THE HISTORIC section of Ellicott City began the holiday shopping season Friday night with its annual Candlelight Holiday on Main Street, organized by the Ellicott City Business Association.
The event, which started about 10 years ago, is held right before Thanksgiving, said Caitlin Ryland, one of the organizers.
Stores were open until 10 p.m., and an old-fashioned trolley shuttled shoppers, diners and visitors along Main Street and Tongue Row, free of charge.
Shopkeepers on Main Street and Tongue Row placed luminarias in front of their stores, and Tiber Park was decorated with greenery, red bows, lights and felt candy canes.
About a half-dozen carolers in Victorian dress from the Patapsco Female Institute's living history troupe, Almira's Polite Society, began strolling the streets about 7:30 p.m. "They lent a nice atmosphere to the evening," said Frank DiPietro, an event organizer and owner of the Mumbles and Squeaks toy store on Main Street.
The decorations were supplied by Brickman Landscaping, and were put in place Friday afternoon by Brownie Troop 1186 from Worthington Elementary School, Ryland said.
Many stores had snacks out for shoppers, such as cookies and vegetables with dip. Some, like Starry Night Antiques, had live music.
DiPietro put out decorated sugar cookies, cheeses, crackers and fruits for customers in his store, which was crowded with shoppers about 6 p.m.
Still, on Saturday, he acknowledged the event had not been as popular as he had hoped. "It was kind of slow," he said.
He expects Midnight Madness, another annual holiday event in Ellicott City, to attract larger crowds. That event, to be held Dec. 6, brings thousands of people to historic Ellicott City, he said.
The event, which is celebrating its 25th anniversary this year, is the first Friday of December, Ryland said.
This year, it will include carolers, jazz musicians, local bagpiper Jack Groves and other musicians, as well as a Santa's Parade that will start at 7:30 p.m. Santa will ride an antique firetruck down Main Street, then settle in at Caplan's Antiques for consultations.
The Main Street Trolley again will be pressed into service, shuttling shoppers throughout the historic district from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m.
Shop for a cure
Shoppers at Zany Brainy in Columbia on Saturday can help the Nick Eric Wichman Foundation, named for an 8-year-old Ellicott City boy who died of brain cancer last year.
Throughout the day, the toy store will donate 10 percent of purchases to the foundation, which raises money to help fund research on brain tumors in children.
Information on the foundation: www.nickwichman.com.
Holiday sales
Mount Hebron High School in Ellicott City will hold its annual "Trees and Trim Sale" from Friday through Dec. 22. Trees and decorations will be on sale at the school from 2:30 to 9:30 p.m. weekdays, and 8:30 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. weekends. Baked goods also will be for sale, and Santa is scheduled to visit Dec. 7.
The sale is sponsored by the Mount Hebron Viking Backers and helps pay for school extracurricular activities.
Howard County Department of Parks and Recreation will hold its annual Holiday Mart craft show at Centennial High School from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. Dec. 7, and noon to 5 p.m. Dec. 8. It will be the 30th year for the craft show and sale, which will feature the work of more than 120 artists.
The cost will be $4 for adults, $1 for children ages 3 to 12. Information: 410-313-7275.
Local artists
Ellicott City artists Patricia Ciricillo, Martha Gilbert, Gino Manelli, Jann Tamburello and Susan Concannon will be among those featured at the arts and crafts show scheduled Dec. 5-15 at the Columbia Association Art Center in Long Reach.
The exhibit, called Singular Sensations, features arts and crafts for sale at $150 or less. An opening reception will be held from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. Dec. 5.
Information: 410-730-0075.