September 30, 2021

Merriweather Symphony of Lights

Merriweather Symphony of Lights

 

For more than 25 years, the Symphony of Lights has been a beloved Howard County holiday tradition. This family-friendly spectacle, housed in the historic Merriweather Post Pavilion and featuring over 300,000 lights, is a magnificent display of larger-than-life animated and stationary holiday light sculptures. With the addition of new lighting (as well as a 150-foot screen! ), your time on our updated course will be one to remember.
COLUMBIA, MARYLAND — The 27th annual Symphony of Lights, a Howard County tradition, will be place at Merriweather Post Pavilion this year. This year’s celebration will have specific coronavirus-related measures in place, with more than 300,000 LED lights and larger-than-life animated and immobile holiday light sculptures spanning more than a mile. There will be new lights this year, as well as a laser light show and a 3-D Christmas video projected on a wall that is more than 150 feet tall.
The Christmas celebration begins on November 25 and runs through January 2. It will be open from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. on weekdays and from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. on weekends. 10475 Little Patuxent Parkway is the address for Merriweather Post Pavilion. The cost of a ticket is $20 per vehicle. Thursdays are military nights, which cost $10 with a valid military ID. Guests in vehicles can listen to Christmas music while driving through the exhibit by tuning in to 105.5 FM. The route begins at the crossroads of Broken Land Parkway and Hickory Ridge Road.
This stroller and wagon-friendly event on Nov. 29 from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. is a wonderful way for families to get up up and personal with the show. When purchased online, tickets cost $12, and families will be admitted in 10-minute intervals. Children under the age of three are admitted for free.
Dogs can enjoy the festive lights with Tail Lights. There will even be a puppy costume contest and caricatures of puppies. On December 7, from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., Tail Lights will be held. Tickets are $10 in advance. Admission is free for children under the age of three.
Celebrate New Year’s Eve starting at 5 p.m. with a fireworks display at 6 p.m., 7 p.m., 8 p.m., and 9 p.m. during Midnight on the Hour. Guests are invited to bring their own chairs to sit in while watching the show. Tickets are $15 in advance and must be paid in advance. A pack of four tickets costs $50 for a family of four. Admission is free for children under the age of three.
History Merriweather Symphony of Lights
The park, festival site, event parking, and site of the annual Symphony of Lights Christmas light displays occupied the most of the forested and open field acreage surrounding Symphony Woods and Merriweather. The owner, Howard Hughes Corp, rezoned the land for a project called the “Crescent,” which would transform the region into 2,100 houses and 1,125,000 square feet of general and medical office space in 20-story buildings as part of the rehabilitation initiative. The Crescent project takes its name from the shape of the work area surrounding the pavilion, as well as Rouse’s (Howard Hughes) collaboration with Crescent Real Estate Equities on the Woodlands development.
After a Mad Decent event in August 2014, two patrons died and 20 others were hospitalised after drug overdoses, making the site national news. Following the event, venues around the country enacted stronger drug enforcement restrictions.
Merriweather Post attracts a regional audience, with 90% of concertgoers coming from outside of Howard County.
Brian Spencer, a registered lobbyist and project manager for Howard Hughes, submitted a proposal to the Howard County Planning Board in 2015. Jamie Pett (JP2 architects) designed the $8.4 million refurbishment, which includes new snack stalls around the 9:32 club and replacement of the condemned facilities.
The Howard Hughes Corporation gave the Downtown Columbia Arts and Culture Commission, led by “Save Merriweather” co-founder Ian Kennedy, ownership of Merriweather Post Pavilion and Symphony Woods on November 30, 2016. Kennedy shaved his beard, which he had been growing for 13 years, since the beginning of the campaign in 2003, at the ceremonial ceremony.
Merriweather Post Pavilion celebrated its 50th season in 2017, with I.M.P. securing a new 40-year contract to keep Merriweather open until 2057. The party continued with the completion of $55 million in renovations, which included 15,000 square feet of dressing rooms and backstage areas, as well as a swimming pool and dining room. The improvements also include the extension of the stage house in preparation for raising the pavilion’s famous roof, the installation of a turntable inset in the stage, additional patron facilities and concessions, and a new VIP rooftop bar.
On January 13, 2018, early in the morning, the roof overhanging the reserved seating at the arena collapsed completely. It was nearing the end of a five-month process to raise the structure 20 feet in order to improve viewing lines for lawn visitors. The theater’s management promptly issued a statement stating that the roof will be fixed and that the venue would reopen for the 2018 concert season as planned.

