Busch.

The national championship put Lawrence on the list of cities receiving a special visit from the Budweiser Clydesdales. In addition, the two events are also an opportunity to celebrate Budweiser’s 150th birthday and honor first responders.

For both events, O’Malley said the Lawrence Police Department, Douglas County Sheriff’s Office and Lawrence-Douglas County Fire Medical were invited to attend and be honored.

“They’re out there working hard everyday,” O’Malley said, referring to the work of first responders in the community. “So when I put my head on my pillow at night, I have a strong belief that there’s people out there protecting us and our families. This is just a small way that we can say thank you.”

photo by: Chad Lawhorn/Journal-World photo

The Budweiser Clydesdales and their team of drivers are pictured at the Douglas County Fairgrounds on Oct 14, 2021.