Columbia, MD – November 1, 2026, On Saturday, November 28, 2026, Merriweather Arts and Culture Center will celebrate ten years of our ownership of Merriweather Post Pavilion (MPP). In the beginning, we were instrumental in helping realize a bigger vision for Columbia, and we have continued to serve as a catalyst for growth in the Columbia arts community.
On November 28th, 2016, after years of advocacy and planning, our leadership was given the key to MPP, and the historic building and its surrounding land were finally out of danger. We then renovated and modernized the venue, helped MPP celebrate its 50th birthday, and overcame the unexpected cost of replacing the pavilion’s roof. While partnering with established arts organizations in the community, we began introducing free and low cost arts offerings at MPP - movie nights, symphonic concerts, and the Books in Bloom Festival.
After the pandemic, MACC came back with outdoor concerts in Merriweather District, more movie nights, and collaborations with the BSO and the Howard County Library. We then began our most ambitious project yet by partnering with the Howard County Youth Orchestra and professional touring musicians to give student musicians the opportunity to play big stages with those artists. Time for Three (2022), Guster (2023), Tank and The Bangas (2024), and Ben Folds (2025) gave these students powerful lifelong memories.
We also established our first in-school arts residencies with The Reminders (2023), Las Cafeteras (2024), Kyshona (2025), and The Right Direction project (2026). In 2023, MACC formed the Merriweather Teen Council, and began holding teen-led events. In 2024, MACC co-produced the Free LakeFest Weekend from Columbia Festival of the Arts, an organization we then merged with in 2025.
Over the years, we’ve created a close-knit ecosystem of organizations and artists. Providing professional production values and upholding artists’ rights have been our priorities. MACC has implemented fresh ideas, expanding our programming and footprint with accessibility and diversity in mind.
We have empowered and inspired teens by inviting them to lead, building a space for them to network, and expanding their exposure to the arts. We’ve invested in arts education in Howard County Schools, touching the lives of hundreds of students who may not have otherwise experienced learning from professional artists. We’ve remained resilient through unforseen circumstances, and we’re committed to providing more for the community.
We’re looking forward to the 40th year of LakeFest in 2027, which is an iconic Columbia event that we’re proud to permanently present as of 2025. In addition, we eagerly anticipate being a part of the celebration of Columbia’s 60th birthday in 2027.