 
Merriweather Symphony of Lights Location
Merriweather Post Pavilion, 10475 Little Patuxent Pkwy, Columbia, MD 20144. The line for the drive through starts on the intersection of Broken Land Parkway and Hickory Ridge Road. Follow instructions from the Howard County police and/or our employees directing traffic.

10475 Little Patuxent Pkwy, Columbia, MD 21044, United States

http://www.merriweatherlights.com/

No phone
Driving Directions From Ellicott City Maryland, USA

Get on US-29 S 5 min (2.0 mi)
Head southwest on Old Columbia Pike toward Roussey Lane 1.5 mi
Turn right onto MD-103 W 0.1 mi
Use any lane to turn left to merge onto US-29 S toward Washington 0.4 mi
Follow US-29 S to S Entrance Rd in Columbia. Take the S Ent Rd exit from US-29 S 4 min (3.5 mi)
Continue on S Entrance Rd to your destination 3 min (0.8 mi)
Merriweather Symphony of Lights

Driving Directions From Baltimore Maryland, USA

Take E Fayette St, Hopkins Plaza and S Sharp St to I-395 S 6 min (0.8 mi)
Head west on E Fayette St toward N Calvert St 0.2 mi
Use any lane to turn slightly left onto W Fayette St 0.1 mi
Turn left onto N Liberty St 390 ft
Continue onto Hopkins Plaza 0.2 mi
Continue onto S Sharp St 0.2 mi
Turn right onto W Conway St 394 ft
Take I-95 S, MD-100 W and US-29 S to S Entrance Rd in Columbia. Take the S Ent Rd exit from US-29 S 20 min (19.8 mi)
Continue on S Entrance Rd to your destination 3 min (0.8 mi)
Merriweather Symphony of Lights

Merriweather Symphony of Lights

Next Location
Symphony Woods Park
More information
Click: Columbia

Click: Ability Mortgage Group: Mortgage broker – Columbia Maryland

 

Source:

https://www.merriweatherlights.com/

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Merriweather_Post_Pavilion

 

Image Source: https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/p/AF1QipMKwaIlAftvBy61DaXBPkob1UhlSSAreGnapIZ0

ShadowLand Laser Adventures

ShadowLand Laser Adventures

 

ShadowLand is a popular place for families looking for high-quality entertainment in Maryland and Virginia.

For area families, youth groups, sports teams, and corporations, ShadowLand’s unique laser adventures provide wonderful “whole group” activities. Put on a light-weight, high-tech suit and enter the massive multi-level stadium for an unforgettable sensory experience.
ShadowLand’s arena adventures are viewed as effective team development and corporate training opportunities by business and human resource (HR) professionals. The whole-group exercises create an unstructured, safe, and uninhibited setting in which to emphasise the importance of team skills, which are essential for a successful workplace environment. An visit to Shadowland is also a wonderful opportunity to recognise teams for a job well done or to celebrate recent team triumphs.

Youth groups, churches, scout troops, synagogues, and sports teams all agree that ShadowLand is a great place to visit. When it comes to youth group ideas and outings, group leaders should consider ShadowLand.

 
History ShadowLand Laser Adventures
The United States Army used infrared beams for combat training in the late 1970s and early 1980s. The MILES system works in the same way as laser tag does, with beams being “fired” into receivers that score hits. Several businesses now produce similar systems, which are employed by numerous military forces across the world.

The Star Trek Electronic Phaser Guns, released in 1979 to coincide with the debut of Star Trek: The Motion Picture, were the first known toy to use infrared light and a corresponding sensor.
George Carter III began work on an arena-based system for playing a scored version of the game in 1982, an idea that had first occurred to him in 1977 while viewing the film Star Wars. On March 28, 1984, the first Photon centre opened its doors in Dallas, Texas. On November 17, 2005, Carter was awarded by the International Laser Tag Association for his contributions to the laser tag industry. “Presented to George A. Carter III in honour of being the Inventor and Founder of the Laser Tag Industry,” the award reads.

