Sunday, Aug. 1
Opera performances The Little Patuxent Opera Institute, in conjunction with Howard Community College's Student Arts Collective, presents performances by the students in its summer workshop at 3 p.m. in the Smith Theatre, 10901 Little Patuxent Parkway, Columbia. Opening half of the program is devoted to a potpourri of operatic pieces performed in their original languages, while the second half consists of Henry Purcell's "Dido and Aeneas," a love story based on Virgil's "Aeneid." Tickets are $12, $7 for seniors and students with ID. Tickets and information: 410-772-4297 or http://www.howardcc.edu.
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.
Monday, Aug. 2
'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. Mondays-Thursdays, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Fridays, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturdays. Information: 410-888-9048.
'Urban Pirates' Children can join the Urban Pirates of Baltimore with songs, games, stories and treasure. 10:30 a.m. at the Elkridge Branch of the Howard County Library, 6540 Washington Blvd. Ages 3-7; 30 minutes. Registration: hclibrary.org or at the branch. Information: 410-313-5077.
Tuesday, Aug. 3
Community party The Wilde Lake Community Association and the Howard County Police Department offer a family pizza party from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. on the Village Green Wilde Lake for National Night Out. In addition to pizza, festivities include drinks, ice cream, prizes, entertainment and more. Event is free and takes place rain or shine. Children younger than 16 must be accompanied by an adult. For more information, call 410-730-3887. (Wilde Lake residents only).
National Night Out event The East Columbia Branch of the Howard County Library will offer an open house with crafts and family storytelling, 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. (craft open house) and 7:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. (storytelling.), 6600 Cradlerock Way. Information: 410-313-7700.
Blues music Savage Bluegrass plays Sam's Bar & Restaurant, 9994 Washington Blvd., Laurel. Information: 301-317-7796.
Wednesday, Aug. 4
'Sunset Serenades' Howard County Recreation and Parks' annual concert series held at Centennial Park South, 10000 Route 108, continues at 7 p.m. with the Matt Wigler Band playing boogie woogie, blues and jazz. Concerts are free. $3 per vehicle parking fee, except Aug. 11. Information: 410-313-4700 or howardcountymd.gov/rap.
Ballet class Master class with Valery Lantratov, founder and director of the Russian National Ballet Foundation, will be held from 7:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. at Howard County Center for the Arts, 8510 High Ridge Road, Ellicott City. Cost is $25. Registration and information: 410-465-9414 or info@howardcountyballet.org.
Farmers' market Site is open from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. Wednesdays through October at St. John's Episcopal Church, 9120 Frederick Road, Ellicott City. Information: 410-313-6524.
Thursday, Aug. 5
'The Producers' DLC Summer Stage presents the Tony-award winning musical "The Producers" at 8 p.m. at 9130-I Red Branch Road, Columbia. Performances are also scheduled at 8 p.m. Aug. 6-8 and 12-14; and at 3 p.m. Aug. 14. Tickets are $15 in advance, $18 at the door, $12 each for groups of 10 or more. Information: 410-997-9352 or dramalearningcenter.com.
'13 the Musical' Slayton House Conservancy presents "13 the Musical" at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 5 and Friday, Aug. 6 at the Slayton House Theatre, 10400 Cross Fox Lane, Columbia. Tickets and information: 410-730-3987.
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, Aug. 6
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, Aug. 7
'I Just Got a Dog, Now What Do I Do?' Class will cover how to solve common house training and dog behavior problems. (Dogs not allowed in class.) 10:30 a.m. to noon at the East Columbia branch of the Howard County Library, 6600 Cradlerock Way, Columbia. Information: 410-313-7700.
Future
Hospitality sessions Individuals interested in either starting or advancing a career in the hospitality industry can attend a free "Culinary and Hospitality Open House" from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Aug. 14 at Howard Community College, 10901 Little Patuxent Parkway, Columbia. Event includes a "Culinary Information Session" and a "Hotel and Restaurant Management Information Session." There will be a light lunch served, along with a gift for attendees. Registration and information: 410-772-4469 or vrege@howardcc.edu.
Guided hike The Howard County Conservancy will hold a free hike led by field entomologist Richard Orr, 10 a.m. Aug. 14, on Old Frederick Road, between Bethany Lane and Woodstock Road. Orr will discuss what is happening to the bugs, bees, ants, wasps and other insects. Information: 410-465-8877 or http://www.hcconservancy.org.
Open house Kinetics Dance Theatre will hold an open house from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Aug. 21 at 3280 Pine Orchard Land, Ellicott City. Registration will be held for a variety of classes, including ballet, jazz, modern, tap, hip-hop, musical theater, creative dance, dance fundamentals, as well as specialty classes in Pilates, yoga and fitness. Kinetics Theatre also offers classes for children with special needs and classes for boys only. There is another open house scheduled for 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. Sept. 2. Information: 410-480-1686.
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.