Upcoming City events
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The City of Laurel is contained entirely within Prince Georges County, and the City’s residents are represented at the County level as part of its “District 1”.
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The three candidates are Michelle Garcia, Martin Mitchell, and Darwin Romero. You can read some about them in the Independent’s recent article.
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Votes will be cast in Primary Election on June 23 (so only a couple months away). All three candidates are affiliated with the Democratic party, so the Primary Election will effectively determine the results of the General Election on November 3.
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The Primary Election will also include candidates for State and Federal (but not City, which takes place on odd-numbered years).
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More on elections, including how to register to vote and sample ballots (once released), can be found on the Maryland Board of Elections and Prince Georges Board of Elections.
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The parade which kicks-off the day’s celebration is a great opportunity to highlight the many wonderful groups, organizations, churches, associations, and more that make Laurel a vibrant place to live – If you haven’t already, consider submitting an online parade application and help showcase your group to our town so we can see you! (Due no later than April 23.)
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Perhaps you’ve enjoyed many Main Street Festivals before and want to go behind-the-scenes to experience in a new way plus help create the experience for others – Come on out as a volunteer to help with or Kid Zone, be general task runner, and/or setup/ breakdown. Simply choose times you’re available in the online application and turn it into a double-header of having fun and helping make fun for others! (Due no later than April 20, -AND- there’s an exclusive volunteer t-shirt and ‘thank you’ dinner for all helpers!)
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And what would Main Street Festival be without it’s vendors? Whether it’s food, crafts, games, churches, businesses, recreational groups, non-profits, or more, thousands walk the streets this day that you can connect with, share, and build community. You can find out more for all the different categories of vendors from the Main Street Festival page, including discounts for merchants located on Main Street. (Due no later than April 17.)
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Fresh fruits & vegetables and more from Zahradka Family Farm, Bella Vita Farm, Lavander Farm, and more
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Tasty foods & beverages from Sunshine Creamery, Ali Damra’s Middle Eastern Food, BK Juices, and more
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Baked goods & pastries from Cake’D By Niqua, Stone Hearth Bakery, Gingersnap Jess Cookies, and more
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Great products from Krafty Kre8tions, Coco & Soy Candle Co., Olive Oil 4 Life, and more
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The Trello board showing vendors and performers each week,
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The Farmer’s Market social media posts via Facebook, Instagram, and (https://x.com/lrlmarketonmain)
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The first is the 4th of July Indoor Yard Sale fundraiser which always is a nice browse-around for good finds – And if you’re looking to sell, you can also sign-up for table for $25 (with a donation truck on site for anything remaining). The event is scheduled from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Multiservice Center at 204 Fort Meade Road (Rte. 198). Proceeds to help fund our 4th of July festivities (this year to also highlight our nation’s 250th birthday)!
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The second is a Patuxent River Cleanup – After you’ve scored a few treasures at the yard sale, swing on down to Riverfront Park to help spruce up our river so it sparkles for spring! Meetup at the park area at the end of Avondale Street and link up with the Patuxent Riverkeepers, Laurel Parks & Rec, and other community groups for what promises to be a beautiful time outside & rewarding time beautifying our City!
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Mar 2 - 13: Week 1 voting – Eight towns will be eliminated, and eight will advance. UPDATE: Here is the voting page for Week 1.
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Mar 16 - 20: Week 2 voting – The Elite Eight will be matched head-to-head, with only four advancing on
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Mar 23 - 27: Week 3 voting – Another head-to-head round, where the Final Four get narrowed down to the Championship Match
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Mar 30 - Apr 3: The Championship Match where One Strongest Town will emerge!
- Patrol operations
- K9 units
- Evidence collection
- Crisis negotiations
- Emergency response
- And much more
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With a wreath placement at the City’s memorial outside the Municipal Center this Friday at 4 p.m., and
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With a day of service on Monday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Multiservice Center. The event will open with meaningful program at the start, then be followed by the assembly of care packages for seniors.
- Clothing
- Toys, and
- Non-perishable foods
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The Parade kicks-off at 3:45 p.m. from the Municipal Center and will wind down Sandy Spring Road onto Montgomery Street, ending at Fourth Street.
