photo by: Kim Callahan/Journal-World

A crowd turned out to see the Budweiser Clydesdales in downtown Lawrence Friday, Sept. 11, 2026 — before kickoff of the University of Kansas vs. University of Missouri football game.

Before kickoff of the Kansas vs. Missouri football game on Friday, the Budweiser Clydesdales showed up in downtown Lawrence to parade past the football stadium and honor first responders.

As their handlers got the eight giant horses ready for their route, crowds showed up to the corner of 11th and Massachusetts to admire the furry-footed beasts and the Dalmatian that travels with them.

photo by: Kim Callahan/Journal-World

The Budweiser Clydesdale wagon gets ready to depart in downtown Lawrence Friday, Sept. 11, 2026.

The event, along with one earlier in the week at the fairgrounds, was meant to honor first responders in the community.

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. The two events were also an opportunity to celebrate Budweiser’s 150th birthday.

photo by: Kim Callahan/Journal-World

The Budweiser Dalmatian appears with the Budweiser Clydesdales in downtown Lawrence Friday, Sept. 11, 2026.

photo by: Kim Callahan/Journal-World

The Budweiser Dalmatian gets some help onto the Clydesdale wagon in downtown Lawrence Friday, Sept. 11, 2026.

photo by: Kim Callahan/Journal-World

The Budweiser Dalmatian gets ready for the Clydesdale wagon to depart in Lawrence Friday, Sept. 11, 2026.

photo by: Kim Callahan/Journal-World

A crowd turned out to see the Budweiser Clydesdales in downtown Lawrence Friday, Sept. 11, 2026 — before kickoff of the University of Kansas vs. University of Missouri football game.

photo by: Chad Lawhorn/Journal-World

The Budweiser Clydesdales, pictured in downtown Lawrence Friday, Sept. 11, 2026, are known for their large furry feet.

photo by: Chad Lawhorn/Journal-World

Flowers adorn the neck of a Budweiser Clydesdale, pictured in downtown Lawrence Friday, Sept. 11, 2026.

photo by: Chad Lawhorn/Journal-World

An ornament adorns the neck of a Budweiser Clydesdale in downtown Lawrence Friday, Sept. 11, 2026.

photo by: Kim Callahan/Journal-World

A crowd turned out to see the Budweiser Clydesdales in downtown Lawrence Friday, Sept. 11, 2026 — before kickoff of the University of Kansas vs. University of Missouri football game.

photo by: Kim Callahan/Journal-World

A crowd turned out to see the Budweiser Clydesdales in downtown Lawrence Friday, Sept. 11, 2026 — before kickoff of the University of Kansas vs. University of Missouri football game.

photo by: Kim Callahan/Journal-World

A crowd turned out to see the Budweiser Clydesdales in downtown Lawrence Friday, Sept. 11, 2026 — before kickoff of the University of Kansas vs. University of Missouri football game.

photo by: Chad Lawhorn/Journal-World

The Budweiser Clydesdales visited downtown Lawrence Friday, Sept. 11, 2026 — before kickoff of the University of Kansas vs. University of Missouri football game.

photo by: Chad Lawhorn/Journal-World

The Budweiser Clydesdales are pictured in downtown Lawrence Friday, Sept. 11, 2026 — before kickoff of the University of Kansas vs. University of Missouri football game.