photo by: Mike Yoder

Santa celebrates his arrival in Lawrence after a Lawrence-Douglas County Fire Medical crew used a ladder truck to rescue him from the roof of Weaver’s Department Store on Friday, Nov. 24, 2023, in downtown Lawrence.

Lawrence kicked off the holiday season on Friday night with the annual downtown Holiday Lighting Ceremony and Santa Rescue. Plenty of other holiday events are scheduled in the coming weeks; see our holiday events calendar here.

photo by: Mike Yoder

Three-year-old twins Kalan Price, left, and Kayne Price, right, sit on the shoulders of their parents, Kris, left, and Kevin, right, at the Holiday Lighting Ceremony and Santa Rescue on Friday, Nov. 24, 2023, in downtown Lawrence.

photo by: Mike Yoder

Parents and children watch Lawrence-Douglas County Fire Medical use a ladder truck to rescue Santa from the roof of Weaver’s Department Store on Friday, Nov. 24, 2023, in downtown Lawrence.

photo by: Mike Yoder

A young boy spots Santa on the roof of Weaver’s Department Store on Friday, Nov. 24, 2023, in downtown Lawrence.

photo by: Mike Yoder

Members of the McReynolds family — Matthew McReynolds, Kelly McReynolds and Mike McReynolds, all of Lawrence — make a toast outside The Mad Greek, 907 Massachusetts St., as they and others enjoy the Holiday Lighting Ceremony and Santa Rescue on Friday, Nov. 24, 2023, in downtown Lawrence.

photo by: Mike Yoder

Santa stops for a photo with a family after being rescued from the roof of Weaver’s Department Store on Friday, Nov. 24, 2023, in downtown Lawrence.