Check out the other events celebrating Rec & Parks Month this July.
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Howard County Recreation and Parks, in partnership with the Columbia Association and the Merriweather Arts and Culture Center, is proud to present free food, entertainment, and fireworks to celebrate July 4th at the Downtown Columbia Lakefront. Bring a picnic or purchase food from on-site vendors ❤️🤍💙.
- 3pm - Blankets may be placed at the Lakefront
- 5-9pm - Food trucks will be available (This year’s participating food truck vendors include Blowfish Poke & Grill, Burgers & Bunz, Cousins Maine Lobster, Funnel Cake King, Greek on the Go, Kona Ice, Malik’s Ice Cream, Namit Filipino BBQ, Pacha Mama Juice, Taco Joint, Tasty Treats and More, Tom’s Coffee, and Tima Soft Serve.)
- 6-9pm - Music performances produced by the Merriweather Arts and Culture Center (MACC), including Dustbowl Revival and the Sidleys 🎶
- 9:15pm - Fireworks hosted by Howard County Rec & Parks start around dusk 🎆
ABOUT DUSTBOWL REVIVAL: The Dustbowl Revival is an Americana Soul band with eight full-time members who mash the sounds of New Orleans funk, bluegrass, soul, pre-war blues, and roots music, into a genre-hopping, time-bending dance party that coaxes new fire out of familiar coal.
ABOUT THE SIDLEYS: The Sidleys, fronted by husband-and-wife duo Annie and Steve Sidley, alongside their talented sons Sean, Colin, and Ian, DC’s first family of rock and soul delivers a fusion of soulful melodies and infectious beats. Influenced by legends like Stevie Wonder and The Beatles, their sound is both timeless and contemporary.
Learn more online at the CA event page.
(Rain date: 7/5, fireworks only) Inclement Weather: If there is a need for extreme delays or cancellation on July 4, we will have the fireworks the following evening (July 5th) at dusk. If rescheduled for July 5th, all other entertainment will be cancelled. Updates if needed will be on Facebook.
PARKING
FREE Car and Bicycle (Bike) Parking Available at this Event!
CARS: Free public parking for this event will be located at:
- The Mall in Columbia
- One and Two Merriweather Garage – 10970 Grantchester Way (Free on July 4)
- Symphony Woods garage, 6275 Mango Tree Road (Free on July 4)
- Merriweather District (Free on July 4)
- Sterrett Place North * limited *
There is no parking at the Lakefront. The Whole Foods parking lots will be closed at 6pm and will reopen at approximately 11pm. Parking on the Wincopin top deck or garage below is reserved for event staff and will require a permit for access.
ADA parking has been expanded. The lot at 10324 Little Patuxent Parkway will be open for ADA parking only starting at 2:00 p.m. on a first-come, first-served basis. An appropriate placard or license plate is needed for entry. Due to road closures, the lot will only be accessible by car before 6:00 p.m. Access after 6:00 p.m. will be limited to Mall Ring Road.
CLOSURES
There is no parking at the Lakefront and the Whole Foods parking lots will close at 6:00 p.m. and will not reopen until approximately 11:00 p.m.
The Howard County Police Department will close both directions of Little Patuxent Parkway between Symphony Woods Road and Governor Warfield Parkway from 6:00 to 11:00 p.m. and Little Patuxent Parkway between Broken Land Parkway and Symphony Woods Road from about 8:00 to 11:00 p.m. Traffic delays in the area can be expected.
BICYCLES (BIKES): Ride your bike to the July 4th festivities and park it for FREE in a secure space. For attendees looking to beat the traffic this July 4th, biking is the perfect way to get to and from this year’s event. Free bicycle parking will be available at the Bike Corral located at 10175 Wincopin Circle (next to GrillMarx) between the hours of 1:00 p.m. and 10:00 p.m.