Sunday, June 13
Book festival The annual BookFest, sponsored by the Howard County Poetry and Literature Society and Howard County Library, concludes during the Columbia Festival of Arts at the Columbia Lakefront. Event includes children's crafts and story, author appearances and poetry readings. Information: 410-715-3103.
Home and garden tour The Eastport Civic Association's fifth annual Home & Garden Tour will be held from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. Ten homes and gardens will be part of the tour, which stretches from the harbor's edge to Chester Avenue. All homes are within walking distance of each other. Tickets are available for $25 at tour headquarters, 22 Severn Ave. Tickets are also available online at http://www.eastportcivic.org.
Blood drive The Red Cross hosts a blood drive from 8 a.m. to noon at Emmanuel United Methodist Church, 10755 Scaggsville Road in Laurel. Appointments and information: 800-272-2123.
Dance performance Howard County Ballet presents "The Nightingale" at 3 p.m. at Centennial High School in Ellicott City. Tickets are $18, $12 for students and seniors. Information: 410-465-9414 or howardcountyballet.org.
Photography exhibit Members of the Artists' Gallery in Columbia present "Through the Lens," through June 25 in the Lakeside Cafe in the American City Building, 10227 Wincopin Circle. Show runs in conjunction with Carl Segal's "Colorful June: Flora and Fauna." Hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Mondays-Fridays, 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Saturdays, closed Sundays. Gallery is also open by appointment. Information: 410-740-8249 or artistsgallerycolumbia.com.
Exhibition The Columbia Art Center Galleries will present "A Collecting Affair III: The Art of Collecting Photography," through June 27 at the center, 6100 Foreland Garth in Columbia. The exhibition showcases collectors' photographs of five local female photographers: Denee Barr, Carol Cathcart, Joan Forester, Maili Godwin and Laura Vernon Russell. A free reception will be held 5:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. Tuesday, June 15. Gallery hours are 9:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday-Friday, 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, and 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday. Information: 410-730-0075 or columbiaartcenter.org.
"People Worth Knowing" Exhibit featuring photographs by Columbia photographer Stanley L. Rodbell runs through Aug. 28 at the Himmelfarb Gallery at Tai Sophia Institute, 7750 Montpelier Road, Laurel. Gallery hours are 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday-Thursday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday. Information: 410-888-9048.
Farmers' market Site is open from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Sundays through November at Oakland Mills Village, 5851 Robert Oliver Place. Information: 410-313-6524.
Wednesday, June 16
Lakefront Wednesdays The Columbia Association continues its annual lunchtime concert series from noon to 2 p.m. with the Rae Bernard Jazz Group. Lineup features a variety of musical styles, including rock, folk and jazz. The Diane Daly Trio performs June 23. Information: 410-715-3104.
"Care for the Caregiver" Participants can share an evening of personal sharing, answer seeking, being cared for and comforted, from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at Bon Secours Spiritual Center, 1525 Marriottsville Road, Marriottsville. Meeting explores the emotions and issues about grief and guilt and the joy and satisfaction connected with giving personal care. Suggested donation is $15 (or what you can afford). Information: 410-442-1320.
Computer users meet The Central Maryland User Group for Windows personal computers meet at 7:30 p.m. in the East Columbia Library, 6600 Cradlerock Road. Speaker will be Dave Methvin of PCPitstop. All are welcome. Information: 301-774-0331 or mycmug.org.
Farmers' market Site is open from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. Wednesdays through October at Howard County Library's Miller branch, 9421 Frederick Road, Ellicott City. Information: 410-313-6524.
Thursday, June 17
Farmers' market Site is open from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. Thursdays through November at the East Columbia Library, 6600 Cradlerock Way. Information: 301-934-9004.
Friday, June 18
Farmers' market Site is open from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. Fridays through November at Howard County General Hospital, 5755 Cedar Lane, Columbia. Information: 410-313-6524.
Saturday, June 19
Spring carnival Days End Farm Horse Rescue hosts its annual spring carnival from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. (rain or shine). Event features pony rides, a petting zoo, face painting, stick horse races, games, live music and horseback demonstrations. Farm is at 1372 Woodbine Road in Woodbine. Admission is $5 for families, $2 for adults and $1 for children younger than 12; those younger than 6 are admitted free. Information: 301-852-5037 or 410-442-1564.
Music Matters Showcase Least Common Denominator, Jacob Haller, and A Shot and A Beer perform from 6:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. at Mad City, 10801 Hickory Ridge Road, Columbia. Information: 410-964-8671.
Future
Dance event The Columbia Association's Teen Advisory Committee will sponsor a "Dance for Haiti" to benefit the Red Cross Fund for Haiti relief, 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. June 25 at Slayton House, 10400 Cross Fox Lane in Columbia. Among the performers are the Dance Foundations Dance Studio, Kinetics Dance Theatre, Merge Dance Company, Misako Ballet Company and the Savage Dance Company. Tickets are $10. Information: 410-715-5523.
Jazz Oakland Mills' "Jazz in the Mills" concert series features Julian Hipkins and the Julian Hipkins Quartet at 5 p.m. June 27 at The Other Barn, 5851 Robert Oliver Place, Columbia. Tickets are $15 in advance, $20 at door. Information: 410-730-4610.
Announcements for the datebook may be sent by mail to The Baltimore Sun in Howard County, 501 N. Calvert St., Baltimore 21278; by e-mail to howard.events@baltsun.com; or by fax to 410-332-6455.