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And the Armory Illumination will take place as it gets dark, around 5:15 p.m.
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Tree Lighting with Santa Claus
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Performance by the Laurel High School Chorus
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Live Ice Carving Demonstration
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Hot Chocolate & Cookies
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Crafts & Holiday Activities
PG District 1 Candidate Forum in Laurel next Thu, Apr 16
The three PG County District 1 candidates are coming to Laurel next Thursday, April 16 from 7 - 8:30 p.m. for a Candidate Forum and it’ll be a great opportunity for you to meet and hear them share their thoughts and ideas to help inform your vote.
The event is hosted by The Laurel Independent and will take place at the Laurel Boys and Girls Club located at 701 Montgomery Street. Admission is free, but online registration is encouraged to help event planners adequately accommodate attendees.
A few helpful background facts:
So register online and join with neighbors to meet and discuss who will next represent our County District for the next four years.
Join the Parade or Volunteer with the Main Street Festival on May 2!
One of the great spring highlights in the City of Laurel is the annual Main Street Festival hosted by the Laurel Board of Trade! – normally the Saturday of Mother’s Day Weekend, this year the event will take place on Saturday, May 2, with the Parade at 9 a.m. and family fun from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on a Main Street bursting with people and life!
The people of Laurel really make the Main Street Festival sparkle, and I encourage you to not only come on down to see the action and have fun, but also consider participating in a variety of ways:
So no matter how you slice it, it’s gonna be fun and you’re gonna want to be there and be a part! 🙂
*Today* - Laurel Farmer's Market Kicks-off Season!
It’s back! – Today, Thursday, April 2 marks the official kick-off of the Laurel Farmer’s Market for the 2026 season!
Come on down to the Quill Lot at 378 Main Street each Thursday from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. (weather permitting) from April 2 to October 29 to enjoy being outdoors, meeting neighbors, and picking up a variety of goods, such as:
For additional details, check out:
So you definitely want to make this part of your weekly routine – I know I’ve regularly picked up what my wife calls the ‘best tomatoes’ there, I see folks sitting at the picnic benches enjoying treats they purchased and talking with neighbors, and there’s often music to relax a moment and enjoy the passage of time. 🙂
Come on out and see you there!
Correction: 4th of July Yard Sale + Patuxent River Cleanup Date
I realized after-the-fact that I got my weekends mixed up during my Council Report on Monday – I accidentally shared that two events were happening this Saturday, but they’re actually scheduled for next Saturday, April 4. 🤪
Additional details for both events in the graphics below and you can kick-off April with a great day in Laurel!
Ladies Night Out next Friday, Mar 6
As part of International Women’s Month in March, Laurel Parks & Rec is hosting a “Ladies Night Out” on Friday, March 6 from 6-8 p.m. at The Mansion at Laurel.
Registration is $10 for residents and I’ve heard rave reviews in past years from attendees – There’ll be interactive games, crafts, cocktails/ mocktails, and light refreshments included. And it’s a great opportunity to get out, meet and make some new friends, plus build community here in Laurel. (Not to mention you’ll get to see one of our historic buildings that’ve been beautifully renovated for settings such as this.)
Check out the graphic below for more info and to sign-up!
Vote for Laurel in the "Strongest Town" Competition!
Calling all Laurelites!! 📢 – it’s time to rally the troops and show your hometown pride!
A different type of March Madness is about to take off, and this one’s for Laurel to make its way through five bracket levels and be named “Strongest Town Champion”!
Thanks to the work of Laurel resident Calvin Burns, we’ve already made it past Level 1 – Now we’ve arrived at where voting begins and where you come in: all hands are needed on deck!
I’ll update this post with voting links as they’re released, and you can also read more about the competition on the Strongest Towns competition page.
You may already be familiar, but Strong Towns (sponsor of the annual competition) is a non-profit powering a movement to help cities, towns, and neighborhoods to take local action to grow safe, livable, and financially resilient communities. They’ve garnered resources, tools, and a membership of people all across the country who are seeking to help impact their own neighborhoods for the better.
