Marriottsville/ Sykesville /Woodstock

Perhaps you were too busy this summer to make it to the Sykesville Apple Butter Market, or maybe you prefer to wait until fall approaches before you think about anything associated with apples. Now, only two more dates remain – Sept. 6 and Oct. 4 – so mark your calendars for this fun Sykesville tradition!

In addition to apple butter, this event also features a farmer’s market, craft artisans, antiques, plants, food, music, and entertainment. It runs from 10 a.m. – 3 p.m. at South Branch Park, 350 West Friendship Road, in Sykesville. For more information, call 410-795-8959 or e-mail ivy@sykesville.net.

Sisters Lisa Meyer and Robyn Zumbrun, owners of Sweet Simplici-Tea in Sykesville, invite you to a Fundraiser Tea Aug. 29 to benefit the Muscular Dystrophy Association. All proceeds will help send kids with MD to camp. Lisa reports that they still have openings for their 4 p.m. seating, and the cost is $30. For more information, call 410-549-7676, or go to www.sweetsimplicitea.com.

If you have not yet attended a Sykesville Concert in the Park, mark your calendars now because only two more shows remain. The Sykesville Middle School student group Crossfire performs Friday, Aug. 14, while Baltimore area band Getting to Goodbye performs Aug. 21. The concerts run from 7-9 p.m. at Millard Cooper Park, with free parking at Sykesville Middle School. For directions, go to www.mdparty.com/sykesvilleconcerts.

Part of the attraction of western Howard County is the rural scenery and extra elbow room; however, one drawback may be fewer community activities. Fortunately, we live near Historic Sykesville and can enjoy its small-town atmosphere and events.

Next week the Sykesville Farmer’s Market begins at South Branch Park on July 2 and takes place every Thursday through the month of September, from 3-6 p.m. Vendors sell local fruits and vegetables, plants and cut flowers, and eggs. To view the park location, go to www.sykesville.net/main.html, select “Sykesville Farmer’s Market” from the left-hand menu, and then select “Click for map.”

The Sykesville Apple Butter Market, which began in June, continues the first Sunday of every month through October, from 10 a.m. – 3 p.m. It, too, takes place at South Branch Park. In addition to apple butter, arts and crafts, a farmer’s market, and food, live music begins at 1 p.m. Guitarist Ellen Cherry performs on July 5.

Finally, Sykesville Concerts in the Park begin on Friday nights, July 10 – August 21, from 7-9 p.m. The concerts take place at Millard Cooper Park, located on Springfield Avenue off of Rt. 32. Parking is free at Sykesville Middle School, and families can make use of the lighted play area for their little ones. The local Snack Shack also offers drinks and munchies. Dance-party rock band No Stringz Attached performs on July 10.

Sykesville’s Family Fun Day Festival takes place at Millard Cooper Park from 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. July 18. The event includes music and entertainment, food, crafts, pony rides, clowns, a petting zoo, carnival games, inflatables and moon bounces, hair and face painting, a car show, and a karaoke competition. A Kids’ Workshop, offering a variety of projects, runs from noon until 3. Go to www.sykesville.net for more about the event; for directions to Millard Cooper Park (or other Sykesville venues), go to www.mdparty.com/sykesvilleconcerts and select the “Directions” link.

Sisters Robyn Zumbrun and Lisa Meyer, owners of Sweet Simplici-Tea tearoom, invite you to learn more about Sykesville during their History Tea celebration July 12 at noon (with a 2 p.m. seating if demand necessitates). The event begins with a Royal Tea and concludes with a walking tour of the town, guided by local historian Kari Greenwalt.

Sweet Simplici-Tea celebrated its first anniversary June 14. For years, Robyn, a resident of Baltimore County, collected china, linens, teapots, pictures, and curios in hopes of one day opening her own tearoom. However, she did not share her aspirations with others until her birthday in November 2007, when her father gave her a charming pink and white Lenox teapot. That gift triggered a quest to realize her dream, so she and Lisa began looking for a shop location. Ultimately, they settled in at 7520 Main St., in Sykesville.

The sisters enjoy a terrific working relationship and demonstrate a natural division of talent. Lisa, an Ellicott City resident, once worked in the mortgage field and thus handles the business aspects of the tearoom. She also runs the day-to-day operations, functioning as hostess and server. Robyn, on the other hand, acts as the creative and culinary force behind the scenes. She currently maintains her position as an operating room nurse but hopes to one day join her sister full-time in the tearoom. Both enjoy the people they meet and the friendships they make in their new endeavor.

One of their regular customers, Pat Greenwald (no relation to Kari Greenwalt), lives on the Howard County side of Sykesville and works as the coordinator for the Historic Sykesville Colored Schoolhouse. She explains that the schoolhouse “served children of color from Howard and Carroll Counties from 1904 until 1939.” Although fully restored, this interesting part of our local history still requires funds for utilities and for educating our area youth about the facility.

To help raise money in support of the Schoolhouse, Robyn and Lisa have pulled together a Longaberger basket filled with tea-related goodies and are accepting donations of $3 for a chance to win, or $10 for four chances. They will draw the winner’s name during the History Tea.

To reserve a seat for this special tea, call 410-549-7676, or go to www.sweetsimplicitea.com for more information.

Looking for some delicious cultural entertainment this weekend? The Town of Sykesville presents its Annual Strawberry Festival on Saturday, June 13, rain or shine, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Millard Cooper Park. In addition to fresh strawberries, the event features “Art in the Park,” sponsored by the South Carroll Fine Arts League, and live music by Sloe Jim.

Millard Cooper Park lies on Springfield Avenue near Sykesville Middle School. For more information, call 410-795-8959, or go to www.sykesville.net/main.

Beginning June 7 and extending through October 4, the Historic Town of Sykesville again hosts its Apple Butter Market from 10 a.m. – 3 p.m. the first Sunday of every month. This event features vendors selling produce, plants, arts and crafts, antiques, and food – including, of course, apple butter.

Additionally, visitors can listen to live music at 1 p.m. or take a stroll down quaint Main Street to do a little shopping. Train aficionados may enjoy viewing the Sykesville & Patapsco Model Railway Train displays from 1-5 p.m., free of charge (donations accepted).

The Apple Butter Market takes place at South Branch Park, located at the end of Main Street. Proceeds help restore the Historic Apple Butter Warehouse. For more information, e-mail ivy@sykesville.net, call 410-795-8959, or go to www.sykesville.net/main.html.

The Town of Sykesville’s Parks and Events Committee presents its annual Easter egg hunt at Millard Cooper Town Park on Friday, April 10 at 10 a.m. Children, ages 2-8, can hunt for candy- and toy-filled eggs, play on the playground, and visit with the Easter bunny! The park lies on Cooper Drive near the intersection with Sykesville Road (Route 32). Go to www.sykesville.net for more details.