Family Events in Howard County — Columbia & Ellicott City
Howard County consistently ranks among the best places to raise a family in the U.S., and the event calendar reflects it. Columbia's lakefront concerts, Ellicott City's historic Main Street activities, and the county's library and recreation center network offer something every weekend. Many events are free and designed with young families in mind.
Sat, Aug 8· 10:00 AM - 11:00 AM
Lowe's Build and Grow Kids Workshop
📍 Lowe's Columbia
Free building clinic for kids at Lowe's. Kids build a wooden project with guided instructions and get to keep their creation.
Sat, Aug 8· 8:30am-11:00am
Sapwood Saturday Bike Ride
📍 Sapwood Cellars Brewery
A social community bike ride through Howard County with two route options, followed by beers and food from Albura Taqueria at the brewery.
Sat, Aug 8· 11:00 AM - 11:30 AM
Barnes & Noble Saturday Storytime
📍 Barnes & Noble Ellicott City
Free weekly storytime for kids at Barnes & Noble. Stories, activities, and a love of reading — every Saturday at 11am.
Sun, Aug 9· 2:00 PM - 4:00 PM
Michaels Kids Club
📍 Michaels Columbia
Free in-store kids crafting event at Michaels. Kids create a themed craft project. All supplies included.
Thu, Aug 13· 6:00pm-late
Thomas Rhett: The Soundtrack to Life Tour with Kashus Culpepper and Emily Ann Roberts
📍 Merriweather Post Pavilion
Country artist Thomas Rhett brings his The Soundtrack to Life Tour to Merriweather with opening acts, offering an accessible family-friendly concert experience.
Thu, Aug 13· 6:00pm-show 7:30pm
Thomas Rhett: The Soundtrack to Life Tour
📍 Merriweather Post Pavilion
Country artist Thomas Rhett performs his Soundtrack to Life Tour with openers Kashus Culpepper and Emily Ann Roberts for a family-friendly concert experience.
Fri, Aug 14· open hours
Sunflower Showcase
📍 Clark's Elioak Farm
Extended celebration of blooming sunflowers with opportunities to wander through the patch and take photos. Beautiful field display for families to enjoy.
Fri, Aug 14· 5:30pm-late
The Fray – Summer of Light Tour with Dashboard Confessional and Colony House
📍 Merriweather Post Pavilion
The Fray performs their Summer of Light Tour with Dashboard Confessional and Colony House, bringing popular alternative rock to the pavilion.
Sat, Aug 15· 5:30pm-late
Zac Brown Band: Love & Fear Tour with Old Crow Medicine Show
📍 Merriweather Post Pavilion
Zac Brown Band brings their Love & Fear Tour to the pavilion with Old Crow Medicine Show, featuring country and Americana music suitable for families.
Sat, Aug 15· 11:00 AM - 11:30 AM
Barnes & Noble Saturday Storytime
📍 Barnes & Noble Ellicott City
Free weekly storytime for kids at Barnes & Noble. Stories, activities, and a love of reading — every Saturday at 11am.
Sat, Aug 15· 10:30-12:00, 13:00-14:30
Back to School Bash
📍 Clark's Elioak Farm
A pre-school celebration featuring princess characters, a show with songs and dancing, crafts, photo ops, and admission to the petting farm.
Fri, Aug 21· 10am-5:30pm
Sunflower Showcase
📍 Clark's Elioak Farm
A seasonal celebration featuring blooming sunflowers where visitors can wander through the sunflower patch and take photos.
Sat, Aug 22· 11:00 AM - 11:30 AM
Barnes & Noble Saturday Storytime
📍 Barnes & Noble Ellicott City
Free weekly storytime for kids at Barnes & Noble. Stories, activities, and a love of reading — every Saturday at 11am.
Sat, Aug 29· 11:00 AM - 11:30 AM
Barnes & Noble Saturday Storytime
📍 Barnes & Noble Ellicott City
Free weekly storytime for kids at Barnes & Noble. Stories, activities, and a love of reading — every Saturday at 11am.
Sat, Sep 5· 9:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Home Depot Kids Workshop
📍 Home Depot Columbia
Free hands-on building workshop for kids ages 5-12. Kids build a wooden project and get to keep it, plus earn a pin and certificate.
Sat, Sep 5· 11:00 AM - 11:30 AM
Barnes & Noble Saturday Storytime
📍 Barnes & Noble Ellicott City
Free weekly storytime for kids at Barnes & Noble. Stories, activities, and a love of reading — every Saturday at 11am.
Sat, Sep 12· 10:30-12:00, 13:00-14:30
Princess Pumpkin Party
📍 Clark's Elioak Farm
A fairy tale-themed celebration with princess characters, shows, storytelling, pumpkin painting, and full-day petting farm access.
Sat, Sep 12· Saturday 1:00 PM - 2:30 PM
25 Artifacts for the 250th! — Ages 8+
📍 Howard County Recreation & Parks
Historical artifacts program for ages 8 and up
Sat, Sep 12· 10:00 AM - 11:00 AM
Lowe's Build and Grow Kids Workshop
📍 Lowe's Columbia
Free building clinic for kids at Lowe's. Kids build a wooden project with guided instructions and get to keep their creation.
