Holi Celebration 2025
Join the most vibrant celebration of the year at Holi!
Date and time
Location
Chrysalis, Merriweather Park at Symphony Woods
10431 Little Patuxent Parkway Columbia, MD 21044Refund Policy
About this event
- Event lasts 4 hours
Join us for the most vibrant celebration of the year at Holi! This free, family-friendly dance party will have you dancing through clouds of bright powder that ensure you walk away a visible representation of community, spring, and joy!
NEW DATE: June 1
Join Inner Arbor Trust and community organizations to celebrate Holi with a South Asian festival and a dance party. This event is a FREE community cultural event.
Holi is a spring festival during which participants celebrate by throwing colored powder at each other while they dance and celebrate.
Colored powder is available for sale onsite. No outside powder may be brought onsite. Please note that while powder generally washes out of clothing, it is likely that by coming onsite you will have powder fall on you, so please wear clothing that you agree may be stained.
Featuring music, dance, and other performances, join us on June 1 in Columbia’s beloved Symphony Woods to participate in this beautiful, free, and family-friendly celebration!
The event kicks off with a colorful 1 mile fun run throughout the park (optional, paid ticket required).
About the Inner Arbor Trust
The Trust is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization incorporated in Maryland. The mission of the Inner Arbor Trust is to promote and nurture a park in a unique natural setting for a variety of arts and culture experiences that enrich the entire community. The Trust works to develop Merriweather Park at Symphony Woods into a destination arts and culture park. In addition to operating the Chrysalis amphitheater, the Trust manages a substantial portion of the Park for recreational use.
Performances
Performances by community dance groups
Parking
Non-ADA parking is in Lot 2 (flat) and Lot 4. If you need ADA parking please request it at check out or email info@innerarbortrust.org.
A parking map is available here .
DIRECTIONS TO LOT 2 (flat)
For GPS purposes, please use the address 11000 Broken Land Parkway, Columbia, MD 21044 (you are going to the flat surface parking lot, not the garage).
From points north: Take 29 South to 175 West (Columbia). Continue as 175 becomes Little Patuxent Parkway, for approximately 2.3 miles. Make a left onto Merriweather Drive and follow the signs to Lot 2, which is to the right.
From points south: Take 29 North to Broken Land Parkway towards Town Center / Merriweather Post Pavilion. Make a right onto Little Patuxent Parkway, continue for approximately 0.2 miles. Make a right onto Merriweather Drive and follow the signs to Lot 2, which is to the right.
DIRECTIONS TO LOT 4
For GPS purposes, please use the address 10500 Little Patuxent Parkway, Columbia MD 21044, and follow the directions of signs and parking staff.
From points north / west: Take US-29 South; disregard signs for Merriweather/South Entrance Road. Take the exit for Broken Land Parkway West towards Town Center / Merriweather Post Pavilion. Stay in left lane and turn left at light onto Broken Land Parkway. Go straight through two lights, crossing over Little Patuxent Parkway, and make first right into parking garage.
From points south: Take 29 North to Broken Land Parkway towards Town Center / Merriweather Post Pavilion. Go straight through two lights, crossing over Little Patuxent Parkway, and make first right into parking garage. Please follow the directions of parking staff.
ADA Parking
If you need ADA parking, please make sure you select ADA parking during checkout. F or more information about parking please click here - https://innerarbortrust.org/location
Seating
All seating for this event is on the lawn. You may bring a blanket or a standard sized lawn chair with no canopy or blanket. If you bring a chair or blanket please make sure that you understand that it may be exposed to colored powder and it may stain.
Lawn chairs will also be available to rent for $5 if you don't want to carry one with you.
No Pets
No pets except service animals are permitted at this event. We will miss our four legged friends, so please do bring canine companions to those events where they are permitted.
Restrooms
Restrooms are available at the top of Chrysalis hill.
Colored Powder
No outside powder allowed. Powder available for sale on-site.
Attire
Please wear light colored clothing that may be stained.
This celebration is supported in part by the Maryland State Arts Council. To discover more about the Maryland State Arts Council and how they impact Maryland, visit msac.org.
*image shows an abstract version of the Maryland flag, the logo of the Maryland State Arts Council, which is part of the Department of Commerce.*
*Image shows the logo of First National Bank as a Founding Partner. Partner Organization logos are shown for Columbia Association and Howard County Recreation and Parks.*
Frequently asked questions
Everyone! Whether you have been celebrating Holi all your life or if you just want to experience something new with your neighbors, you are welcome.
Make sure you only throw powder on people with their permission.
Usually the powder comes out easily, but wash your clothes separately and consider wearing clothes that can be stained.
Yes!
Yes! (If you are 21+)
You can buy color onsite. NO OUTSIDE COLOR IS ALLOWED.
Sorry, no.
Wikipedia contributors. (2023, February 22). Holi. In Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Retrieved 01:33, February 23, 2023, from https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Holi&oldid=1140969891 Holi ( /ˈhoʊliː/) is an ancient Hindu tradition and also one of the most popular festivals in Hinduism.
Sorry, no.
Service animals only for this event.
Parking will be assigned shortly before the event. The details will be sent out by email
Yes, for this event, you may bring a standard sized lawn chair with no canopy or blanket. If you bring a chair or blanket, understand that it may be exposed to colored powder and it may stain. Lawn chairs will also be available to rent for $5 if you don't want to carry one with you.
Organized by
The Trust is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit entity in the process of developing over 50 acres in Downtown Columbia, Maryland into an iconic arts and culture park, Merriweather Park at Symphony Woods. The Trust was created by the Columbia Association, Inc. to develop and manage the Park in connection with significant redevelopment in Downtown Columbia, Maryland. The Trust seeks to provide to the region an iconic arts and culture park, and everyday recreational opportunities, while preserving green-space at the center of Columbia’s Downtown development.