Festivals, Fairs and Events 05/05/04 Email this story to a friend Fireworks explode over Columbia's Kittamaqundi lakefront during Independence Day celebrations last Fourth of July April 10: Egg hunt, 10 a.m. at Patapsco Female Institute Park, 3691 Sarah’s Lane, Ellicott City; separate hunt for toddlers and creative bonnet contest; $2.50. 410-465-8500. April 18: Clyde’s American 10K Race, 8 a.m. start at Rouse Building in Columbia. Visit www.striders.net, or call 410-465-7735. April 24: Celebration of the Arts gala fund-raiser for Howard County Arts Council, 6 to 10:30 p.m., Rouse Theatre Buying bounty from local farms is a popular summer and fall activity at Wilde Lake High. Silent auction, HOWIE Awards, edibles. The audience will pick a grand winner among 10 finalists in HCAC’s Rising Stars/Emerging Artists contest. Tickets are $50 and $75. 410-313-ARTS. May 1-2: Maryland Sheep & Wool Festival, Howard County Fairgrounds, West Friendship. Animals, crafts, demonstrations, food and entertainment, including the famed sheep-to-shawl competition. Free admission and parking. 410-531-3647. May 13: Columbia Foundation Spring Cocktail Party, a gala fund-raiser at the Spear Center, Rouse Building. Proceeds fund grants for charities and cultural events. Tickets are $50. 410-730-7840. May 15-16: Wine in the Woods festival in Symphony Woods, with nine Maryland wineries. Sponsored by Howard County Recreation and Parks, $20. 410-313-7275. May 23: Columbia Triathlon, 7 a.m. at Centennial Park, Ellicott City, 1.5k Swim/ 41k Bike/10k Run. Visit www.tricolumbia.org, or call 410-964-1246. May 28-30: Columbia Invitational Soccer Tournament will showcase 300 youth teams from around the nation. Visit www.columbiatournament.com, or call 410-772-9373. June 4-5: Relay for Life, a fund-raiser sponsored by the American Cancer Society at the Howard Community College track. An overnight running/walking relay. Visit www.howardcountyrelay.com. June 18-27: Columbia Festival of the Arts is a two-week celebration with national and local artists at various venues. Paid concerts, free family shows, kids activities. Visit www.columbiafestival.com. June 16-Aug. 18: Sunset Serenades family concert series at Centennial Park, 7 p.m. Wednesdays. Local and nationally known bands. Grilled dinners available. $3 parking. 410-313-PARK. Late June to mid-September: Lakefront Summer Concert Series on Kittamaqundi lakefront. Presented by Columbia Association. Movies on Mondays, Fridays; open mike nights Tuesdays; musical performers Wednesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays; concert bands Sundays. 410-715-3000. July 4: Independence Day fireworks at Lake Kittamaqundi in Columbia at dusk. July 10-11: Native American Pow Wow at Howard County Fairgrounds, West Friendship. 410-442-1022. Aug. 7-14: 59th annual Howard County Fair at West Friendship fairgrounds. Rides, household arts, animals, horse shows and entertainment. 410-442-1022. Sept. 11: Columbia Classic Grand Prix Equestrian Show at Howard Community College. World-class competitors. 410-772-4450 or www.howardcc.edu/foundation. Mid-September through mid-October: Decorators Showhouse at a historic home in the county. Featuring 20 decorators, landscapers. Sponsored by Historic Ellicott City Inc. 410-461-0696. Sept. 25-26: Farm Heritage Days at Mt. Pleasant Farm, Woodstock. Vintage farm equipment demos, blacksmith shop, antique cars, wagon rides. 410-531-2569. Oct. 24: Sunday in the Park at Centennial Park, Ellicott City, 1 to 5 p.m. Sponsored by Howard County Recreation and Parks. “Victorian Times” theme, trick-or-treat trail; $2, $10 car. 410-313-PARK. October: Halloween in Historic Ellicott City. Go on ghost tours at the Patapsco Female Institute and on Historic Main Street various weekends, as well as trick or treat. 410-313-1900. Late November to early January: Symphony of Lights in Columbia’s Symphony Woods, with 70 larger-than-life lights displays; a fund-raiser for Howard County General Hospital. 410-740-7666. Early December: Dickens holiday tour of Historic Ellicott City; sit-down dinner followed by haunted house and ghost tour with Scrooge. 410-313-1900. Miracle on Main Street with merchants’ sales till midnight, food and music. 410-480-9805. Dec. 4-5: Holiday Mart at Centennial High School, sponsored by Howard County Department of Recreation and Parks. Unique décor and gift items for sale from 130 juried artisans; $4 per person. 410-313-PARK. December: Howard County Aglow tree-lighting ceremony at Centennial Park, 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Sponsored by Howard County Recreation and Parks. 410-313-PARK. Jan. 1: The Luminary Project hopes to line more than 1,000 streets in the county with luminarias for New Year’s Day. Visit http://LuminaryProject.com. March: An Evening in the Stacks fund-raiser will be held at the East Columbia Branch Library, 6600 Cradlerock Way. 410-313-7750.