Columbia Festival of the Arts Lakefest FREE Weekend

The Merriweather Arts & Culture Center (MACC) is proud to present the Columbia Festival of the Arts a LakeFest FREE Weekend June 12-14, 2026! We’re ready to jumpstart your summer with a free, three-day extravaganza featuring multiple performances from the vertical dance company EVENTI VERTICALI (Italy), live music on the new LakeStage, an invitational fine arts and crafts show, food trucks, a beer & wine garden, participatory workshops, and a variety of activities for all ages.

View Lakefest Schedule

Festival Hours:

Friday, June 12:

5:00 p.m. – 10:00 p.m.

Saturday, June 13:

11:00 a.m. – 10:00 p.m.

Sunday, June 14:

11:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m.

Lakefest Weekend At a Glance

eVenti Verticali Presents SPHERE

After spellbinding performances at LakeFest 2018, the gravity-defying Italian aerialists return with SPHERE, a thrilling new spectacle featuring dancers suspended 60 feet above the ground. Combining street theater and vertical dance, SPHERE takes the audience on a unique journey of hope, destruction, and rebirth, prompting reflection on the fragility of life and our impact on Earth.

Performances Times:

  • Friday, June 12: 9:20 p.m. – 9:50 p.m.
  • Saturday, June 13: 12:55 p.m. – 1:25 p.m., & 9:20 p.m. – 9:50 p.m.
  • Sunday, June 14: 12:55 p.m. – 1:25 p.m.

LakeStage Music Lineup

Andrew Bell - Ariel Posen - Nik West - Wilde Lake HS Modern Music Collective - Rakish - Dogo Du Togo - Chris Pierce - Tartan Terrors - Garifuna Collective - Patuxent Jazz Band - Lost Mary - Pablo Antonio Y La Firma - Shayna Steele - Glenelg Jazz Ensemble 

View Lakestage Lineup

Invitational Fine Arts & Crafts Show

Friday, June 12: 5:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. • Saturday, June 13: 11:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m. • Sunday, June 14: 11:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.

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.​

Interactive Art Activities & Performances for All Ages

Throughout the weekend, enjoy a wide variety of interactive arts activities including coloring our Monster Mural, as well as hands on projects from KidzArt Howard County and Pinot’s Palette. Other highlights include the return of the Columbia Association Art Center’s Painted Umbrella Exhibit along the lake and the Maryland Music Jukebox.

View Interactive Arts & Activities

Food Trucks & Specialty Foods

If you’ve already started daydreaming about eating your festival food favorites during LakeFest Free Weekend, it’s completely normal – we have too! We will have a variety of delicious packaged and made-to-order options. Check out the complete list of food trucks and specialty foods available!

Lakefest Schedule

Friday, June 12th

5:00pm - 5:45pm LakeStage: Andrew Bell
5:00pm – 8:00pm Painted Umbrellas Exhibit
5:00pm – 8:00pm Fine Arts and Crafts Show
5:00pm – 8:00pm Caricature Artist & Balloon Sculptor
5:00pm – 8:00pm Interactive Music Jukebox
5:00pm – 9:00pm Color the Monster Mural
6:05pm - 7:20pm LakeStage: Ariel Posen
7:40pm - 9:10pm LakeStage: Nik West
9:20pm - 9:50pm Venti Verticali Presents SPHERE

Saturday, June 13th

11:00am – 8:00pm Fine Arts and Crafts Show
Noon - 12:45pm LakeStage: Wilde Lake HS Modern Music Collective
12:55pm - 1:25pm eVenti Verticali Presents SPHERE
Noon – 4:00pm Balloon Sculptor
Noon – 5:00pm Interactive Music Jukebox
Noon – 6:00pm Caricature Artist
Noon – 8:00pm Color the Monster Mural
Noon – 8:00pm Painted Umbrellas Exhibit
12:30pm – 5:30pm KidzArt – Arts & Crafts Activities
1:25pm - 2:25pm LakeStage: Rakish
2:45pm - 3:45pm LakeStage: Dogo Du Togo
4:05pm - 5:30pm LakeStage: Chris Pierce
5:50pm - 7:20pm LakeStage: Tartan Terrors
7:40pm - 9:10pm LakeStage: Garifuna Collective
9:20pm – 9:50pm eVenti Verticali Presents SPHERE

Sunday, June 14th

11:00am – 6:00pm Fine Arts and Crafts Show
Noon – 5:00pm Color the Monster Mural
Noon – 5:00pm Painted Umbrellas Exhibit
Noon – 5:00pm Interactive Music Jukebox
Noon - 12:45pm LakeStage: Patuxent Jazz Band
Noon - 12:45pm Balloon Sculptor
Noon - 4:00pm Caricature Artist
12:30pm – 4:30pm KidzArt – Arts & Crafts Activities
12:55pm – 1:25pm eVenti Verticali Presents SPHERE
1:25pm - 2:10pm LakeStage: Lost Mary
2:30pm - 3:40pm LakeStage: Pablo Antonio Y La Firma
4:00pm - 5:20pm LakeStage: Shayna Steele
5:40pm - 7:00pm LakeStage: Glenelg Jazz Ensemble