Columbia To Celebrate 50th Birthday At Mall

COLUMBIA, MD — The 50th birthday of Columbia is approaching, and the festivities start this weekend.

The Mall in Columbia will hold a 50th birthday celebration on Sunday, March 19, for the city.

Opening ceremonies start at 11 a.m. in the mall's outdoor plaza, and the entertainment will continue until 4 p.m.

Representatives from each of Columbia's 10 villages as well as elected officials and Columbia's 50th birthday organizers will be on hand for the ceremony.

The party is billed as family friendly, with entertainment for all ages. Magicians, balloon artists, face painters and other performers will add to the excitement inside the mall as the party continues.

These performers will be near Lord & Taylor:

• Children's rock band Milkshake
• Jimmy Buffet tribute band Sons of Pirates
• Teelin Irish Dance Company
• Kalinka Dance Ensemble
• Lee Hee Kyung Korean Dance
• Cultural Plenera
• Muvva Kuchipudi
• Howard County Chinese School

Elsewhere in the mall African, flamenco, oriental and Latin dancers as well as martial artists will strut their stuff.

Pandora will sell a special 50th birthday charm at its store in the mall.

There will be Columbia 50 Birthday merchandise for sale at a kiosk as well.

Columbia officially turns 50 on June 21. It was that day in 1967 when Wilde Lake, its first village, opened.

"Appreciating the Past. Imagining the Future" is the theme of Columbia's 50th birthday celebration. To celebrate, Columbia is hosting a party each week from now until Sept. 23.

The birthday celebration at The Mall in Columbia is slated for Sunday, March 19, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. The event will begin at the outdoor plaza near Maggiano's and Seasons 52. In the event of inclement weather, the opening ceremony will be moved inside near Lord & Taylor at The Mall in Columbia, 10300 Little Patuxent Parkway, Columbia.