Ring in spring with SpringFest in Old Ellicott City on April 26.

Featuring more than 30 artisan vendors, eco-friendly crafts, food trucks, music and live performances from Ari and Buffalo Kings, Brooklyn Kohl and The! Warshanna Quintet, the event will showcase the many organizations in the community working to protect the environment.

Hosted by Ellicott City Partnership, attendees will have the opportunity to create with the Howard County Arts Council, Howard EcoWorks, Patapsco Valley 4-H Club and Robinson Nature Center, interact with live reptiles from CMC Exotics, learn about pollinators from the Howard County Beekeepers and meet players and their mascot from Ellicott City’s semi-pro soccer club, DMV Elite FC.

Sharon Christiansen, executive director of Ellicott City Partnership said the festival was created to educate the community on the importance of ecology and sustainability.“The goal of the event is to highlight Ellicott City and all of the businesses and restaurants and services that exist there as well as highlight our commitment to sustainability and items that are handcrafted and special and you can’t find anywhere else,” she said.

Christiansen said the nonprofit is looking forward to partnering with new organizations in the community.

“One of the benefits of our event is that we get to work with so many of our other nonprofit partners and county partners,” she said. “Our goal is to also highlight some of the new organizations that are coming within our area.”

Howard County Arts Council is one of the organizations that will be at SpringFest. Relocating its campus later this year from 8510 High Ridge Road to the former courthouse in Historic Ellicott City, this is the first time the organization will be featured at SpringFest.

Mary K. Baxter, deputy director of development and community engagement at HCAC said the organization will be creating recycled arts projects for children and sharing some of its programming for families at the festival.

“We hope to engage with [visitors] and talk about the programs that we offer so that they know how they can participate with the arts council both at the festival and beyond the festival,” she said.

SpringFest will take place at 8267 Main St. in Old Ellicott City, April 26 from 12-6 p.m.

For more information, visit oldellicottcity.org.

Have a news tip? Contact Allana Haynes at ahaynes@baltsun.com or 240-756-5668.