County residents may expect Little Patuxent Parkway to close due to expected traffic
ELLICOTT CITY, MD – County Executive Calvin Ball and Howard County Recreation & Parks announced this year’s July 4th fireworks celebration at the Lakefront at Columbia will feature live music, on-site food trucks, and COVID-19 vaccines.
Thanks to our incredible progress with vaccinating our residents and record low COVID-19 cases in Howard County, we're able to host a safe and exciting July 4th celebration this year. We did not get here by chance – and we’re grateful to all of our residents who have taken the important step of getting vaccinated to protect themselves and their loved ones. While many of our County services and offices will be closed during the holiday weekend, there will still be opportunities to get vaccinated during our celebrations.
July 4th Celebration Details
The 22-minute fireworks show will start around 9:20 p.m. at Lake Kittamaqundi in Columbia. Attendees who wish to place blankets at the Columbia Lakefront may do so starting after 3:00 p.m. The party starts at 5:00 p.m. with live music from local bands Pebble to Pearl and Groovalicious on the Lakefront stage followed by a performance of the National Anthem by Students Partnering with Veterans just before 9:00 p.m.
“After the challenges of the past year, we know everyone is excited for the return of our popular July 4th fireworks display” said Recreation & Parks Director A. Raul Delerme. “This year, we’re pleased to be able to offer live musical entertainment and a variety of unique food trucks as we once again celebrate our country’s independence under the stars at the Columbia Lakefront.”
Food trucks will be located in the American City parking lot, including Bullhead Pit Beef, Kona Ice of Howard County, Deddle's Mini Donuts, Blowfish Poke, Dee's Food & Snack Shack, Althea's Almost Famous, Taste N See Kettle Corn, Ravin' and Cravin' Food Truck, Flair Cuisine, Zen Hemp and Sunny's Snowballs.
Free public parking for this event will be located at the Mall in Columbia. Please note that the Little Patuxent Parkway may close around 7:00 p.m. due to expected high traffic volume related to the event. Please note that drivers are not permitted to pull off onto the shoulder of Route 29 to view the fireworks.
While the event is free to the public, attendees may also choose to view the live entertainment and fireworks from a premium location provided by the Inner Arbor Trust and the Columbia Association that includes a dinner buffet and cash bar. Ticket sales help raise funds for free arts programming in Downtown Columbia at the Chrysalis and Lakefront.
For additional information on this year’s July 4 fireworks display, visit
https://www.howardcountymd.gov/july-4th-fireworks.
Vaccines
Care 4 Your Health will be at the Lakefront on July 4th from 1:00 – 7:00 p.m. administering COVID-19 vaccines. Residents will be able to receive first or second doses, all three vaccines will be available: Johnson & Johnson, Moderna, and Pfizer.
Care 4 Your Health will be located in a mobile RV unit in the parking lot. For more information about the COVID-19 vaccine, and other locations to receive a shot, please visit vaccine.howardcountymd.gov.