Summerfest

Due to the ongoing winter storm, City facilities, including City Hall and all Parks, Recreation and Culture facilities, will be closed on Tuesday, Feb. 18. This is due to the forecasted winter storm resulting in dangerous travel conditions.

Read the news release for full details >>

The City of Lawrence Summerfest 2026

Summerfest is Lawrence’s signature Independence Day celebration—bringing the community together for an evening of live music, local eats, family-friendly fun, and a spectacular drone show. Join us at the Douglas County Fairgrounds on Saturday, July 4, 2026, for this FREE event and celebrate with an unforgettable night of entertainment, connection, and hometown pride!

As more details become available, PRC will continue to update this webpage and social media. For more information, please contact the Administrative Office at parksrec@lawrenceks.gov Summerfest is sponsored by the City of Lawrence. Special thanks to Douglas County and the Fairgrounds Team!

Event Schedule

  • 4:00 p.m. Food truck sales begin
  • 4:00 p.m. Kids’ Activities Area begins  – City Play Corps, Dole Institute of Politics, Aunt Nancy’s Face Art
  • 4:00 p.m. The Douglas County, Kansas Public Servants Past & Present Tribute Gallery opens in Building 21
  • 5:00 p.m. live music begins on the mainstage
  • 6:00 p.m. The Last Carnival aerial and fire act begins in the main circle
  • 9:00 p.m. Lawrence City Band plays in the “Derby Arena”
  • 9:45 p.m. Drone Show viewing in the “Derby Arena”

Musicians & Performers

  • Ric Averill, Master of Ceremonies Extraordinaire! 
  • Making Movies
  • Kelley Hunt & The Five
  • Heavy Petty
  • The Yards
  • The Last Carnival, Aerial and Fire Act
  • Jeff Rosenblatt, Bubble Act
  • August Gilbreath, Street Magician 
  • Richard Renner, “Uncle Sam” Stilt Walker 

Food Vendors

  • Free State Brewery
  • JB’s Taco’s Food Truck
  • Mama Doe’s Ice Cream
  • Travelin’ Toms Coffee
  • Kona Ice
  • The Stand
  • El Zocalo Food Truck
  • Hazel’s Hawaiian Ice & Hut
  • KC Corndog
  • Street Kitchen
  • La Creperie Co.
  • Donut NV
  • Sweet Bites
  • Bryce’s Food Truck

Douglas County, Kansas Public Servants Past & Present Tribute Gallery

🇺🇸 In honor of America at 250, PRC is partnering with the Watkins Museum of History and the Dole Institute of Politics to honor public servants in Douglas County, Kansas, by creating a special tribute gallery that will debut at Summerfest.

We’re asking public servants past and present who live or work in Douglas County to submit a profile to be a part of the tribute gallery. All you need to submit is basic information about your service, a photo, and a brief story about your public service.

📅 Submissions are being accepted through June 20!

🔗 Learn more about the project, submit a profile, and view all submission requirements at publicservantstribute.douglascountykshistory.org

What you can bring with you

Acceptable items to bring with you to Summerfest:

  1. Lawn chairs
  2. Stadium seats
  3. Blankets
  4. Coolers – must remain in vehicle
  5. Non-alcoholic beverages
  6. Water bottles
  7. Umbrellas
  8. External chargers
  9. Fun and games
  10. Bicycles
  11. Binoculars

Unacceptable items:

  1. Pets – please leave your furry (and feathered!) friends at home. With the exception of service animals
  2. Alcohol – no outside alcohol is allowed on the premises
  3. No glass containers
  4. Fireworks – absolutely no fireworks allowed on fairground premises
  5. Firearms, knives, weapons of any kind
  6. Illegal substances, drugs, or drug paraphernalia
  7. Electronic scooters, skateboards, or vehicles, except those needed for accessibility reasons
  8. Tents or semi-permanent structures
  9. Aerosols, except for sunscreen
  10. Banners and signs – may obstruct the view of others
  11. Laser pointers
  12. Drones
  13. Noisemaking devices: personal radios, airhorns, boomboxes, Bluetooth devices, etc.

Event Map

Inclement Weather Details

In the case of inclement weather, the City of Lawrence will provide updates through the Parks, Recreation and Culture social media platforms and rainoutline.com, as well as the City website.

The City of Lawrence Summerfest 2025!

Summerfest is Lawrence’s premier Independence Day celebration, bringing the community together for an evening of live music, local food, family-friendly activities, and a dazzling drone show. Held at the Douglas County Fairgrounds on Thursday, July 3rd, 2025, this FREE event is the perfect way to kick off the holiday with fun, entertainment, and hometown pride!

SCHEDULE

  • 4:00 p.m. Artisan Fair begins in Building 21
  • 4:00 p.m. Kid’s Activities Area begins – City Play Corps and Dole Institute of Politics
  • 4:00 p.m. live music begins on the Artisan Fair stage:
      • 4:00 p.m. Beth & Brandon
      • 5:00 p.m. Sky Smeed
      • 6:00 p.m. Arlonious Rodeo King
      • 7:00 p.m. Susan Hancock + Ven Bergdall
  • 5:00 p.m. Food Trucks sales begin
  • 5:00 p.m. Beer sales begin, courtesy of Free State Brewing Company
  • 6:00 p.m. live music begins on the mainstage:
    • Master of Ceremonies – The Illustrious Ric Averill
      • 6:00 p.m. Rap Veterans
      • 7:00 p.m. Jessica Paige and Lucas Parker
      • 8:00 p.m. The Band that Saved the World
  •  9:00 p.m. Lawrence City Band plays in the “Derby Arena”
  • 9:45 p.m. Drone Show viewing in the “Derby Arena”

As more details become available, PRC will continue to update this webpage and social media. For more information, please contact the Administrative Office at parksrec@lawrenceks.gov Summerfest is sponsored by the City of Lawrence. Special thanks to Douglas County and the Fairgrounds Team!

Event Booklet

Meet our Artisan Fair Vendors and Food Trucks!

Artisan Fair:

  Food Trucks:

What you can bring with you

Acceptable items to bring with you to Summerfest:

  1. Lawn chairs
  2. Stadium seats
  3. Blankets
  4. Coolers – must remain in vehicle
  5. Non-alcoholic beverages
  6. Water bottles
  7. Umbrellas
  8. External chargers
  9. Fun and games
  10. Bicycles
  11. Binoculars

Unacceptable items:

  1. Pets – please leave your furry (and feathered!) friends at home. With the exception of service animals
  2. Alcohol – no outside alcohol is allowed on the premises
  3. No glass containers
  4. Fireworks – absolutely no fireworks allowed on fairground premises
  5. Firearms, knives, weapons of any kind
  6. Illegal substances, drugs, or drug paraphernalia
  7. Electronic scooters, skateboards, or vehicles, except those needed for accessibility reasons
  8. Tents or semi-permanent structures
  9. Aerosols, except for sunscreen
  10. Banners and signs – may obstruct the view of others
  11. Laser pointers
  12. Drones
  13. Noisemaking devices: personal radios, airhorns, boomboxes, Bluetooth devices, etc.

Event Map

Summerfest 2025 Map

Inclement Weather Details