On the last Friday of every month, Lawrence comes alive with art and music for one of my favorite traditions: Final Fridays. Galleries host opening receptions each month for the artists on display, often complete with refreshments and live music. Plus, storefronts, coffee shops, and even restaurants host pop-up art installments. It's a great way to dive headfirst into Lawrence's unique art scene. Read on below to hear how to make the most of a Final Friday in Lawrence, Kansas.
Go for an (Art) Walk
A vast majority of the art shows open for Final Fridays occur in Downtown Lawrence and the East Lawrence Warehouse District, which is just a short walk or drive away from Downtown. The official Final Fridays start time is 5 PM, but some locations might be open earlier, and most of them stay open until 8 or 9 PM.
At each location, you'll find unique art on display. The art is frequently accompanied by refreshments like charcuterie, juice, coffee, and wine, as well as a chance to speak with the artist. Many places will have live music provided by a local musician to set the mood.
A few locations like Cider Gallery, Phoenix Gallery, and the Lawrence Arts Center are always participating, so be sure to mark those spots on your Final Fridays map! You'll also regularly find a reception happening at the Lawrence Visitors Center. Other shows are rotating depending on the month, so it's good to check our Final Fridays Calendar to help make your plans.
Do some shopping
In addition to perusing and maybe even buying the art on display, Downtown Lawrence is a great place to do some shopping! Plenty of stores are open a little later on Final Fridays, and there's truly something for every interest in Downtown Lawrence. Shop at artistic boutique shops like Phoenix Gallery, Striped Cow, or Village Boutique. Grab a new KU jersey at Rally House or Jock's Nitch. Stock up on outdoor gear (and grab a coffee or drink while you're at it) at Sunflower Outdoor & Bike Shop. Visit specialty shops like Jungle House, Squishington's Candy Shop, or Mass Street Soda. Check out more ideas of cool places to shop here:
Looking for one-of-a-kind, unique or handcrafted? Lawrence glories in locally-owned shops.
Make an evening of it and dine out
Lawrence is a major foodie town, and proud of it. There are so many one-of-a-kind, locally-owned restaurants with talented chefs eager to put their own spin on things. Make the most of your Final Friday with a good meal. When the weather's nice, you'll find cheerfully decorated patios overflowing with happy customers chatting over their appetizers.
If you're in East Lawrence, check out Lawrence Beer Company for their "part of the neighborhood" approach to hospitality and great beer. Bon Bon has fun appetizers and amazing cocktails. Culinaria is a great place to dine for a special sit-down meal, especially if you're looking to indulge in multiple courses and wine pairings.
The Downtown restaurants are too many to count, but the best pick for you depends on what you're looking for. Want a quick and tasty grab-and-go meal? Try Latchkey Deli, Rudy's Pizzeria, or JB's Cali Fusion. Interested in fine dining? Merchants, Wine Dive + Kitchen, 715, Genovese, and Mass Street Fish House are great options. Seeking unique cuisines? Try Terrebonne, Aladdin Cafe, India Palace, The Mad Greek, Zen Zero, Fiesta Cancun, or Encore. With so many great options, I highly recommend you check out our restaurant page at the link below! You can filter by region and cuisine type. Whatever you're craving, Lawrence probably has it.
If you love food, you’re going to love our locally sourced and unmistakably Lawrence cuisine and brew. And by the way, we prefer to keep things casual, but don’t mind if you dress up.
Keep an eye out for something new
One of my favorite things about Final Fridays is that I can always expect the unexpected. On one Final Friday, I was walking around the East Lawrence Warehouse district and heard music playing nearby. I decided to follow my ears and found a band playing on the front porch of a house on the corner of 9th and Pennsylvania.
Folks from the neighborhood were sat in the front yard in lawn chairs and on picnic blankets, enjoying the show. After chatting with the band Sugarfoot Detour for a bit, I found out that they regularly play a free show at this location on Final Fridays, weather permitting.
A few Final Fridays ago, I was out and about and ended up at the Cider Gallery. Final Fridays are always fun at the Cider Gallery. It's a beautifully renovated historic building (once a cider distillery), the art is well-curated, there's usually live music playing on the small stage in the corner, and tasty eats and delicious beverages are served at the bar. I was taking photographs of the Final Fridays scene on my camera and knew I got some decent shots. It wasn't until I got home that I realized several of them featured someone in a WOOKIE costume. I was delighted at the realization.
What will you find on a Final Friday? It's hard to say. But my advice is to keep an eye out for something new, fun, quirky, or unexpected. It's what Lawrence does best.
Go for a nightcap
After an evening of exploring, socializing, and viewing great art, there's nothing quite like taking a seat and sipping a delicious beverage. Lawrence has a bunch of great options for this, too.
If you're looking for an expertly crafted cocktail, check out John Brown's Underground, Northside Social, Henry's Upstairs, The Bourgeois Pig, The Jayhawker at the Eldridge Hotel, or LOCAL. If you prefer to hold the sauce, these locations have some good options, but you can also check out Nostalgia Room, a fully non-alcoholic cocktail bar.
If you're looking for more of a dive bar feel, complete with bar games and big TVs, I recommend Louise's Downtown, Lucia, Eighth St. Taproom, The Sandbar, or the Red Lyon Tavern.
Wine tasting is always fun at Crescent Moon Winery Tasting Room. Want a simple, nice, crisp beer? Visit the iconic Free State Brewery.
Have a different idea of what constitutes the perfect nightcap? Sylas & Maddy's is always hopping, especially on a warm summer evening.
Cheers to Final Fridays in Lawrence, Kansas!
