Columbia Festival of the Arts FREE Lakefest Weekend

The Columbia Festival returns to the Downtown Columbia Lakefront with its FREE LakeFest Weekend featuring three days of live music, an invitational fine arts and crafts show, kids’ entertainment and crafts, a variety of activities for all ages, and fabulous festival food fare. LakeFest is produced by the Merriweather Arts and Culture Center as part their ongoing collaboration with the Columbia Festival of the Arts.

Invitational Fine Arts & Crafts Show

Our juried, invitational show returns with more than 50 extraordinary artisans displaying and selling their one-of-a-kind artwork representing a breadth of media including functional and wearable art at a wide range of prices. Booths located throughout the Festival grounds.

Friday, June 20: 5:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.  

Saturday, June 21: 11:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m.  

Sunday, June 22: 11:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.

Interactive Art Activities & Performances for All Ages

Throughout the weekend, enjoy a wide variety of interactive arts activities including coloring our Monster Mural, as well as hands on projects from KidzArt Howard County and Pinot’s Palette. Other highlights include the return of the Columbia Association Art Center’s Painted Umbrella Exhibit along the lake and Black Cherry Puppet Theater.

Food Trucks & Specialty Foods

If you’ve already started daydreaming about eating your festival food favorites during LakeFest Free Weekend, it’s completely normal – we have too! We will have a variety of delicious packaged and made-to-order options. Check out the complete list of food trucks and specialty foods available!

Lakefest Schedule

Friday, June 20th

5:00 pm – 5:45 pm LakeStage: KEN DEMITH COLLECTION

5:00 pm – 8:00 pm Painted Umbrellas Exhibit

5:00 pm – 8:00 pm Fine Arts & Crafts Show

5:00 pm – 8:00 pm Tie Dye a Drawstring Backpack!

5:00 pm – 8:00 pm Caricature Artist

5:00 pm – 8:00 pm Ballon Sculptor

5:00 pm – 9:00 pm Color the Monster Mural

6:00 pm – 7:15 pm LakeStage: HALF GRINGA

7:30 pm – 9:00 pm LakeStage: GABY MORENO

9:15 pm – 10:30 pm LakeStage: ZACH PERSON