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The Columbia Festival returns to the Downtown Columbia Lakefront with its FREE LakeFest Weekend featuring three days of live music, an invitational fine arts & crafts show, kids’ entertainment and crafts, a variety of activities for all ages, and fabulous festival food. This year's LakeFest is being produced by the Merriweather Arts and Culture Center as part of the ongoing collaboration with the Columbia Festival of the Arts.THREE DAYS OF LAKESTAGE MUSIC
This year’s performer lineup includes dynamic, genre-bending artists from around the world. BETTE SMITH and her life-affirming blend of soulful rock will come to Columbia for the first time after winning rave reviews from American Songwriter, Billboard, and the New York Times. Rapper and poet TELMARY will bring her distinctive voice and empowering message all the way from Cuba, while DC favorites OH HE DEAD will bring the party and their infectious, danceable grooves to Columbia’s Lakefront. The dance party continues with the 10-piece, horn-based BRASS QUEENS, while the dynamic women of DEERLADY will span genres from jazz to indie rock with exceptional musicianship and improvisation.
Festival Hours:
Friday, June 14: 5:00 p.m. – 10:30 p.m. (art show ends at 8 pm)
Saturday, June 15: 11:00 a.m. – 10:30 p.m. (art show ends at 8 pm)
Sunday, June 16: 11:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m.
LAKESTAGE SCHEDULE
Friday, June 14
5:00 p.m. - 5:45 p.m. – LJR
LJR is a tenacious and passionate pop-rock artist who strives to empower and inspire his audience to live their lives to the fullest. Seamlessly blending ‘80s-style pop beats with alternative rock guitar solos, his music is tremendously anthemic and infectious while conveying remarkable vulnerability, speaking to those parts of the soul that yearn to heal and grow.
6:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. – DEERLADY
Mali Obomsawin is a bassist, singer and composer from Odanak First Nation, and one of GRAMMY.com’s top ten emerging jazz artists to watch this year. Her debut album Sweet Tooth garnered international acclaim and was named in ‘best of the year’ lists from The Guardian, NPR, and JazzTimes upon its release. Magdalena Abrego’s music confronts issues of musical tradition through genre-bending improvisation.
7:15 p.m. - 8:45 p.m. – TELMARY Y HABANASANA
From Havana, Cuba, street poet Telmary has emerged as a leader and trendsetter on the cutting edge of hip-hop and urban music in Cuba. As a rapper, Telmary uses her distinctive voice, at times deep and soulful, at times fast and aggressive to proclaim a positive, empowering message that contrasts with the genre’s commercial norm. Telmary continues to collaborate with a flurry of Cuban and international artists including Interactivo, Pedrito Martinez and Doctor John.
9:00 p.m. - 10:30 p.m. – BETTE SMITH
Singer Bette Smith traces elements of her music to her childhood in Brooklyn, where she heard gospel in church and soul on street corners. Combining these influences with rock and roll, Smith’s 2017 album Jetlagger was a breakout success, earning rave reviews from American Songwriter, Billboard, and the New York Times. Her latest album, The Good, the Bad, and the Bette, has been called “a stompin’ good time” by NPR’s All Things Considered. She has toured with artists such as Drive-By Truckers and Kenny Wayne Shepherd and performed across the United States and Europe.
Saturday, June 15
Noon - 12:45 p.m. – CENTENNIAL & WILDE LAKE STEEL BANDS Join us as the students from the WLHS Steel Band team up on stage with the Centennial Steel band for a special performance on the LakeStage! The bands will perform of a wide variety of music, from Calypso to Soca, jazz, and more.
1:00 p.m. - 1:45 p.m. – PATUXENT JAZZ BAND
Founded in 2015, the Patuxent Jazz Band operates under the Columbia Bands, Inc. (CBI) umbrella, and was formed to provide an outlet for community members to play in a jazz ensemble. Though some members play and teach music professionally, they are volunteers employed in a wide variety of professions, who share a love of music and a desire to play the many styles performed by jazz ensembles, from jazz/swing, to rock, to Latin.
2:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m. – DISCUSSION PERCUSSION AFRICA
Percussion Discussion Afrika was founded in 1997, by Uganda’s legendary percussionist Herman Ssewanyana and it is the country’s leading folk-fusion music group. The group performs on Ugandan traditional instruments that are little known to the world, like the Adungu, Akogo and a wide range of Ugandan hand drums. Their music is driven by the melodic sounds of hand drums, a signature instrument to the various tribes of Uganda.
3:15 p.m. - 4:15 p.m. – TAP BAND
Tap Band is the vibrant fusion R&B band that brings a unique blend of soulful melodies and infectious rhythms to the stage. With their dynamic sound and electrifying performances, Tap Band delivers a fresh take on classic R&B hits while infusing elements of jazz, funk, and pop into their music. Led by talented musicians and vocalists, the band creates an immersive experience that captivates audiences of all ages.
4:30 - 5:45 p.m. – BRASS QUEENS
Brass Queens is a 10-piece brass band whose sound is deeply inspired by the music of New Orleans mixed with the flair of modern pop. Hailing from Brooklyn, NY, the Brass Queens features an all-female horn section with the goal of expanding the space for women in a male-dominated industry. Brass Queens has performed at the 2021 Met Gala, on Good Morning America, multiple appearances at Governor's Ball Music Festival and Exit Zero Jazz Festival.
6:00 - 7:15 p.m. – EVERYDAY EVERYBODY
DC-based band Everyday Everybody (fka AZTEC SUN) has been performing since 2012, producing an upbeat, retro groove steeped in ‘70s Funk and Soul, Jazz, Afro-funk and Motown-era pop. Their sound and energetic live performances have yielded numerous rewards for the group - such as being named Best Local Original Band by the Washington City Paper. They have the stage with touring acts such as Burning Spear, The Suffers, and Cory Henry.
7:30 - 8:45 p.m. – BYWATER CALL
Bywater Call is a roof-rattling southern rock and soul band from Toronto, Canada. Led by powerhouse vocalist Meghan Parnell, the 7-piece band delivers heartfelt Americana with some funk, grease, and grit. They have appeared at many of the top tier blues venues in the country. The band has had the opportunity to tour Europe twice, including a main stage appearance at the Netherlands’ premiere blues festival Moulin Blues. Performances there have been praised in Dutch and German media, with references to Parnell as one of the best singers in blues and roots today.
9:00 - 10:30 p.m. – OH HE DEAD
Washington DC’s Oh He Dead brings their funky, poppy rock vibes wherever they go. Led by CJ Bowlin’ Johnson and her golden pipes, the five-piece group includes lead guitarist Alex Salser, John Daise-on-the-bass (say it outloud), Adam Ashforth on drums, and ViRG on keys. The close-knit crew is known for their contagious joy, and for putting on a hell of a live show as Johnson “maneuvers her powerful voice — a combination of Stevie Nicks and Tracy Chapman” (Kojo Nnamdi) in rhythm with the band’s “sublime instrumentation” (NPR) and “infectious and soulful sound” (Washington Post).
Sunday, June 16
Noon – 1:00 p.m. – SONG RIOT
Song Riot aren’t your average guitar and accordion duo. A cool jazz standard one minute, a rousing Celtic number the next, and that’s just for starters. Yet it all sounds of a piece, anchored by a passion for songs featuring strong melodies, a potential for musical exploration, and words that say something.
1:15 p.m. – 2:15 p.m. – WASHINGTON CHINESE TRADITONAL ORCHESTRA
The Howard County Chinese Cultural Center presents traditional and contemporary Chinese music featuring the Washington Chinese Traditional Orchestra. The programs include traditional instrumental music such as Erhu, Guzheng and Hulusi, etc. performed by renowned Chinese-American musicians in the Greater DC area. The Orchestra has brought audiences to their feet at venues such as the Kennedy Center, and Strathmore Hall.
2:30 - 3:45 p.m. – SWAMPDOG CLARK
Anthony Clark started out playing the drums at the age of five, and later added harmonica to his arsenal. Over the last 30 years, Clark has brought his hard-edged funky blues to venues such as Bangkok Blues, Chick Hall’s Surf Club, the Congressional Blues Festival, and the Silver Spring Blues Festival. He has opened for artists such as Chuck Brown, Deanna Bogart and Betty Lavette.
