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.
The next 50 events, 28 free. Ranked highest: Photos with Santa at The Mall in Columbia, Holly Jolly Holiday Decorating Party at Barnes & Noble and LEGO Holiday Build Event at Barnes & Noble.
Fri, Oct 2· 7:00 PM - 9:00 PM
Public Roller Skating
📍 Roller Skate Arena (Supreme Sports Club)
Weekly public roller skating sessions at the Roller Skate Arena with rentals and skate aids available.
Sat, Oct 3· 1:00 PM - 3:00 PM
Public Roller Skating
📍 Roller Skate Arena at Supreme Sports Club
Weekly public roller skating sessions at the Roller Skate Arena with rentals and skate aids available.
Fri, Oct 9· 7:00 PM - 9:00 PM
Public Roller Skating
📍 Roller Skate Arena at Supreme Sports Club
Weekly public roller skating sessions at the Roller Skate Arena with rentals and skate aids available.
Wed, Oct 14· 4:00 PM - 5:30 PM
Smart Cents: Let's Talk About Financial Literacy for Teens
📍 The Youth and Teen Center @ The BARN / Columbia Association
A free eight-part monthly financial literacy program for 6th-9th graders teaching money management, entrepreneurship, and healthy financial habits.
Fri, Oct 16· 7:00 PM - 9:00 PM
Public Roller Skating
📍 Roller Skate Arena (Supreme Sports Club)
Weekly public roller skating sessions at the Roller Skate Arena with rentals and skate aids available.
Sat, Oct 17· 1:00 PM - 3:00 PM
Public Roller Skating
📍 Roller Skate Arena (Supreme Sports Club)
Weekly public roller skating sessions at the Roller Skate Arena with rentals and skate aids available.
Mon, Oct 19· Saturdays 4:00 PM - 8:00 PM
"Resilient Earth, Resilient Communities" Exhibit Showcase
📍 Howard County Recreation & Parks
Exhibit showcase at Robinson Nature Center
Fri, Oct 23· 7:00 PM - 9:00 PM
Public Roller Skating
📍 Roller Skate Arena (Supreme Sports Club)
Weekly public roller skating sessions at the Roller Skate Arena with music, lights, and skate rentals available.
Fri, Oct 30· 7:00 PM - 9:00 PM
Public Roller Skating
📍 Roller Skate Arena (Supreme Sports Club)
Weekly public roller skating sessions at the Roller Skate Arena with music, lights, and skate rentals available.
Fri, Nov 6· 10:30am-12:30pm / 6:00pm-8:00pm
Toby's Dinner Theatre Presents: White Christmas
📍 Toby's Dinner Theatre
A festive dinner theatre production of the beloved holiday musical White Christmas with full meal service.
Sat, Nov 7· 1:00 PM - 3:00 PM
Public Roller Skating
📍 Roller Skate Arena (Supreme Sports Club)
Weekly public roller skating sessions at the Roller Skate Arena with rentals and skate aids available.
Sun, Nov 8· 1:00 PM - 3:00 PM
Public Roller Skating
📍 Roller Skate Arena (Supreme Sports Club)
Weekly public roller skating sessions at the Roller Skate Arena with rentals and skate aids available.
Wed, Nov 11
Thanksgiving To-Go Menu
📍 Victoria Gastro Pub
Victoria Gastro Pub offers a complete Thanksgiving to-go menu featuring starters, mains, sides, sauces, and desserts for convenient holiday ordering.
Thu, Nov 12· 3:00 PM - 4:30 PM
After-School Hangout
📍 Baltimore County Public Library - Catonsville Branch
An after-school program featuring crafts, activities, and fun for kids to spend time with friends.
Thu, Nov 12· 10:30 AM - 11:00 AM
Ready 2 Read Storytime: Ages 0-2
📍 Prince George's County Memorial Library System - Laurel Branch
A fun-filled half-hour storytime with stories, songs, and fingerplays for preschoolers at the New Carrollton Branch Library.
Thu, Nov 12· 9:30 AM - 10:00 AM
Play Partners (Infant-23 mos w/adult)
📍 Howard County Library System - Central Branch
A 20-30 minute developmental class for newborns and toddlers featuring stories, games, music, and playtime at Howard County Library System Central Branch.
