'TC Lamb will be the main dish at the 18th annual Sheep and Wool Festival May 4 and 5 at the Howard County Fairgrounds.

Food booths will serve lamb in the festival food building and throughout the festival grounds. Samples for tasting and free recipes will also be available in the food building. On Sunday at 11 a.m., 10 finalists (chosen from previously submitted recipes) will participate in a Lamb Cook-off.

A lamb and paella dinner will be served from 5 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Saturday night. Admission is $11 for adults, $7.75 for children 5 to 10 years old and free for children under 5. Tickets must be ordered in advance. For information, call 442-2341.

Winning lamb recipes from past festivals plus recipes from other expert cooks have been published in "The Sheep and Wool Festival Collector's Cookbook," Volumes I and II. These will be sold at the festival, and are also available by sending $6.50 a copy to Maryland Sheep and Wool Festival Collector's Cookbook, 8993 Queen Maria Court, Columbia, Md. 21045.

Festival hours are 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. May 4 and 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. May 5. The Howard County Fairgrounds is located near the intersection of Route 144 and Fairgrounds Road in West Friendship. For more information, call the Howard County Tourism Council at (800) 288-TRIP or (301) 290-6967