Columbia LakeFest 2018 Schedule, Parking, Performers

COLUMBIA, MD — The Downtown Columbia LakeFest is set for this weekend. And it looks like the weather is going to be stellar for the family friendly celebration, which is free.

Live music, art vendors and festival food will be available at the event, held around Lake Kittamaqundi off Wincopin Circle. There will also be a beer garden.

The festival is slated for Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

A special feature this year will be the group eVenti Verticali, an Italian-based group of performers whose work is described as a blend of circus, acrobatics and theatrics. The group will perform Friday and Saturday.

Other highlights: Local bands including Centennial Jazz Band (1:15-2:15 p.m.), Glenelg Jazz Ensemble (5:30-7 p.m.) and the Wilde Lake Steel Drum Band (noon-1 p.m.) will perform on Sunday, June 17.

A beer garden will be set up along the lakefront near the main LakeStage where musical groups will play, with other activities clustered around the walkways and buildings.

Parking will be available at the Wincopin Circle garage or off-site at Howard Community College, with free shuttle service every 15 minutes. See below for details on the shuttle schedule.

Temperatures are likely to be warm, with a high of 79 on Friday and temps climbing into the 80s before reaching the 90s on Monday. See the latest forecast for Columbia from the National Weather Service. The good news is that it will be sunny through the weekend. There's a slight chance of thunderstorms Saturday night.

eVenti Verticali performances are slated for 8:30-9 p.m. and 10:30-11 p.m. on Friday, June 15. There will also be a 1-5 p.m. workshop and 9-9:30 p.m. performance on Saturday, June 16. The group will perform near the Whole Foods parking lot, behind the American City building, according to the LakeFest map.

During LakeFest, there will be an array of activities, from freestyle painting and crafts to music-making, plus a literary-themed event Saturday and a craft project for Father's Day. See all activities.

More than 55 artists will be featured at the invitational art show and sale. See the list of vendors.

The LakeStage will feature these performers, according to Columbia Festival for the Arts, which organizes the events: Wanted, Chopteeth Afro Funk Big Band, Nelly’s Echo, All Our Exes Live in Texas, Bullbuckers, U.S. Navy Band Cruisers, Gaiteros De Sanguashinton, US Navy Band Cruisers, Mr. Gabe & the Circle Time All Stars, Maryland Winds, Wilde Lake Steel Drum Band, School of Rock Columbia, Glenelg Jazz Ensemble and Centennial Jazz Band. See the full schedule.

Parking

Free shuttle service will be provided Saturday and Sunday by Howard Transit from lot A at Howard Community College (10901 Little Patuxent Parkway Columbia) to the Downtown Columbia Lakefront. It will make departures every 15 minutes.

On Saturday, June 16, departures from the college will start at 11:45 a.m. and make its departure at 11 p.m.

On Saturday, June 16, departures from Columbia LakeFront at Wincopin Circle will start at 12:15 p.m., with the last departure at 11:30 p.m.

On Sunday, June 17, departures from Howard Community College start at 11:45 a.m. with the last departure at 7 p.m.

On Sunday, June 17, departures from Columbia LakeFront, Wincopin Circle, will starting at 12:15 p.m. with the last departure at 7:30 p.m.

See more information about LakeFest 2018 from the Columbia Festival of the Arts.

Patch file photo.