Chilling historic tales of Maryland's witches, right here in Old Ellicott City. A solid warm-up for Halloween week.

📍 8328 Court Ave, Ellicott City · Thu Oct 22 · 7PM

Manor Hill's first-ever outdoor family movie night. Bring lawn chairs or blankets and a sweatshirt. Popcorn, farm-brewed beer, and the Pizza Trolley until 8.

📍 4411 Manor Lane, Ellicott City · Fri Oct 23 · 7PM

Kids jump in the heated pool to grab their own pumpkin, plus games and crafts. Costumes welcome, but don't forget the bathing suit. Ages 3–11, preregistration required, time slots by age.

📍 3000 Milltowne Dr, Ellicott City · Sat Oct 24 · 12:30–3PM · $17/child

Little ghosts, monsters, and superheroes parade through the diner. Best-dressed kid wins a $30 gift card, and every kid goes home with a candy bag.

📍 10055 Baltimore National Pike, Ellicott City · Sat Oct 24 · 1–3PM

A loop around Lake Elkhorn, then a post-race party at Black Flag Brewing. Costume contest winner gets free shoes.

📍 Charm City Run, 7090 Deepage Dr, Columbia · Sun Oct 25 · 8AM · $60

🚘 Worth the drive

Baltimore's biggest Halloween party takes over multiple floors, with the planetarium, rooftop views, and dancing. 21+ only, and it sells out.

📍 Inner Harbor, Baltimore · Sat Oct 24 · 8PM–1AM

🏡 The market is tilting toward buyers. In many parts of the country, sellers now outnumber buyers, so there's more room to negotiate. The catch: mortgage rates ticked up in the second half of 2026, keeping monthly payments high and keeping plenty of buyers on the sidelines.

Incidents in 21043

Businesses hit in one night

Arrests in the spree so far

Commercial Burglary Spree · Howard County

9 businesses broken into overnight Oct. 11–12 across Columbia, Clarksville, Elkridge, Ellicott City (21042), Fulton, and Highland. Mostly liquor stores, plus a High's, a McDonald's, and two restaurants. Glass doors and windows were smashed, and cash, alcohol, lottery tickets, a safe, and a cash register were taken. Police believe two suspects were involved. No arrests yet.

Commercial Burglary · Columbia · Arrest

Same night, a man pried open a door at The Mall in Columbia around 12:35AM. Police found him nearby and arrested him after a short vehicle chase. Nothing was stolen, and police haven't linked him to the spree.

📹 Got a camera near one of these spots? Police are asking residents and business owners to check footage from overnight Oct. 11–12 and send anything useful their way.

$50K Winning Lottery Ticket Sold at the Ellicott City Giant Unclaimed

A Bonus Match 5 ticket bought Oct. 12 at the Giant on Route 40 (9200 Baltimore National Pike) hit all five numbers: 12, 20, 22, 25, 29. Nobody has claimed it yet. Check your wallet.

🗳️ Early voting starts Thursday, including right here in 21043

Early voting runs Thursday, Oct. 22 through Thursday, Oct. 29, from 7AM to 8PM every day. Howard County voters can use any of the county's 5 early voting centers, including Meadowbrook Athletic Complex, 5001 Meadowbrook Ln.

Key dates: Want a mail-in ballot sent by mail? Request it by Tuesday, Oct. 27. Election Day is Tuesday, Nov. 3. All early voting locations.

"We bought Halloween candy for the trick-or-treaters. Now we need to go buy Halloween candy for the trick-or-treaters."

Overheard in 21043

"Turned the heat on for the first time this year. The whole house smells like burnt dust and regret."

Overheard in 21043

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Elkridge was a seaport before Baltimore existed.

Elk Ridge Landing was founded in 1690 as a deep-water port, with a channel 10 to 14 feet deep that brought ships in from the Chesapeake Bay. Until Baltimore was established in 1729, it was a gateway for shipping tobacco, grain, lumber, and iron. Huge barrels of tobacco were rolled down "rolling roads" to the landing for shipment overseas. Then deforestation and erosion slowly silted in the river, and by 1868 the port could no longer be used. You can still see part of the old landing site at the Elkridge Furnace Inn.

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