Sat, Sep 12· 11:00 AM - 11:30 AM
Barnes & Noble Saturday Storytime
📍 Barnes & Noble Ellicott City
Free weekly storytime for kids at Barnes & Noble. Stories, activities, and a love of reading — every Saturday at 11am.
Sun, Sep 13· 2:00 PM - 4:00 PM
Michaels Kids Club
📍 Michaels Columbia
Free in-store kids crafting event at Michaels. Kids create a themed craft project. All supplies included.
Sat, Sep 19· 11:00 AM - 11:30 AM
Barnes & Noble Saturday Storytime
📍 Barnes & Noble Ellicott City
Free weekly storytime for kids at Barnes & Noble. Stories, activities, and a love of reading — every Saturday at 11am.
Sat, Sep 19· 10am-5:30pm
Pumpkin Patch Open
📍 Clark's Elioak Farm
Annual pumpkin patch with petting farm, food vendors serving kettle corn, lemonade, hot dogs, and pizza, plus all regular farm activities.
Sat, Sep 19· 10:00-16:00
Jodi Picoult to headline inaugural Carroll Book Festival
📍 Carroll County Farm Museum
Inaugural Carroll Book Festival headlined by bestselling author Jodi Picoult on September 19 at Carroll County Farm Museum. Features children's character breakfast, author panels, book signings, and vendor activities.
Fri, Sep 25
All Things Go Music Festival – 3 Day Pass
📍 Merriweather Post Pavilion
Multi-day music festival featuring Mitski, Hayley Williams, Brandi Carlile, and many more artists across diverse genres, offering a full weekend of live music entertainment.
Sat, Sep 26· 11:00 AM - 11:30 AM
Barnes & Noble Saturday Storytime
📍 Barnes & Noble Ellicott City
Free weekly storytime for kids at Barnes & Noble. Stories, activities, and a love of reading — every Saturday at 11am.
Sat, Sep 26
All Things Go Music Festival – 3 Day Pass
📍 Merriweather Post Pavilion
A multi-day music festival featuring a diverse lineup of indie, pop, and alternative artists including Mitski, Hayley Williams, Brandi Carlile, and many more. Family-friendly options available across
Sat, Oct 3· 9:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Home Depot Kids Workshop
📍 Home Depot Columbia
Free hands-on building workshop for kids ages 5-12. Kids build a wooden project and get to keep it, plus earn a pin and certificate.
Sat, Oct 3· 11:00 AM - 11:30 AM
Barnes & Noble Saturday Storytime
📍 Barnes & Noble Ellicott City
Free weekly storytime for kids at Barnes & Noble. Stories, activities, and a love of reading — every Saturday at 11am.
Sat, Oct 10· 10:00 AM - 11:00 AM
Lowe's Build and Grow Kids Workshop
📍 Lowe's Columbia
Free building clinic for kids at Lowe's. Kids build a wooden project with guided instructions and get to keep their creation.
Sat, Oct 10· 11:00 AM - 11:30 AM
Barnes & Noble Saturday Storytime
📍 Barnes & Noble Ellicott City
Free weekly storytime for kids at Barnes & Noble. Stories, activities, and a love of reading — every Saturday at 11am.
Sun, Oct 11· 2:00 PM - 4:00 PM
Michaels Kids Club
📍 Michaels Columbia
Free in-store kids crafting event at Michaels. Kids create a themed craft project. All supplies included.
Sat, Oct 17· 11:00 AM - 11:30 AM
Barnes & Noble Saturday Storytime
📍 Barnes & Noble Ellicott City
Free weekly storytime for kids at Barnes & Noble. Stories, activities, and a love of reading — every Saturday at 11am.
Sat, Oct 24· 11am-2pm
Halloween Costume Parades
📍 Clark's Elioak Farm
Costume parades held twice daily where families can dress up and participate in Halloween celebrations at the farm.
Sat, Oct 24· 11:00 AM - 11:30 AM
Barnes & Noble Saturday Storytime
📍 Barnes & Noble Ellicott City
Free weekly storytime for kids at Barnes & Noble. Stories, activities, and a love of reading — every Saturday at 11am.
Sat, Oct 31· 11:00 AM - 11:30 AM
Barnes & Noble Saturday Storytime
📍 Barnes & Noble Ellicott City
Free weekly storytime for kids at Barnes & Noble. Stories, activities, and a love of reading — every Saturday at 11am.
Sat, Nov 7· 10am-5:30pm
Pumpkin Chucking Weekend
📍 Clark's Elioak Farm
A 20-year farm tradition where families launch pumpkins across the farm using a special catapult to see how far they can go.
Sat, Nov 14· Saturday 4:00 PM - 8:00 PM
"Resilient Earth, Resilient Communities" Exhibit Showcase — All Ages
📍 Howard County Recreation & Parks
Exhibit showcase event at Robinson Nature Center
Frequently Asked Questions
What family events happen in Howard County?▼
Explore Other Areas
Never miss a Baltimore family event
Get the best events delivered to your inbox every week — curated by AI, reviewed by parents.
Subscribe Free