Official start of summer brings plenty of outdoor events | CLARKSVILLE
The official arrival of summer today brings the promise of sunny adventures and outdoor events.
The Clarksville Picnic has heralded the start of the season since the 1800s. The annual community gathering, hosted by St. Louis Catholic Church, returns for its 146th year on June 29, noon to 7:30 p.m., at 12500 Clarksville Pike. It’s one of the oldest and largest parish festivals in the Archdiocese of Baltimore.
The event offers fun for the whole family, from pony rides and carnival games for the kids to bingo and a silent auction for the adults. As food often takes center stage at gatherings, this one will not disappoint. Recipes that have been passed down for generations are showcased as sides to go along with the fried chicken and pulled pork dinners. And what picnic would be complete without hot dogs, hamburgers and ice cream? Perhaps most importantly, the organizers have planned for abundant shade to allow festival-goers to enjoy the live entertainment and activities.
New this year is a Corn Hole Tournament with a live leader board. The single-elimination tournament begins at 2 p.m. with advance registration recommended. The popular White Elephant Sale returns, which is a giant indoor and outdoor yard sale. The indoor rooms feature books and magazines, holiday decorations, clothing and household goods, homemade crafts and children’s toys. Furniture, electronics, sports equipment and plants are some of the items located outside. Visit www.clarksvillepicnic.com for complete hours and donation guidelines.
Movie nights under the stars return to the Clarksville Commons Plaza on Wednesday evenings. This year’s lineup includes fan-favorite films such as “Barbie,” “Mary Poppins,” “Mamma Mia,” and “Lilo & Stitch.” Shows start at about 8:30 p.m. weekly through Aug. 21. The plaza will host live music on Friday evenings from 6 to 8:30 p.m. through the end of September. Performers will showcase genres spanning Americana, Blues, Pop, Rock and Soul.
More live music performances can be found at the River Hill Village Center near Giant on June 27, July 25, Aug. 15, and Sept. 5, 6 to 8 p.m. The artists will perform a mix of Bluegrass, Blues, Country, Rock, and Dixieland Jazz.
The Robinson Nature Center celebrates the longest day of the year with the Summer Solstice Maker’s Market on Saturday, 11:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Handmade and sustainably created goods by local artisans will be available for sale. Attendees may park in the center’s parking lot or use the shuttle service to off-site parking.
The Community Allies of Rainbow Youth recently recognized local schools for their “work to create affirming and inclusive school communities for LGBTQIA+ students.” Clarksville Elementary School, Dayton Oaks Elementary School and Reservoir High School were among those named Rainbow Ribbon Schools, meeting goals such as representation, preventing and addressing bullying, and holding events to celebrate the LGBTQIA+ community. River Hill High School earned a Stripe Award for taking steps to gain Rainbow Ribbon status.
Howard County Executive Calvin Ball recently commended River Hill High sophomore John Willets for starting Suits 4 Students. In a visit to the school, Ball learned about Willets’ efforts to collect professional attire and distribute the clothes to students of the Homewood Center and their families. The recipients use the suits, ties and shoes for job interviews and employment fairs. Willets has received hundreds of donations to date.
When she’s not covering the Clarksville area for the Howard County Times, Susan Soldavin serves as the communications coordinator for the River Hill Community Association. Send news to include in this column about people and events in the community to susansoldavin@gmail.com.