Lake Kittamaqundi is a 27-acre artificial lake in Columbia Town Center. Along with an extensive trail network, art classes, and events at the Lakefront, it shows how a stay in Columbia can be tailored to different interests. When planning, it’s worth considering outdoor activities, a specific type of event, and cultural offerings separately: each gives your visit a different focus.
By the Lake and on the Trails
The Columbia Association maintains a network of trails and walkways spanning more than 114 miles for walking, cycling, and jogging. Columbia’s trails are separate from motorized traffic and are suitable for walking and cycling. This means outdoor activities and scheduled events offer distinct reasons to visit: the trails provide a focus on recreation, while a festival or summer program is tied to specific dates.
Lakefront: Two Different Event Formats
The Columbia Festival of the Arts LakeFest is a free outdoor event at the Downtown Columbia Lakefront. The three-day event features live music, a juried fine art and craft exhibition, as well as entertainment and craft activities for children. The festival therefore includes both art and music, as well as activities for children. Lakefront Live has a different focus: in summer, the event at the Columbia Association Lakefront offers free music, movies, and special events.
When choosing when to travel, the difference between the formats is helpful: LakeFest is a three-day outdoor festival, while Lakefront Live is a summer program. Since Lakefront Live’s seasonal program may change, check the dates and offerings in advance if you want to plan your trip around it.
Art and Event History
Merriweather Post Pavilion offers a historical perspective on Columbia’s cultural offerings: it was built as the summer home of the National Symphony Orchestra and designed by Frank Gehry. Its History Walk takes visitors through the history of the venue. This allows you to explore its original purpose, design, and history from different perspectives.
The Columbia Art Center offers art classes year-round. Programs include ongoing and seasonal offerings; specific schedules may change. If you’d like to make a class the focus of your visit, check the current dates. Columbia therefore offers different ways to engage with culture: the Pavilion’s history and architecture, and hands-on artistic learning at the Art Center.
Play Areas with Different Features
Blandair Regional Park in Columbia has the inclusive, ADA-compliant “Play-for-all” playground, with six different play areas. Nature Place at the Robinson Nature Center is an outdoor play area featuring creative sounds and a tunnel. When planning an outing, different features stand out: Blandair is characterized by the number of play areas and its inclusive, ADA-compliant design, while Nature Place features sounds, a tunnel, and outdoor play.
Explore more destinations: Jessup, Elkridge, Ellicott City
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