The first Photon toys were released in 1986, almost concurrently with Worlds of Wonder’s Lazer Tag toys and several other infrared and visible light-based toys. As the craze for video games faded, Worlds of Wonder and Photon closed their doors in 1988 and 1989, respectively. Today, laser tag arenas can be found all over the world under numerous names and brands, as well as a wide range of consumer and professional grade equipment for laser tag arenas and businesses.

According to a 2010 news item, Lee Weinstein invented and opened the first commercial laser tag facility. The ILTA published the findings of a public records request from the City of Houston in June 2011, revealing that Weinstein’s “Star Laser Force” opened on April 16, 1985.

ShadowLand Laser Adventures Location
9179 Red Branch Rd, Columbia, MD 21045, United States

http://www.shadowlandadventures.com/

+14107409100
Driving Directions From Baltimore Maryland, USA

Take E Fayette St, Hopkins Plaza and S Sharp St to I-395 S 6 min (0.8 mi)
Head west on E Fayette St toward N Calvert St 0.2 mi
Use any lane to turn slightly left onto W Fayette St 0.1 mi
Turn left onto N Liberty St 390 ft
Continue onto Hopkins Plaza 0.2 mi
Continue onto S Sharp St 0.2 mi
Turn right onto W Conway St 394 ft
Take I-95 S and MD-100 W to MD-104 W/Waterloo Rd in Ellicott City. Take exit 2 from MD-100 W 14 min (13.9 mi)
Take Old Annapolis Rd to Red Branch Rd in Columbia 4 min (1.5 mi)
ShadowLand Laser Adventures

Driving Directions From Frederick Maryland, USA

Get on I-70 E/US-40 E from W All Saints St and East St 6 min (1.6 mi)
Head west on E Patrick St toward N Market St 482 ft
Turn left at the 2nd cross street onto S Court St 0.2 mi
Turn left onto W All Saints St 0.3 mi
W All Saints St turns right and becomes East St 0.4 mi
At the traffic circle, continue straight to stay on East St 0.2 mi
Continue onto Buckeystown Pike 0.2 mi
Use the left 2 lanes to merge onto I-70 E/US-40 E via the ramp to Baltimore 0.3 mi
Continue on I-70 E to Columbia. Take exit 21A from US-29 S 33 min (37.0 mi)
Continue on MD-108 E. Drive to Red Branch Rd in Columbia 3 min (1.4 mi)
ShadowLand Laser Adventures

 

 
ShadowLand Laser Adventures Map

Next Location
Merriweather Symphony of Lights
More information
Click: Columbia

Click: Ability Mortgage Group: Mortgage broker – Columbia Maryland

 

Source:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Laser_tag

www.shadowlandadventures.com

 

Image Source: https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/p/AF1QipPIbR_XszU67_nD23qHoBBGQUgWaAZv7lcCqaHA

 

Blandair Regional Park West Playground

Blandair Regional Park West Playground

 

Blandair Park is one of the county’s most popular sporting venues. The park will be 300 acres when the last phase is completed. Three lit synthetic turf multipurpose fields, press boxes, and bleachers, as well as a playground, shade structure, and parking lot, are now available. The park is located one-third of a mile north of the intersection of Old Montgomery Road and Oakland Mills Road on Oakland Mills Road..

 
History Blandair Regional Park West Playground
Susquehannock tribes in the north and Piscataway tribes in the south hunted and camped along the Patuxent, but no permanent sites have been discovered. Conflicts with their major adversaries, the Iroquois, were common on the land. Many Native Americans were forced to leave Maryland in the 1700s, either to join tribes elsewhere or to stay and adapt into the dominant culture.
Puritans, Quakers, and Catholics were among the first European settlers in this area, seeking religious freedom. In 1632, the new English colony of Maryland was established, and in 1649, the Maryland Toleration Act was implemented, making the colony appealing to settlers of diverse theological backgrounds.
In 1714, the Talbots, a Quaker family, received a 1,087-acre property grant that covered the majority of what is now Blandair Park. The Dorsey, Howard, and Weems families came after them.
From before 1800 through 1844, three generations of the Weems family (of Scottish descent) farmed this area. The farm was named “La Grange” by John Crompton Weems, a delegate for Anne Arundel County in the United States Congress from 1826 to 1829. Between 10 and 15 slaves were owned by the Weems family. In his diary, their next-door neighbour and regular visitor, George Cooke, mentioned some of the enslaved inhabitants.

