Plenty of October happenings to be had in Howard County, MD.

Events

Hops & Harvest Festival Logo

Hops & Harvest Festival - Oct. 8
Hops & Harvest is Columbia, MD's first craft beer festival! 25+ Maryland breweries & cideries, 25+ maryland artisans, live entertainment & games, fresh local food and take-home event glass! Unlimited tastings of your favorite beers or other artisan drinks! Join the fun during the midday session from 12-4 or venture out at twilight from 5-9 for just $40/ticket. 
Tickets.
Columbia Lakefront, 10227 Wincopin Circle, Columbia, MD

Iron Bridge Hounds - Oct. 8
Around 11 am you can catch a spectacular sight of majestic horses, riders, a hunt master and lots of happy hound dogs as the Iron Bridge Hounds & Horses ride to Sharp's at Waterford Farm. Stay afterwards to pick your own pumpkin or go through the corn maze!
Sharp's at Waterford Farm, 4003 Jennings Chapel Road, Brookeville, MD 20833

Historic Ellicott City Decorator Show House Avoca

Visit the Historic Ellicott City Decorator Show House - through Oct. 23
This much anticipated annual fundraising event showcases one of Howard County’s hidden Ellicott City area estates. Visitors can look forward to the transformation of this historic property by over a dozen interior designers as well as lunch at an onsite cafe. During more than three months of intensive renovation, the designers and Historic Ellicott City, Inc. have creatively reimagined this majestic 4,838 square foot manor house with innovative design concepts that will surprise and delight fans of old houses and new decorating ideas alike. A portion of the funds raised through ticket sales will be set aside in a fund to help restore and rebuild those properties in the historic district who were severely impacted by the flood waters.
Avoca, 4824 Montgomery Road, Ellicott City, MD 21043

Test your skills in a corn maze - through Oct. 30
Fumble your way through the Battle of the Beltway at Mullinix Corn Maze. Come get lost and learn some interesting facts about football! This years' maze is in the shape of our 2 favorite Maryland teams - the Redskins and Ravens. Answer all the questions throughout the maze to get a chance to win a raffle to a local restaurant each week. 
Mullinix Corn Maze 15115-15165 Carrs Mill Road, Cooksville, MD 21723

Go On A Ghost Tour in Historic Savage Mill - through Dec. 2
Discover Historic Savage Mill’s paranormal activity that continues to haunt the resident artists in present day.  Tours take place in a unique shopping destination, with both indoor and outdoor settings. Visitors can find a variety of dining, unique specialty shops, resident artists – and the restless spirits that roam the Mill’s halls.

Party in the Pit  - Oct. 14
Party in the Pit is a concert fundraiser at Merriweather Post Pavilion to benefit Historic Ellicott City. Featuring Damon Foreman (VIP Reception), The Doug Segree Band, 1 Nite Stand, Nine Days and Charm City Devils. Hosted by Councilman Greg Fox, Featuring Special Guest Hosts Howard County Executive Allan Kittleman, Senator Gail Bates, Delegate Bob Flanagan, Howard County Councilman Jon Weinstein. Beer provided by Jailbreak, Manor Hill, Oliver, and Union Craft
Tickets.
Merriweather Post Pavilion, 10475 Little Patuxent Parkway, Columbia, MD 21044

A group enjoying a concert at Merriweather Post Pavilion

Enjoy a Weekend in the Country with WPOC at Merriweather Post Pavilion - Oct. 15-16
Saturday - Featuring Little Big Town, Rodney Atkins, LOCASH, Chase Bryant, Granger Smith and Runaway June.
Sunday - Featuring Little Big Town, Dustin Lynch, Old Dominion, Maddie & Tae, Kane Brown, Runaway June.z
Full weekend tickets are available. 
Tickets.
Merriweather Post Pavilion, 10475 Little Patuxent Parkway, Columbia, MD 21044

Go on your own Great Pumpkin Adventure - Oct. 15
Enjoy pumpkin decorating and trick-or-treating throughout Historic Savage Mill! Add a kid's adventure course at Terrapin Adventures for $25. 
Historic Savage Mill, 8600 Foundry Street, Savage, MD 20763

Taste of Howard County - Oct. 23
Enjoy an evening of exquisite fare of more than twenty of the county’s finest restaurants, an oyster bar and specialty ice cream as well as mobile bidding on the largest silent auction in the area. All proceeds benefit Gilchrist Hospice Care’s inpatient hospice, Gilchrist Center Howard County.
Tickets.
Turf Valley, 2700 Turf Valley Road, Ellicott City, MD 21042

Pumpkins, Gem Mining & Geode Cracking Weekend - Oct. 8-9 & Oct. 15-16
You can do it all at Clark's Elioak Farm this Fall season. Where else can you pick a pumpkin, find gemstones, explore an amazing ROPE MAZE, remember nursery rhymes and fairy tales. Face painting, CJ's Pit Beef, Scoop & Paddle ice cream and local cider too.
Clark's Elioak Farm, 10500 Clarksville Pike, Ellicott City, MD 21042

