Here’s what to expect during Columbia’s annual LakeFest weekend, starting Friday – Baltimore Sun

When musician Bette Smith returns to her home in Brooklyn, New York, she places a colorful pin on the world map to commemorate the places her music has taken her. After this weekend, Smith will be able to pin another pin, this time in Columbia, Maryland, to celebrate her performance at the 37th annual Lakefest weekend.

Smith will join a long list of artists, musicians and residents who will gather at the Downtown Columbia Lakefront for performances and exhibitions as part of the three-day festival presented by the nonprofit Columbia Festival of the Arts.

The free LakeFest weekend begins Friday at 5 p.m. and runs through Sunday at 7 p.m. A detailed schedule can be found at columbiafestival.org.

More than 15 musical groups will perform this weekend, including DeerLady, Telmary y HabanaSana, Brass Queens, PERCUSSION DISCUSSION AFRICA, steel bands from Centennial and Wilde Lake high schools, and Smith, which describes itself as a mix of “soul, blues with a little funk” and “a little bit of rock”.

Vendors such as Altheas Almost Famous, Blowfish Poke & Grill, Roaming Burger, Koshary Corner and Kona Ice will also have food trucks on site.

For Smith, music serves as an “equalizer” in relationships with other people. By singing, Smith said she is able to connect with others and create a space for music in her community.

“Everyone has a role in them that vibrates and resonates musically,” Smith said. “If you sing to them, they’ll be on your wavelength.”

Alex Joseph and Ally Chapel, founders of the New Orleans-inspired Brooklyn-based all-female brass band Brass Queens, will also perform in Colombia for the first time. The musicians hope that participants will be inspired to support local artists and pursue their own aspirations.

Dave Simmons, festival programming director, said LakeFest Weekend is a way to strengthen connections between local, regional and national artist groups while also highlighting the diverse communities in and around Howard County.

“We try really hard to make sure we appropriately reflect the many cultures found in Howard County and the region,” Simmons said.

About 50 artists will be selling a variety of works at booths during the weekend festival, including stained glass, photographs, wood, textiles and painted objects. Some vendors include BoHo Fabric Art, Suzanne Arden Glass, Nancy Nelson Jewelry and Avner Ofer Photography.

The festival will also allow community members to participate in the creation of art. Throughout the weekend, there will be a mural available for participants to color with washable markers, as well as free arts and crafts classes for children sponsored by KidzArt. Roll Up N Dye will host tie-dye napkin making sessions. Participants can also see the Human Emotional Support Sculpture by the Horizon Foundation, where they can write personal expressions or place colorful signs on parts of the sculpture.

The LakeFest Umbrella Exhibit will also be on display around Lake Kittamaqundi throughout the weekend. Last month, the arts festival asked community members to take a golf umbrella and use it as a canvas, expressing their creativity in line with the theme of “The Three Cs: Community, Connection and Culture.” All decorated umbrellas will have the letter “C” somewhere in the design and will be on display from 5pm on Friday.