Howard County Visitors Guide 2017

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along the Columbia Lakefront.
Entertainment includes live bands
and a variety of children’s activities.
Blankets, chairs and picnics are
welcome; food is for sale onsite.
PAINT IT: ELLICOTT
CITY, A JURIED PLEIN
AIR PAINT-OUT
Artists are invited each summer to
participate in an organized outdoor
“paint-out” in Old Ellicott City
over two days. Festivities include
walking to see the artists at work,
welcome reception, a quick fire
competition and gallery reception
at the Howard County Arts Council.
AUGUST
THE HOWARD
COUNTY FAIR
A celebration of Howard
County’s farming past and
present. Lots of family fun with
livestock exhibits, carnival rides
and games, demonstrations,
parades and contests. Usually
occurs early August.
IRON GIRL COLUMBIA
TRIATHLON
A premier triathlon for women
featuring a 0.62mi Swim –
17.5mi Bike – 3.4mi Run. Hosted
annually at Centennial Lake
by the Ulman Cancer Fund for
Young Adults, a 501c-3 non-profit
organization based in Columbia
and Baltimore Maryland.
SEPTEMBER
MAIN STREET
MUSIC FESTIVAL
Motivated by the desire to support
and promote local, unsigned
musicians in the Mid-Atlantic area.
Old Ellicott City’s Main Street
Music Fest features the best talent
the Mid Atlantic has to offer, as
well as some of the best indie
artists from surrounding states.
FARM HERITAGE DAYS
A weekend festival of fun and
excitement at the Howard County
Living Farm Heritage Museum.
See rodeo demonstrations, live
music and much more! Part of
the Howard County Farm-City
Celebration event series.
OCTOBER
ELLICOTT CITY ARTWALK
Ellicott City ArtWalk reveals hidden
artists and features more than
twenty artists’ studios, galleries,
and retail venues. Many styles of
art will be showcased, including
fine oil and watercolor paintings,
metal and wood sculpture, mixed
media, artistic jewelry, ceramics,
and photography. Meet and greet
the artists, tour their working
spaces, watch demonstrations, and
purchase works large and small.
NOVEMBER &
DECEMBER
SYMPHONY OF LIGHTS
Cars, vans and busses can drive
through this spectacular display
of close to 100 larger-than-life
light creations, both stationary
and animated. Special nights for
families with children under 5 and
even dogs and their owners! Occurs
during the winter holiday season.
MIDNIGHT MADNESS
The unique shops and historic sites
of Ellicott City’s historic district
stay open until midnight for this
holiday tradition, held on the first
Friday in December. Festivities
include a tree lighting ceremony,
shopping, dining, historical
interpretation, carolers and more.
HISTORIC SAVAGE
MILL HOLIDAY DECOR
GALORE & BOLLMAN
BRIDGE LIGHTING
Historic Savage Mill presents
a unique holiday experience!
Outdoors, see the Bollman Truss
Bridge – the last remaining
example of a design used
throughout the U.S. and Europe
– illuminated in thousands of
twinkling lights. Inside the Mill,
find all-out holiday decor, live
entertainment, boutique shopping,
artisan demos, dining and more.
HAUNTED
HOWARD COUNTY
Ghost
Tours
• Meet the ghosts @ Historic
Belmont Manor
• Do you dare to walk the Ghost
Walk @ Historic Savage Mill?
• Visit sites throughout Howard
County with Dead of Night
Paranormal Investigations
SUMMER & WINTER
HOWARD COUNTY RESTAURANT WEEKS
Howard County’s top chefs serve up two weeks of
savings each summer and winter. Celebrate locally
sourced culinary creations priced from $15 to $45.
Lunch with friends? Date night? Client dinner? Foodies
of all ages will enjoy this delicious, seasonal event!
PHOTOGRAPH OF WINE POUR BY CARL SCHMIDT, FEDERAL HILL PHOTOGRAPHY; FOOD BY JUSTIN DVORKIN; GHOST IMAGE BY CASPHOTOGRAPHY/ISTOCK/THINKSTOCK
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