What better way to showcase your hometown pride than submitting your vote each week and seeing Laurel claim the championship trophy! 🏆And with the trophy comes a mini-documentary that will showcase the gem of our one-in-a-million City!
UPDATE 16 Mar 2026: Unfortunately Laurel didn’t quite get enough votes in Week 1 to advance, but a HUGE thanks to everyone who made the effort and a great preparation to rally the troops for another run in the future! Thank you to Mr. Burns for submitting us and to all who participated – Laurel truly is a Strong Town and it’s because of our residents: thank you! 😀
Black History Month Celebration on Sun, Feb 22
This coming Sunday, February 22, celebrate 100 years of Black History Month with the City from 2 - 3:30 p.m. at the Municipal Center!
There’ll be music, spoken word recitations, guest speakers, presentations and more to celebrate the important contributions of African-Americans to our country’s history and throughout the world.
The City is also hosting an essay contest for elementary and middle school students with the theme, “A Century of Black History Commemorations” asking students to explore and reflect on what Black history means to them and how it continues to shape our future. You can learn more on the essay contest information page and submissions are due to the Mayor by February 18.
More details for the celebration below and hope to see you there!
Receive an Update on City's Master Plan work next Thu, Feb 19
The Laurel Historical Society will host a presentation next Thursday, February 19 at 6 p.m. via Zoom to provide residents an update on the work being done on the City’s new Master Plan –
The Master Plan is a document updated every ten years that guides the City’s decisions around commercial development, housing, transportation, environment, historic preservation, public facilities, and more. The Master Plan Committee was formed in January 2025 and has been working with staff and consultants since then to pull together data points, talk through considerations, and distill down decisions into a final document. Once completed later this year, it will be presented to the City Council for consideration and a vote on adoption.
For the presentation, Director Jay Meashey of the Laurel Department of Economic & Community Development will share work completed by the Master Plan Committee thus far and also welcome any questions during the Q&A portion.
You can learn more about the Master Plan on the dedicated Master Plan Update page of the City’s website where you can also find a copy of the 2016 Master Plan, the presentation slides from the kick-off meeting last January providing an overview of the process, meeting lists and resources, and more.
Advanced registration is required, so be sure to sign-up using LHS' meeting link!
(Photo: Laurel Historical Society)
Sign-up for Laurel Police Citizen’s Academy by Feb 10
Every participant I’ve talked with has shared how much they enjoyed and appreciated this program, even those who entered with doubts.
The Laurel Police Citizen’s Academy is a 10-week program that shows you the behind-the-scenes of Laurel Police work, including classes on:
It’s definitely a hands-on experience taking you to all parts of the City and all parts of the Department, an experience and perspective you literally have to see and be a part of to believe.
Applications are open through February 10 and classes begin February 12 – See the below graphic and reach out to LPD if you’re interested: I can guarantee you’ll truly appreciate being part of this class!
New date!: Feb 3 for LBOT Small Business Roundtable
Originally scheduled for earlier this week, the Laurel Board of Trade has rescheduled their annual Business Roundtable with the City of Laurel for this coming Tuesday, February 3 from 6 - 8 p.m. at the Municipal Center.
Not only is this a great opportunity to connect with other small businesses owners to share, learn, and fellowship, it’s also a great opportunity to connect with City officials to discuss how best to support small businesses in our town and to get your practical questions answered.
Confirmed attendees include Mayor Sydnor, Economic & Community Development Director Meashey, Police Chief Hammil, IT Director Cornwell-Shiel, and more.
And I’ll be there as well! – please come up to say “hi”, share about your small business, help swap ideas on continuing to cultivate a strong small business community here in Laurel!
City marking MLK Jr. Day on Jan 16 & 19
Martin Luther King, Jr. Day is coming up next Monday, January 19 and the City will be marking in two special ways:
More information below and see you there!
Reminder: Free Christmas tree Pickups on Weds in January
For all you live Christmas tree lovers out there (our family included) 😀, don’t forget the City will do free pickups of your trees every Wednesday during the month of January.
No scheduling necessary as long as you place at your curb , but if possible, you’re encouraged to call 301-725-0088 to log your address.
