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.

Monday, Dec. 23

Family Movie Matinee, “Penguins of Madagascar”: 11 a.m.-1 p.m., Howard County Library System, Glenwood Branch, 2350 State Route 97, Cooksville. 410-313-5577. https://howardcounty.librarycalendar.com/. Film is rated PG. Tickets available 15 minutes before class at children’s desk.

Ukulele Holiday Jam: 3-4 p.m., Howard County Library System, Miller Branch, 9421 Frederick Road, Ellicott City. 410-313-1950. https://howardcounty.librarycalendar.com/. Bring your own ukulele or borrow one. Other simple instruments provided to play and sing along. For ages 7 and older with adult. Tickets available at children’s desk 15 minutes before class.

Tuesday, Dec. 24

Christmas Eve Services: 2-11:45 p.m., Bethany United Methodist Church, 2875 Bethany Lane, Ellicott City. 410-465-2919. bethanyum.org. Family service at 2 p.m., led by children in attendance; 4 p.m. traditional service featuring Chancel Choir, handbell selections, vocal performances, and accompaniment from violin, cello, and organ; 6 p.m. contemporary service featuring Praise Band; 11 p.m. traditional service, including communion, taking place in chapel.

Christmas Eve Family Service: 5-6 p.m., Channing Memorial Church, Unitarian Universalist, 9122 Sybert Drive, Ellicott City. 410-203-0474.

Thursday, Dec. 26

Avalanche Engineering: 3-4 p.m., Howard County Library System, Central Branch, 10375 Little Patuxent Parkway, Columbia. 410-313-7800. https://howardcounty.librarycalendar.com/. Join a team and utilize your STEM skills to engineer a structure capable of surviving an avalanche. Put structure to the test with mock avalanche. For ages 9-12. Registration required.

Friday, Dec. 27

Kwanzaa Celebration: Exploring African Traditions and Creativity: 2-5 p.m., Howard County Library System, East Columbia Branch, 6600 Cradlerock Way, Columbia. 410-313-7700. https://howardcounty.librarycalendar.com/. Experience the culture surrounding Kwanzaa that celebrates history, values, family and community. For all ages and families. Registration preferred.

Recurring events

Holiday Train Garden: Open during center hours, through Jan 5, Gary J. Arthur Community Center, 2400 Route 97, Cooksville. 410-313-4840. https://www.howardcountymd.gov/events. Layout features four continuously operating trains through an 8-foot by 8-foot scenic garden. Provided by train enthusiast Dennis Moore.

Holiday Train Garden: Through Jan. 5, during normal business hours, Baltimore & Ohio Ellicott City Station Museum, 3711 Maryland Ave., Ellicott City. 410-313-1945. www.howardcountymd.gov/ecborail. Train models set up throughout the Baltimore and Ohio Ellicott City Station Museum, including year-round exhibit in the Freight House.

Artists Gallery’s The Gift of Art 2024: Through 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. Free.

Piece By Piece — Mozaic Art: Through Jan. 25, 2025, The Meeting House Gallery, 5885 Robert Oliver Place, Columbia. 410-997-0692. Exhibition features mosaic artwork by 10 artists. Themes include portraits, landscapes, animals, children, and abstract forms.