HoCo Family

  • Cold Moon Hike & Campfire--Had enough of winter? Get outdoors and take a light, one mile hike through the woods with us. then chill by the fire with S'mores and conversation. Come see how beautiful evening woods in winter can be while you dash away those cabin fever blahs!
  • Shop, Dine & Be Mine--Whether a romantic dinner for two, a fun family outing or getting creative with friends - there's something everyone will love in Old Ellicott City this February. Shop special sales in our unique shops to find the perfect gift or participate in one of the many offered creative classes to craft your own.  Come see what's new in Old Ellicott City and fall in love again.
  • Lil' Stars--Let your little one discover outer space through views of the stars and planets, stories, crafts or song. Give your child a special nighttime experience during the day! Each month we focus on a different theme from colors of stars, to the stories behind a constellation, to the seasonal changes in the sky. Pre-register to secure your seats. No late seating.
  • Afternoon English Tea--Enjoy a traditional English Afternoon Tea in the stately Belmont Manor, built in 1738. Your taste buds will be tempted with a bottomless pot of tea, a Manor scone served with clotted cream and jam, tea savories and a delectable assortment of desserts. After “Taking tea,” we invite you on a self-guided tour of the Manor. Pre-registration is required. $35 is due upon registration. Seating is communal. We suggest you arrive promptly at 2:00 PM so you can save seats together for your entire party.
  • Maple Sugaring in Maryland--Maryland is at the southern edge of the eastern US for tapping maple trees. Mr. Banneker likely tapped maple trees to harvest one of nature's tastiest sweeteners. Learn about the history of maple sugaring, help tap a tree and taste the sticky treat for yourself!
     

HoCo Festivals

  • 39th Wedding Extravaganza--Extravaganza Tickets

    Advanced Purchase $30 per person; Day-Of Tickets $40 per person

    Tickets Include:

    • 80 wedding service exhibitors
    • Extensive hot & cold Hors D'oeuvres selection
    • Open Wine & Beer Bar
    • Runway Fashion Show featuring The Bridal Boutique, Love It! At Stella's and Potomac Bridal

HoCo Music

  • Pocket Bells--Pocket Bells is an indie band from Baltimore MD. Formed in 2016 by Evan Daniel Kornblum and fronted by Piper Greenbaum, the band won the 2017 WTMD Baker Artist Grant and their song "What it Feels Like" charted in the top 50 songs of the year. Their latest single, "Two Stop Train" is currently in rotation on AAA radio. Audiences describe Pocket Bells as an "unrelenting force" that is "impossible to ignore" with "unparalleled musical chemistry."
  • Kat Wright & Seth Walker--A star on the rise, Kat Wright is anything but typical. Her powerful pipes have been described as “a young Bonnie Raitt meets Amy Winehouse”. Add to that voice enough stage presence to tame lions, and the combination of feline femininity proves immediately enchanting. There’s soul flowing in and out of her rock ‘n’ roll with a serpentine seduction. Some of soul music’s sweet, grand dames belt, shout, seethe, and succumb, while Wright sings gently like a heartache’s apology. Catch her with modern roots singer-songwriter, Seth Walker.
  • Doric String Quartet--Hailed as the leading British quartet of its generation, the Doric String Quartet makes its Baltimore metropolitan area debut on February 23rd at 7pm at Smith Theatre, on Howard Community College's campus, in a concert sponsored by Columbia's Candlelight Concert Society. Masters of a broad range of repertoire, the Doric will offer a program that spans the development of this much-loved medium.
  • Great Sring Quartets of the 20th Century--Exploring the great string chamber music of the 20th century, works by William Bloom and Pulitzer Award-winner Walter Piston will be performed.
    Come and enjoy the first and only string quartet by Samuel Barber, who is considered as one of the most expressive representatives of romantic trends in the 20th century.
  • The Brother Brothers & Dead Horses--Identical twins Adam and David Moss are a musical duo unlike most others. The Brother Brothers sound is striking and undeniably captivating. Often leaning towards the darker, moody elements of Appalachian folk, klezmer, and bluegrass traditions, their songs are laden with near perfect sibling harmonies, compelling writing, and imaginative arrangements accompanied by cello, guitar, and 5-string fiddle. With individual storied careers in the Americana scene under their belts, the brothers are finally teaming up to bring their experiences together. Their debut EP, Tugboats (2017), has garnered noteworthy praise, with Saving Country Music dubbing the duo, "the closest thing you can find to Simon & Garfunkel in this century.”

HoCo Arts

  • Art to Warm the Soul--Artists’ Gallery in Ellicott City invites passersby to take a break from the winter weather and enjoy  “Art to Warm the Soul.” 
  • Fiber Redux--Fiber Redux pairs the work of two mixed-media artists. In her colorful sculptural work, Kelly Boehmer entangles symbols of fantasies with metaphors for anxieties while Meg Schaap’s artwork expresses a contemporary portrait of France’s iconic Queen Marie Antoinette.
  • Gypsy: Let me Entertain You--Regarded by many theatre professionals as the greatest musical ever created, GYPSY is the ultimate tale of an ambitious stage mother fighting for her daughters’ success while secretly yearning for her own. Set in the 1920’s, when vaudeville was dying and burlesque was born, GYPSY explores the world of show business with brass, humor and heart featuring the hits “Everything’s Coming up Roses” and “Let Me Entertain You.”
  • HoCo Open--HoCo Open is an annual non-juried exhibit showcasing Howard County artists. Artists (aged 18 years and older) who live, work, or study in Howard County were invited to bring one piece of ready-to-hang original artwork completed in the past two years to the drop-off on January 3 from 4:30–6:30pm for inclusion in the exhibit.
  • Undesign the Red Line--Undesign the Redline is an interactive exhibit that explores the history of structural racism and classism, how these designs compounded each other from redlining maps until today, and how we can come together to undesign these systems with intentionality.
  • Cocktail Class: Sours & Flips-Famous Cocktails with Egg--A whole category of drinks—sours (including whiskey sours)—were traditionally made with egg whites. When properly shaken, the whites give drinks a silky, almost creamy texture, but they remain light and crisp, unlike cocktails made with whole eggs or cream. An egg white cocktail will also have a pretty, distinctive head on top, almost like a cappuccino; bartenders often decorate this with bitters.  Each class features at least 3 craft cocktails built around a unique spirit or liquor. Learn tips and techniques along with a little history: this is a great way to start building a craft spirit bar! Each class includes a $10 credit towards a purchase after the class.
  • Wine Class: Wine 101, Discussion & Tasting--In this wine 101 class we will discuss how and why we taste wines with an emphasis on the science behind tasting. We will swirl, sniff, and sip while discussing proper wine terminology. This is a fun and interactive way to begin learning about the world’s most famous varietals and, most importantly, learn how to discuss wine with others.
  • Paint Nite @ Ellicott Mills Brewing Company