4:00 - 5:15 p.m. – PO’ RAMBLIN’ BOYS
The Po’ Ramblin’ Boys are at once exactly what you would expect and not at all what you would expect from a tattooed East Tennessee Bluegrass outfit. No strangers to hard work, the boys are as much at home riding in their 1965 GM Tour bus as they are crawling underneath to fix it when it needs maintenance. But they take pride in being ambassadors of their genre, and the group has brought their music from rural bluegrass festival stages to the rock clubs of Europe, with stunning results.
5:30 - 7:00 p.m. – GLENELG JAZZ ENSEMBLE
The Glenelg Jazz Ensemble has received more than 60 awards over the last 20 years, including the highest rating at the Maryland State Jazz Festival. Many national and regional jazz artists have shared the stage with the Ensemble, including Maynard Ferguson, The Count Basie Orchestra, Frank Foster, Carl Fischer, Chris Vadala, and Deanna Bogart.
Fine Art & Crafts Show & Sale
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.
Fine Art & Crafts Show & Sale Hours:
Friday, 5:00 – 8:00 p.m.
Saturday, 11:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m.
Sunday, 11:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m.
KidzArt – FREE Arts and Crafts
Presented in Partnership with KidzArt.
Children are invited to explore the visual arts with “artrageously” fun projects led by KidzArt, Howard County’s celebrated advocates of child creativity. Parents must remain with children during each activity. Permanent, non-washable materials may be used. Crayons and paper will be available for younger children. On-site registration is required as space is limited. Saturday, 12:30– 5:30 p.m. Sunday, 12:30 – 4:30 p.m.
Color the LakeFest Monster Mural!
Returning to LakeFest this year is the 16’ x 5 ‘life-sized coloring wall for attendees to color with washable markers all weekend long. It brings a little childhood to adults, and gives kids coloring on a scale they've never seen before!
Umbrellas Abound at LakeFest
Hosted by Columbia Association Art Center
Using golf umbrellas as canvases, community members, including children, teens, families, organizations, and professional artists created 50 colorful works of art inspired by the theme Community, Connection, Culture. Each umbrella has the letter C somewhere in it. See if you can find all the Cs. Vote for your favorite! Ballots will be available at the Columbia Association Booth located next to the display. After you complete your ballot, return it to the Booth ballot drop box. Winners will be announced on Sunday, June 16 at 1 p.m.
Pinot's Palette Lakefront Memory Boards
Paint your LakeFest Memories! People of all-ages can share their thoughts and images of the festival by painting them on a large canvas board. Pinot's Palette will provide all the supplies for this activity. The collaborative works of art will be on display at the Pinot's Palette Studio following LakeFest weekend. Images of this artwork will also be made available online on the Columbia Festival of the Arts social media channels. Pinot’s Palette will be on-hand each day LakeFest.
Create Your Own Reusable Napkin
Presented By Roll Up N Dye
Do you want to add some color to your lunchbox? Give cloth napkins a try! Come create useful art that the whole family can enjoy! Come tie dye a cloth napkin for free. Onsite registration is required. Napkins are provided but limited in number. Each session will last approximately 25 minutes. Friday, June 14, 5:00 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.
Visit the Emotional Support Human Sculpture
Sponsored by the Horizon Foundation, this dynamic sculpture encourages individuals to reflect on their emotional well-being through communal sharing and witnessing. Participants choose color coded plaques with words or images, or write personal phrases that express how they are feeling and place them on the “emotional support human” figures.
Black Cherry Puppet Theater
Throughout the weekend children will have the opportunity to witness the wonder and joy of traditional puppet theater. Since 1980, Baltimore's Black Cherry Puppet Theater, a non-profit association of artists and performers, has presented thousands of performances and workshops for adults and children throughout the Mid-Atlantic region. This is a show not to be missed! Various performance times throughout the weekend.
Festival Parking
Free parking (including Accessible Parking) available nearby at the Wincopin Circle parking garages. Visitors can also park at the Sterrett Place lot located at 5575 Sterrett Place. PLEASE DO NOT PARK AT WHOLE FOODS MARKET.
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Event Venue & Nearby Stays
Downtown Columbia Lakefront Promenade, 10210 Wincopin Cir, Columbia, MD 21044-3418, United States,Columbia, Maryland
