Summer Fun

Tue, 06/14/2022 - 11:11am

Looking for something new and exciting to do with your kids this summer? Check out the below PDF for some great ideas!

Summer Fun 2022!!

Events and Activities for RBES Children and Families

 

Columbia Festival of the Arts 

Free LakeFest Weekend June 10-12, 2022

Columbia Festival of the Arts

Columbia’s family festival for arts & entertainment at the Downtown Columbia Lakefront is a free, 3-day event featuring live music, kids’ entertainment and crafts, an arts  and crafts show and festive food.

 

 Lakefront LIVE! 

Lakefront LIVE Events

CA is bringing back all of your favorites all summer long – movies, local music acts and Dancin’ Under The People Tree. This exciting lineup is all about celebrating the incredible diversity we enjoy here in Columbia.

 

Colorburst Park Summer Series has free concerts, children’s programs, exercise programs and a splash pad open 10am-10pm all summer.

Colorburst Park Calendar

 

Howard County Fair (The Howard County Fairgrounds. 2210 Fairgrounds Road, West Friendship, MD 21794):  August 6-13

Visit: https://howardcountyfairmd.com/ for more information.

 

More to Explore…..

HoCo Library Central Branch Activities  

We are lucky to have some beautiful libraries in our county! Above is the link for classes and events and the summer reading program. Encourage your child to join the summer reading program and take a class. Make it a weekly visit!

Robinson Nature Center (6692 Cedar Ln, Columbia, MD 21044, 410-313-0400) Visit interactive exhibits for children and outdoor walking trails. Call the facility status line before going 410-313-4452 for the most up-to-date information. Daily admission $5/adults, $3 for children aged 3-17, & free for children under 3. Closed on Mon. & Tues.. Thurs.-Sat. 9:00 am – 5:00 pm, Sunday Noon-5pm. Robinson Nature Center

Roger Carter Community Center (3000 Milltowne Drive, Ellicott City, MD 21043, 410-313-2764): State-of-the-art community center that includes a swimming pool, splash pad, basketball and volleyball courts, fitness equipment and classes, a climbing wall, and much more. Drop-in passes are $5.00/person for ages 3 and up. Aged 2 and under are free.  https://www.howardcountymd.gov/rccc

 

HoCo Conservancy: (Mt. Pleasant Location, 10520 Old Frederick Rd, Woodstock, MD, 21163): 410-465-8877.  Trails open dawn to dusk daily. Nature Center Monday – Saturday 9 am – 3 pm (closed on Sat. in the winter). https://www.hcconservancy.org/

 

Visit a Farmer’s Market: 

Give your child $1-$3 to spend at a local farmer’s market.  Challenge them to pick a fruit or vegetable that they have never tried before.  Farmer’s Markets happen on Wednesdays, Saturdays, and Sundays between May and November.  Here is a link for a list of local farmers markets in Howard County: http://howardcountyfarmersmarkets.com/index.html

Farmer's Market Schedule

Visit a Farm: (Larriland Farm, 2415 Woodbine Road, Woodbine, MD 21797):  Larriland Farm opens with strawberry season in late May/early June and ends with apple season in early November. Check their website http://www.pickyourown.com/  or call 410-442-2605 before you go to see what is available to be picked on any given day and for daily hours.  Larriland Farm is closed on Monday. 

Star Parties, all ages boy-looking-into-telescope.png

(Alpha Ridge Park, 11685 Old Frederick Rd., Marriottsville, MD 21104): Enjoy the night sky through telescopes set up by the Howard Astronomical League in HAL’s Observatory. At this relaxed, casual, family event, view live images projected onto a big screen. Info/weather updates:www.howardastro.org.  Dusk until about 11:00 pm.  Free.

 

The Columbia Association  CA Membership Information

offers “Play” memberships that include the pools, tennis, ice skating, and mini golf. There is a sliding scale membership available for income-qualified families. At full fee, the membership for a family costs $75 for non-Columbia residents and $42 for Columbia residents.

 

Camping, Fishing, Hiking, Picnicking, Climbing, Swimming, Boating, Junior Rangers Programs – are all free or have a nominal entrance fee at our beautiful Maryland State Parks. Our closest state Park, Patapsco, is only ten minutes away by car. Summer program information: https://dnr.maryland.gov/publiclands/Pages/outdooreduc.aspx.

 Plan your trip by visiting the website. http://dnr.maryland.gov/publiclands/Pages/default.aspx

 

Playgrounds Howard County is home to some pretty amazing playgrounds. Blandair has 2 playgrounds and Centennial has 4! Meadowbrook has a large playground for a variety of ages and abilities. Howard County Playgrounds 

Movies There are $2 summer movies at Regal Snowden Square: 

Regal Cinemas

$1.50 per person movies and $1 off kids snack packs at Cinemark at the Arundel Mills Mall: Movies at Cinemark - Arundel Mills Mall

 

Summer Food and Other Resources For Families

Howard County Public School System free summer meal program Mondays through Fridays June 27-Aug. 12, 2022 from 12:30-2pm at select locations. HCPSS Summer Food Program

 

The CARE Center's CARE Line is a FREE information and referral service for people who have questions about children in Howard County. CARE Center staff work with families to identify their needs and help find solutions. For assistance, call 410-313-CARE (410-313-2273). 

 

Parent’s Guide to Howard County 

Parent Guide To Howard County

 

Howard County Food Bank

The Howard County Food Bank

 

The Howard County MultiService Center (MSC)

Assistance with connecting to resources within our community. Call 410-313-0220 for assistance. The MSC Food Pantry provides pre-packaged "grab and go" bags and is open Mondays and Wednesdays, noon to 4:00 p.m. and the third Saturday of the month, 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. The Howard County Multi-Service Center