ELLICOTT CITY, MD – Howard County Executive Calvin Ball was joined by representatives of Merriweather Post Pavilion, the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra, the Columbia Association, the Inner Arbor Trust, the Columbia Festival of the Arts, and other organizations and stakeholders to announce Destination Downtown 2022: a one-stop online destination for upcoming festivals, arts programming, concerts, movies, and more. The consolidated list of upcoming seasonal events in Downtown Columbia is online at www.DestinationDowntown2022.com. Photos of the event can be found here.
Downtown Columbia has always been a destination for arts and culture, and commerce. In 2020, we had to hit the ‘pause’ button on exhibits and live performances. And now – with hopefully everyone who can be vaccinated and boosted – the time has come to hit ‘play’ – and to turn up the volume. This season, we’re inviting all our residents, and visitors from near and far to join us for joyful celebrations of the arts and family fun events – and to show them how to find everything that is going on in Downtown.
Destination Downtown 2022 Highlights:
- March 26th - June 5th – ROCKY The Musical, Toby’s Dinner Theatre
- Open May 2nd – Splashpad at Colorburst Park, Daily 10am – 7pm
- May 6th – M3 Rock Festival, Merriweather Post Pavilion
- May 13th – Chrysalis Cabaret: The Columbia Jazz Band, Chrysalis in Merriweather Park
- May 14th – Bike Around Downtown Block Party, Color Burst Park
- May 15th – Books In Bloom, Color Burst Park
- May 21st-22nd – Wine in the Woods, Symphony Woods Park
- June 4th – Artreach Festival, Long Reach Village Center
- June 10th-July 31st – Spongebob The Musical, Toby’s Dinner Theatre
- June 10th-12th – Lakefest Weekend – Columbia Festival of the Arts, Lake Kittamaqundi
- July 4th – Columbia Lakefront Fireworks, Lake Kittamaqundi
- August 14th – Concert and a Movie, Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, Merriweather Post Pavilion
"Summer arts and cultural events in Downtown Columbia have just begun,” said Amanda Hof, Executive Director for Visit Howard County. "From Merriweather Park in Symphony Woods to Merriweather Post Pavilion to the new vibrant Merriweather District, Toby’s Dinner Theatre, the Lakefront plaza, and Columbia’s Village Centers - Downtown Columbia is the place to be for arts and culture and summer fun".
Community and cultural programs at Merriweather Post Pavilion are back! After a couple challenging years, the Downtown Columbia Arts and Culture Commission is excited to again bring members of our community together under the stars at Merriweather Post Pavilion for music, movies, and so much more.
“CA is proud to manage and maintain the Downtown Columbia Lakefront year round, but this space really comes alive in the summer months,” President/CEO Lakey Boyd said. “Lakefront Live is a demonstration of CA’s commitment to providing inclusive opportunities for our community to connect. It's all about continuing the long-time favorites while bringing new and energized programming to the Lakefront, all intentionally curated to foster a true sense of belonging. We look forward to welcoming everyone this year!"
“The Trust is thrilled to welcome all to our lineup of no-cost, diverse, joyful performances at the Chrysalis,” said Nina Basu, President & CEO of the Inner Arbor Trust. “We also invite the public into Symphony Woods to enjoy this Downtown arts park for all.”
"As the agency responsible for fostering the arts in Howard County, we are excited to help kick-off the summer arts season in Downtown Columbia,” said Coleen West, Executive Director, Howard County Arts Council. “With broadway musicals and world-class concerts in the Merriweather District, crowd-pleasing activities at Lakefest, and nearby community arts events– such as Silhouette Stage’s production of Cinderalla at Slayton House and the ARTreach Festival at the Long Reach Village Center – there is something for everyone this summer! "
“Celebrating 35 years, the Columbia Festival of the Arts is a nonprofit organization that brings together the entire community for a professionally produced multi-disciplinary arts festival each summer featuring staged performances, fine art exhibitions, film, family activities, workshops, and community dialogues,” said Robert Marshall Neal, Executive Director of Columbia Festival of the Arts. “This June 10-12, join us at the Downtown Columbia Lakefront for three days of free live music and entertainment, including the return of the fine arts and crafts show and three days of performances from Australian circus and dance company Sway. For more information, please visit www.columbiafestival.org.”
“The Downtown Columbia Partnership is excited for summer in DTC. On Sunday, May 15th, we are welcoming investigative journalist Carl Bernstein to the Merriweather District as the headliner of the Books in Bloom Festival, which will showcase literature and the arts as powerful tools to enlighten and inspire audiences,” said Phillip Dodge Executive Director of the Downtown Columbia Partnership. “In addition, the Partnership is hosting the third annual BikeAround Downtown Columbia in collaboration with Columbia Association and the Howard County Office of Transportation who will be on hand to encourage people to make cycling a bigger part of their transportation, fitness and recreation routine.”
“The Howard Hughes Corporation is proud to return as the presenting sponsor of the 6th annual Books in Bloom festival hosted by the Downtown Columbia Partnership on May 15. It will build upon past years’ discussions of race, diversity, and inclusion with a look at today’s issues of media censorship and the current political and journalistic landscape.” said Howard Hughes President for Columbia Greg Fitchitt. “Festivals and community events that foster conversation and education around topics of social importance have never been more critical. And with the weather getting warmer now, Howard Hughes opened its Splash Pad yesterday and will soon launch its yoga series and Kitizen camp for youngsters. It is going to be an exciting summer.”
“We are so delighted for the opportunity to close the first leg of our Music for Maryland Tour at Merriweather Post Pavilion on August 14,” said BSO President and CEO Mark Hanson. “In our return to this beloved summer venue, it will be an honor to perform Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince In Concert, with such an iconic soundtrack, for the music and movie lovers of Howard County.”
“Toby’s Dinner Theatre is the Broadway of Howard County,” said Toby Orenstein, Owner of Toby’s Dinner Theatre. “As a proud and long standing-member of the arts community we’re thrilled to invite the entire family back to Toby’s for this incredible season of the arts.”