Thu, Nov 12· 3:30 PM - 5:30 PM
AV Studio Teens!
📍 Howard County Library System - Savage
A drop-in STEAM class for teens to record music, create movies, and draw on iPads with instructor guidance.
Thu, Nov 12· 6:30 PM - 10:00 PM
Star Wars Unlimited
📍 Historic Savage Mill
Open Star Wars Unlimited trading card game event with demo and starter decks available.
Thu, Nov 12· 9:30 AM - 10:30 AM
Baby's Play Date (Infant - 23 months, with adult)
📍 Howard County Library System - Savage
A play date for infants aged 0-23 months with an adult caregiver featuring toys, board books, and social interaction at the Howard County Library System - Savage branch.
Thu, Nov 12· 6:00 PM - 7:00 PM
Beyond Words Junior (Ages 6-11, with adult) - Turkey Trouble!
📍 Howard County Library System - Savage
An inclusive monthly class for children ages 6-11 with developmental and intellectual disabilities featuring five engaging stations with motor skills, arts & crafts, cognitive skills, movement, and sensory activities.
Thu, Nov 12· 10:00 AM - 10:30 AM
Just for Me (Ages 3-6, independently)
📍 Howard County Library System - Savage
A 30-minute independent class for ages 3-6 focusing on creative expression, listening comprehension, and early reading skills at Howard County Library System - Savage branch.
Thu, Nov 12· 6:30 PM - 7:00 PM
Pajama Time (All Ages)
📍 Howard County Library System - Central Branch
A 30-minute bedtime class for all ages with an adult featuring stories, music, rhymes, and activities at Howard County Library System Central Branch.
Fri, Nov 13· 7:00 PM - 9:00 PM
Public Roller Skating
📍 Roller Skate Arena / Supreme Sports Club
Public skating sessions at the Roller Skate Arena with rentals and skate aids available for all skill levels.
Fri, Nov 13· 6:00 PM - 9:00 PM
Harvest Moon Hayride
📍 Laurel Riverfront Park
A fall hayride event at Laurel Riverfront Park featuring seasonal festivities.
Fri, Nov 13· 10:00 AM - 10:30 AM
Picture Book Parade with Craft (Ages 2-5, with adult)
📍 Howard County Library System - Savage
A 30-minute interactive storytime and craft program for toddlers and preschoolers with an adult caregiver at Howard County Library System - Savage branch.
Fri, Nov 13· 3:00 PM - 4:30 PM
After-School Hangout
📍 Baltimore County Public Library Catonsville - Catonsville Branch
An after-school program featuring crafts, activities, and fun for kids to spend time with friends.
Sat, Nov 14· Saturday 4:00pm-8:00pm
"Resilient Earth, Resilient Communities" Exhibit Showcase — All Ages
📍 Howard County Recreation & Parks
Exhibit showcase event at Robinson Nature Center for all ages
Sat, Nov 14· 10:00-14:00
Saturday Brunch
📍 Victoria Gastro Pub
Every Saturday from 10am to 2pm, enjoy Victoria Gastro Pub's incredible brunch offerings with lunch selection also available.
Sat, Nov 14· 9:30 AM - 10:00 AM
All Together Now (All Ages)
📍 Howard County Library System - Central Branch
A 30-minute interactive music and storytelling class for all ages with an adult at Howard County Library System's Central Branch.
Sat, Nov 14· Not specified
Photos with Santa
📍 The Mall in Columbia
Festive holiday photo opportunity with Santa at The Mall in Columbia.
Sat, Nov 14· 12:00 PM
LEGO Holiday Build Event
📍 Barnes & Noble - Ellicott City
A LEGO Holiday themed mini build event at Barnes & Noble where participants ages 10+ can build and take home a free LEGO kit.
Sat, Nov 14· 3:00 PM - 4:00 PM
Binary Code Basics (ages 9-12)
📍 Howard County Library System - Central Branch
Learn binary code basics and explore the building blocks of AI at this hands-on class for ages 9-12.