When the area was named “Blandair.”

The Chancellor of Maryland from 1824 to 1846, Heodorick Bland, bought the estate in 1844 as a country retreat, while his principal residence was in Annapolis. He was a lawyer and judge recognised for his “untiring drive” and “excellent industry.” Theo Bland coined the term “Blandair,” which is still in use today. He mentioned that he needed to construct a slave section and a granary in his letter. Both buildings, which date from around 1845, are still standing on the land.
Bland died in 1846, and Blandair was passed down to his daughter, Sarah Bland Mayo, and her husband, Commodore Isaac Mayo, two years later. They also lived in Annapolis, but Blandair remained their country home. Isaac Mayo is listed as the owner of fifteen slaves on the 1850 Federal Slave Schedule for the Howard District of Anne Arundel County, ranging in age from three months to 70 years.
Matilda Neal, an enslaved woman, and her children Rachael, Mary, Emmeline, James, and a baby, Catharine, fled from the Blandair plantation with her husband, Richard Neal, a free man, in the fall of 1849. In 1853, Richard was jailed in Philadelphia for urging slaves to flee, although it is unclear whether Matilda and her children were also apprehended.
When their daughter, Sophia, married a neighbour, Thomas Gaither, in 1857, the Mayos deeded the land, which included eleven slaves, to her for “love, devotion, and one dollar.”
The brick two-story manor home that stands in the park today was built by the young Gaither couple. The house was completed in 1857, according to a news account from the time, with reports that a violent wind blew away part of the roof that Thomas Gaither was constructing. The 1860 Federal Slave Schedule for Howard County District 1 lists 20 slaves ranging in age from one to sixty years old, as well as two slave dwellings. The Gaithers started a family there, but after the Civil War, farming was no longer profitable without unpaid slave labour, so they sold Blandair and moved to Baltimore in 1867.

 
Blandair Regional Park West Playground Location
5750 Oakland Mills Rd, Columbia, MD 21045, United States

https://www.howardcountymd.gov/BlandairPark

+14103134700
Driving Directions From Baltimore Maryland, USA

Take E Fayette St, Hopkins Plaza and S Sharp St to I-395 S 6 min (0.8 mi)
Head west on E Fayette St toward N Calvert St 0.2 mi
Use any lane to turn slightly left onto W Fayette St 0.1 mi
Turn left onto N Liberty St 390 ft
Continue onto Hopkins Plaza 0.2 mi
Continue onto S Sharp St 0.2 mi
Turn right onto W Conway St 394 ft
Take I-95 S to MD-175 W/Rouse Pkwy in Columbia. Take exit 41A-41B from I-95 S 13 min (12.9 mi)
Continue on MD-175 W/Rouse Pkwy to your destination 8 min (3.7 mi)
Blandair Regional Park West Playground

Driving Directions From Ellicott City Maryland, USA

Drive from Old Columbia Pike, US-29 S and MD-175 E/Rouse Pkwy to Columbia 10 min (5.8 mi)
Head southwest on Old Columbia Pike toward Roussey Lane 1.5 mi
Turn right onto MD-103 W 0.1 mi
Use any lane to turn left to merge onto US-29 S toward Washington 2.6 mi
Take exit 20A for MD-175 E toward Jessup 0.3 mi
Continue onto MD-175 E/Rouse Pkwy 1.0 mi
Take the Tamar Dr 3/4/JCT 3 1/2/Jessup 6 ramp 0.1 mi
At the traffic circle, take the 2nd exit onto Oakland Mills Rd 0.2 mi
Drive to your destination 56 s (0.1 mi)
Blandair Regional Park West Playground

 

 
Blandair Regional Park West Playground Map

Next Location
ShadowLand Laser Adventures

More information
Click: Columbia

Click: Ability Mortgage Group: Mortgage broker – Columbia Maryland

 

Source:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blandair

https://www.howardcountymd.gov/recreation-parks/parks#blandair-regional-park-columbia

Image Source: https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/p/AF1QipM1RVo8iWedXDZMFwWjWU86UPEDFhqPMK-1JEI7