Fall Harvest - Oct. 8-9, Oct. 15-16, Oct. 22-23, Oct. 29-30
Fall decorations; free hayrides to pick your own pumpkins; 5+ acre family educational corn maze, mini maze, scarecrow making, farm animals, face painting, tattoos and new this year.....pumpkin painting station! Visit our fully stocked country store! 
Sharp's at Waterford Farm, 4003 Jennings Chapel Road, Brookeville, MD 20833

Open House: Day in the Life of a Farmer - Oct. 12
One of the most popular fall educational programs that Sharp's at Waterford Farm offers. Included in the program is a farm class about bees and how they help the farmer grow his crops! You will see an observation bee hive and learn about the crops grown on our farm. Everyone gets to feed friendly animals, go through the mini corn maze, take a hayride that goes through the Cattail Creek, then harvest your own pumpkin and an ear of popcorn to take home with you! 
Tickets.
Sharp's at Waterford Farm, 4003 Jennings Chapel Road, Brookeville, MD 20833

Countdown to Halloween - Oct. 22-23
If you haven't gotten your pumpkins, now is the time! Visit our Pumpkin Patch, play in our Enchanted Pine Tree Forest & ROPE MAZE, enjoy face painting and all our great RIDES! Enjoy some Scoop & Paddle Ice Cream, CJ's Pit Beef and fresh local cider.
Clark's Elioak Farm, 10500 Clarksville Pike, Ellicott City, MD 21042

Kiddie Hayride - Oct. 23 & Oct. 30
Take a hayride to one of our corn fields, get off and walk through the corn trail while being greeted by friendly storybook characters who hand out candy to all the little children and grown ups. Finish up by getting back on the ride and returning to the starting area where there are plenty of games and fun things to do.
Tickets.
Living Farm Heritage Museum, 12985 Frederick Road, West Friendship, MD, 21794

Biketoberfest - Oct. 29
Watch some great cyclocross racing at the Howard County Living Farm Heritage Museum. Admission is free and there will be food & drinks for sale. 
Register.
Living Farm Heritage Museum, 12985 Frederick Road, West Friendship, MD, 21794

Halloween Costume Parades - Oct. 29-30
Parades at 11 AM and 2 PM on Saturday and Sunday. RIDES, face painting, Pumpkin Patch, Enchanted Pine Tree Forest & ROPE MAZE, find gemstones & minerals at our flume. Enjoy some Scoop & Paddle Ice Cream, CJ's Pit Beef and fresh local cider.
Clark's Elioak Farm, 10500 Clarksville Pike, Ellicott City, MD 21042

Open House-Harvest Celebration - Oct. 31
Sharp's at Waterford Farm invites families, scout groups, daycares, homeschoolers to come celebrate the fall harvest with us! Our time together will include learning about the farm animals and feeding the goats & chickens. We’ll then take a hayride through our fields & through the Cattail Creek! When we return, everyone can go through our 5 acre educational corn maze; (younger children can go through the mini corn maze!) All children will harvest their own pie pumpkin and an ear of popcorn to take home with them.
Tickets.
Sharp's at Waterford Farm, 4003 Jennings Chapel Road, Brookeville, MD 20833

Theater

Sister Act at Toby's Dinner Theatre

Sister Act - through Nov. 13
Toby's Dinner Theatre presents Sister Act! A woman hiding in a convent helps her fellow sisters find their voice as she rediscovers her own. Sister Act is the feel-amazing musical comedy based on the smash 1992 film that has audiences jumping to their feet! Featuring original music by TONY and 8-time Oscar winner Alan Menken (Newsies, Beauty and the Beast, Little Shop of Horrors), this uplifting musical was nominated for 5 TONY Awards including Best Musical. A sparkling tribute to the universal power of friendship, Sister Act is a reason to REJOICE!
Tickets.
Toby's Dinner Theatre, 5900 Symphony Woods Road, Columbia, MD 21044

Evil Dead the Musical at Red Branch Theatre Company
*Photo courtesy of Bruce F. Press & Red Branch Theatre Company

Evil Dead the Musical - Oct. 7-29
Follow five college friends on a weekend getaway as they accidentally unleash an evil, flesh-eating force. When you want to laugh, don’t worry– you’re supposed to! Red Branch Theatre Company presents this uproarious spoof that might be a little (or a lot) bloody, but it was created to make you cackle just in time for Halloween.
Tickets.
Drama Learning Center, 9130-I Red Branch Road, Columbia, MD 21045

Exhibits

Art Maryland 2016 - opens Oct. 28
This exhibit features work selected from nearly 400 entries submitted by 135 artists working in a wide variety of styles and mediums. Art Maryland 2016 will be on display from October 28 through December 9. A reception will be held on Friday, November 4 from 6-8PM and will include remarks and the presentation of over $1,700 in juror’s awards by guest juror Christopher Bedford, Director of the Baltimore Museum of Art.
Howard County Center for the Arts, 8510 High Ridge Road, Ellicott City, MD 21043