To have your in-person or virtual community calendar item appear in this free listing, please go to baltimoresun.com/calendar and click on the “+ Add Event” button on the right. Under “5. Descriptions” select the “Howard County Times” to mark your item to appear in this calendar. If it’s your first time submitting an event with our events tool, you will first need to create an account on CitySpark.

Sunday, Oct. 27

Halloween Tricks, Treats and Trees: 9 a.m.-3 p.m., Robinson Nature Center, 6692 Cedar Lane, Columbia. 410-313-0400. howardcountymd.gov/events. Make potion with a witch, watch Halloween-inspired puppet shows, make crafts, enjoy themed sensory play. Participants must select time slot for stations among trees when registering; ongoing activities available for all ages from 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Pre-registration highly recommended, trail times likely to sell out. If trail times fill in advance, walk-in tickets will be sold day of for ongoing activities only. $5-$10.

Howard High Lions’ Pride Arts Crafts & More Show: 10 a.m.-3 p.m., Howard High School, 8700 Old Annapolis Road, Ellicott City. howardlionspride.org. Community shopping event featuring local artists, independent consultants, food trucks and more. Proceeds benefit the Lions’ Pride Athletics Boosters. Free admission.

Nature Poetry Reading: 1-3 p.m., Howard County Conservancy, 10520 Old Frederick Road, Woodstock. 410-465-8877. howardnature.org. Nature poetry reading in the garden amphitheater with Patti Ross, Naomi Ayala and Hiram Larew. The anthology, “Writing the Land,” featuring essays about the Conservancy and Ross’s poetry, will be on sale. Wine and apple cider available for purchase. Free.

Happy Haunted Hayride: 2-4 p.m., Rockburn Branch Park West, 6105 Rockburn Branch Park Road, Elkridge. 410-313-4635. howardcountymd.gov/events. For ages 2-7 years. Use Montgomery Road entrance to park. Co-sponsored by Elkridge Adult Athletic Association. $5/person, cash only.

9th Annual Trunk or Treat: 3-5 p.m., Bethany United Methodist Church, 2875 Bethany Lane, Ellicott City. 410-465-2919. bethanyum.org. Held in back parking lot where decorated trunks and Halloween treats await ages 12 and younger. S’mores available. Wear Halloween costumes, bring treat container.

“Metamorphosen” and Other Musical Selections: 4-6 p.m., Christ Episcopal Church, 6800 Oakland Mills Road, Columbia. 240-428-0739. nssorchestra.org. The National String Symphonia performs Richard Strauss’s “Metamorphosen” during the first half of this program. Second portion of the program includes music of American composers. $15-$35.

Monday, Oct. 28

Modern Square Dance Lessons: 7:30-9:30 p.m., Westowne Elementary School, 401 Harlem Lane, Catonsville. 410-744-7793. marylandsquaredancing.org. Modern Western square dancing lessons build progressively from week to week. Couples or singles are welcome; no partner required. $8.

Tuesday, Oct. 29

Safe Firearm Storage Workshop: 6:30-8 p.m., Harriet Tubman Cultural Center, 8045 Harriet Tubman Lane, Columbia. howardcountymd.gov/events. Learn how to make home safer using strategies to limit access to dangerous items. Free.

Classes on Meditation and Modern Buddhism: 7:30-8:45 p.m., Owen Brown Interfaith Center, 7246 Cradlerock Way, Columbia. 410-243-3837. meditationmd.org. $8-$12.

Wednesday, Oct. 30

Halloween Eve Hike: 7-8:30 p.m., Howard County Conservancy, 10520 Old Frederick Road, Woodstock. 410-465-8877. howardnature.org. Hike through Conservancy’s grounds to discover what cryptids — spooky legendary creatures — might be lurking in the dark. Scare level will be kept low. Free.

Friday, Nov. 1

Cryptid Crawl: 7-8:30 p.m., Robinson Nature Center, 6692 Cedar Lane, Columbia. 410-313-0400. howardcountymd.gov/cryptid-crawl. Cryptids are legendary creatures believed to exist but have never been proven, such as Bigfoot or the Loch Ness Monster. Embark on nighttime forest walk to hear legends of cryptids around the world and learn how the dark can play tricks on the human eye. For ages 18 and older. Register online.

Saturday, Nov. 2

Jewels for Hope — A Sale of Gently Worn Jewelry and Scarves: 8:30 a.m.-2 p.m., Glen Mar Church, 4701 New Cut Road, Ellicott City. 410-465-4995. glenmarumc.org. Eighth annual sale of gently worn jewelry and scarves, featuring thousands of pieces of jewelry and hundreds of scarves. Prices start at $5. Proceeds directly benefit HopeWorks, Howard County Maryland’s Sexual Assault and Domestic Violence Center. Free admission; $5 suggested donation.

Cranksgiving, a Food Drive on Two Wheels: 10 a.m.-1 p.m., Plaza at the Mall in Columbia, downtown Columbia. Fourth annual event, designed to provide active recreation for local residents, raise awareness about county’s bikable pathway system, and generate food items for individuals and families in need. Participants bike from their homes, picking up requested food items along the way from grocery store of choice. Drop off at Plaza at the Mall in Columbia, near Seasons 52, from 10 a.m.-1 p.m. First 100 registrants receive T-shirt. Columbia Villages, along with other interested communities, are invited to compete to see who can donate the most. Each village will have designated table where residents can drop off contributions. Winning village based on total donations received. Free registration.

Draft Horses & Draft Beers at Manor Hill: Noon, Manor Hill Brewing, 4411 Manor Lane, Ellicott City. 410-997-7771. manorhillbrewing.com. Manor Hill and Gentle Giants Draft Horse Rescue partner for family-friendly event. Farm and taproom open noon-7 p.m. Gentle Giants Draft Horse Rescue on site with horses for petting and pictures beginning at noon until about 4 p.m. Manor Hill Pizza Trolley open noon-6 p.m. Portion of proceeds from King’s Abbey beer sales donated to Gentle Giants mission to saving draft horses from slaughter, abuse and neglect.

HoCo HaHa’s Circus/Magic Variety Show: 6-8:30 p.m., Harriet Tubman Cultural Center, 8045 Harriet Tubman Lane, Columbia. 410-313-4714. howardcountymd.gov/hocohahas. Howard County’s new variety show features clean, family performances with variety of artists including jugglers, magicians and circus performers. Doors open 6 p.m.; show at 7 p.m. $30/two people.

Recurring events

Paper, Rock, Scissors…Nature! with Ellen Corddry and Diane Dunn: Through Oct. 27, Artists Gallery, 8197 Main St., Ellicott City. 443-325-5936. artistsgalleryec.com. Featured show for October is “Paper, Rock, Scissors… Nature!” Ellen Corddry works primarily in woodcuts and watercolor; Diane Dunn works in various media.

Artists Gallery’s The Gift of Art 2024: Runs Oct. 30-Jan. 12, 2025, Artists Gallery, 8197 Main St., Ellicott City. 443-325-5936. artistsgalleryec.com. Holiday show featuring variety of work by 24 gallery artists. Gallery hours are 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Wednesdays; 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays; extended hours/days start Nov. 26. Opening reception Nov. 3, from 2-5 p.m. Free.