Sat, Nov 14· 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 14· 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, Nov 14· 10:30 AM - 11:30 AM
Science Saturdays: Parachute Egg Drop Challenge
📍 Anne Arundel County Public Library - Maryland City at Russett Library
Design a parachute and safely drop an egg to the ground while exploring the science of paratroopers.
Sat, Nov 14· 10:00 AM - 10:30 AM
All Together Now (Families)
📍 Howard County Library System - Savage
A 30-minute interactive class for infants to age 5 with adults featuring songs, stories, rhymes, and activities to build early learning skills.
Sat, Nov 14· 2:00 PM - 3:00 PM
Chemistry in the Library: Chemistry Under Construction (Ages 7 & up, 7 & 8 with adult)
📍 Howard County Library System - Central Branch
A hands-on chemistry program exploring the chemistry of building materials led by a chemist from the American Chemical Society.
Sat, Nov 14· 1:00 PM - 3:00 PM
Public Roller Skating
📍 Roller Skate Arena (Supreme Sports Club)
Weekly public roller skating sessions at the Roller Skate Arena with music, lights, and skate rentals available.
Sat, Nov 14· 6:00 PM - 9:00 PM
KidSpace Movie Night at Supreme Sports Club
📍 Supreme Sports Club
A monthly drop-off movie night with activities like basketball, table tennis, arts and crafts for kids at Supreme Sports Club.
Sat, Nov 14· 11:00 AM
Holly Jolly Holiday Decorating Party
📍 Barnes & Noble - Ellicott City
Join Barnes & Noble for a holiday-themed story time and decorating party in their Kids Department.
Sun, Nov 15· 1:00 PM - 3:00 PM
Public Roller Skating
📍 Roller Skate Arena (Supreme Sports Club)
Weekly public roller skating sessions at the Roller Skate Arena with rentals and skate aids available.
Sun, Nov 15· 12:00 PM - 9:00 PM
Free Bookmark Coloring Craft at sweetFrog Laurel
📍 sweetFrog Laurel
A free bookmark coloring craft activity for children at sweetFrog Laurel on November 15th.
Sun, Nov 15· 10:00-14:00
Sunday Brunch
📍 Victoria Gastro Pub
Every Sunday from 10am to 2pm, enjoy Victoria Gastro Pub's incredible brunch offerings with lunch selection also available.
Mon, Nov 16· 3:00 PM - 5:00 PM
Teen Spot
📍 Howard County Library System - Savage
A free after-school program for middle and high school students featuring arts, crafts, activities, games, and snacks at the library.
Mon, Nov 16· 10:00 AM - 10:45 AM
Little Learners (Ages 3-5, with adult) - Let's Play Bingo!
📍 Howard County Library System - Savage
A 45-minute interactive story, song, and bingo class for preschoolers with an adult caregiver.
Mon, Nov 16· 6:00 PM - 7:00 PM
Beginning Graphic Novel Club (Ages 5-8)
📍 Howard County Library System - Savage
A 60-minute graphic novel introduction class for beginning readers ages 5-8 featuring word bubbles, sequencing, and vocabulary building.
Mon, Nov 16· 10:30 AM - 11:00 AM
Babies in Bloom
📍 Anne Arundel County Public Library - Maryland City at Russett Library
A music and movement program for babies birth to 18 months with caring adults featuring songs, action rhymes, and playtime.
Mon, Nov 16· 10:30 AM - 11:00 AM
Ready 2 Read Storytime: Ages 2-3
📍 Prince George's County Memorial Library System - Laurel Branch
A joyful storytime session with stories, songs, and fingerplays designed for toddlers ages 2-3.
Mon, Nov 16· 4:00 PM - 5:00 PM
STEM Fun: Mayan Math Games
📍 Prince George's County Memorial Library System - Laurel Branch
Hands-on STEM activities exploring Mayan mathematics through interactive challenges at the Laurel Branch Library.
Mon, Nov 16· 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
OPEN HOUSE WEEK | November 16–20 8 AM – 5 PM
📍 Kiddie Academy of Laurel, MD
Kiddie Academy of Laurel hosts an open house week with exclusive year-end offers and limited spots available.
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