Sunday, April 15
Bridal showcase Historic Oakland's annual Bridal Showcase will be held from 1:30 p.m. to 4:40 p.m. at 5430 Vantage Point Road in Columbia. More than 50 exhibitors will be on hand to provide a look at products and services. The event also includes a free bridal planner, previews of fashions by the Bridal Boutique, live performances, food and cake sampling, and door prizes. Tickets are $10 in advance, $15 at the door. Information: 410-730-4801 or historic-oakland.com.
'Next to Normal' Red Branch Theatre Company presents this rock musical about a family trying to take care of itself the best way it knows how through Sunday, April 22, at the Drama Learning Center, 9130-I Red Branch Road in Columbia. Showtimes are 8 p.m. Thursdays-Saturdays and 3 p.m. Sundays. Tickets are $18, $16 for seniors and students. Information: 410-997-9352 or redbranchtheatre.com/index.html.
Tuesday, April 17
Meeting In partnership with the National Alliance on Mental Illness, Morgan Chapel United Methodist Church will host "Understanding the Experience of Mental Illness: Learn From Those Who Live With it and Those Who Love Them,"from 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. at 6750 Woodbine Road, Woodbine. Free. Information: 410-772-9300.
Thursday, April 19
Afternoon tea Columbia's Town Center Community Association will host an afternoon tea in the ballroom of Historic Oakland manor, 5430 Vantage Point Road, Columbia, from 4:30 p.m. to 6 p.m. Tea will be served with sandwiches, desserts and warm scones. Cost: $22 per person. Reservations required two days in advance. For more information, call 410-730-4801.
Saturday, April 21
Special Olympics The organization sponsors its 11th annual Inspiration Walk at Centennial Park. Proceeds will provide funding for year-round training and competition in 19 sports for county children and adults with mental disabilities. Activities including face-painting, games, a Zumba warm-up, blood pressure screenings and interaction with high school mascots. Participants can choose between a 2.6-mile walk around Centennial Lake and a half-mile family fun walk. The registration fee is $25. Each walker will receive an Inspiration Walk T-shirt and be entered in a drawing for prizes. Registration begins at 8 a.m. and the walk begins at 9:15 a.m. Registration and information: 410-740-0500 or go to somdhc.org.
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Film series The Columbia Jewish Congregation concludes its annual film series with "Jewish Luck" at the Columbia Jewish Congregation, 5885 Robert Oliver Place, Room 200. Tickets are $9. Doors open at 7:30 p.m.; screening begins at 8 p.m. Refreshments and post-film discussion included. Information: 410-381-4809, 410-997-0694 or SBloch@comcast.net.
Future
Spring fair The Mount Hebron Nursery School will hold its 28th annual Spring Fair from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. April 28 at 2330 Mount Hebron Drive in Ellicott City. The fair will be held rain or shine, and includes food, games, face-painting, moon bounces, dance shows, crafts, and book, bake and flower sales. Admission is free. Information: 410-461-2773.
Classical music The Sundays at Three Chamber Music Series presents Baltimore Symphony Orchestra Associate Concertmaster Madeline Adkins and other orchestra members in a performance of the Schubert Octet and Mozart's String Quartet in C, K.465 at 3 p.m. April 29 at Christ Episcopal Church, 6800 Oakland Mills Road in Columbia. Tickets are $15, ages 17 and younger admitted free when accompanied by an adult. Information: 443-288-3179 or sundaysatthree.org.
St. Louis Church Concert Series "Mostly Mozart and a Little Bernstein," featuring soloists, the St. Louis Choir and St. Louis Concert Orchestra, will be presented at 4 p.m. April 29 at 12500 Clarksville Pike in Clarksville. Admission is free. Information: 410-531-6040 or stlouisparish.org.
Spring Party The Columbia Foundation, which raises, manages and distributes funds to support the county's nonprofit organizations, will hold its 30th annual Spring Party from 5:45 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. May 15 at Howard Community College's Horowitz Visual and Performing Arts Center, 10901 Little Patuxent Parkway, Columbia. Tickets are $75 per person. Information: 410-730-7840 or columbiafoundation.org.
Announcements for the datebook may be sent by mail to The Baltimore Sun in Howard County, 501 N. Calvert St., Baltimore 21278; by email to howard.events@baltsun.com; or by fax to 410-332-6455.