Celebrating the Semiquincentennial -- 250 years of the US of A!
This year, on July 4, 2026, our country will celebrate its 250th year!
And to quote Governor Moore, “Maryland was there from the beginning …” - Check out this 2-minute video from Maryland’s 250 Commission for a quick take:
I remember as a kid coming across bicentennial quarters from 1976 and thinking they were super cool and carried special value – And here we are at another momentous milestone, poised to mark a quarter millennia as a country. To my mind, it is something to say that this experiment we call America, something that had never quite been done in the history of the world up to that point, is still perduring. Back in 2007, I heard a reflection on Declaration of Independence that really struck me: ‘The American Revolution differed from many other revolutions in that it was premised on the objective laws of human nature and their Author.’ Imperfect is true, and America still strives to live up to her ideals, but we all today take up the mantle handed on to us in order to carry and advance in our time the promise of America and her people. To quote one of the Founders, Benjamin Franklin, ‘We have a republic, if we can keep it.’
I’m excited for our 250th and hope you are too! The City is also laying the groundwork and preparing for the celebration. To be a part, please reach out to me and it’d be my pleasure to connect you with the group of collaborators – what better way to express American ideals? 😀
Happy 250 years America and here’s to keeping those candles burning brightly for many years to come! 🕯️🕯️🕯️
Menorah Lighting *today* and Kwanzaa Celebration Sat, Dec 27
We are truly blessed with so many faith and cultural communities in Laurel, all sharing from their rich heritage and contributing to the good of their neighbors and our City. And this time of year is full of many celebrations, such as Chanukah which runs from December 15 - 22 and Kwanza which runs from December 26 to January 1. Below are public opportunities to join in these celebrations — a great way to showcase your traditions and beliefs or also to appreciate and learn from the traditions of others.
»Public Menorah Lighting & Gelt Drop«
This afternoon at 5 p.m. at the amphitheater next to the Laurel Library there’ll be a public menorah lighting and “gelt” drop. In Jewish tradition, the candles of a menorah are lit over the eight days of Chanukah to recall the miracle connected to the rededication of the Holy Temple in Jerusalem. This public menorah lighting is hosted by Chabad of Laurel and is very much intended as an invitation for all to come, learn about this tradition, and build community connection, so please feel no hesitation to come! Not to mention, there’ll be hot cocoa, delicious doughnuts, and a chocolate coin “gelt” drop (a fun tradition for kids where chocolate candy coins are dropped for kids to gather up). You can learn more about Chabad of Laurel and their missions to ‘share authentic Judaism and create opportunities to experience its rich heritage in Laurel’ at their website linked above.
»Kwanzaa Celebration on Sat, Dec 27«
And this coming Saturday, December 27 from 2 - 4 p.m. there’ll be a public Kwanza Celebration at the Laurel Multiservice Center to which all are invited. The seven candles of Kwanzaa signify the seven principles of Kwanzaa, including “unity”, “collective work and responsibility”, and “faith”. The event will also feature an African Naming Ceremony and promises to be a meaningful celebration of African heritage for all, so come on out to experience with our City!
Laurel's 11th Annual Fill-A-Truck Toy Drive
At this week’s Council Meeting, I shared about Laurel’s 11th Annual Fill-A-Truck Toy Drive, and wanted to extend the invitation to residents to consider including it in your Christmas/ holiday preparations this year –
Many of our local business, non-profits, and volunteer organizations are banding together with the goal to fill a truck with donations by December 20th, including new:
Monetary gifts and gift cards are also welcome, and drop-off locations are at the Laurel Volunteer Rescue Squad on Bowie Road or the Laurel Volunteer Fire Department on Cherry Lane.
Thank you to volunteer Clyde Williams and all the organizations and individuals involved! – And perhaps the greatest gift of the season, is to give. 🙂
Holiday Parade & Tree Lighting *this* Sat, Dec 6
The holiday season is now in full swing, and with it: Laurel’s holiday parade and Armory illumination! 🎄🎅
The parade is sure to feature certain North Pole guests – There’ll be music, games, and fun inside the Armory – Of course, the magic of the lighting ceremony will be on display ❄️ – And more.
So get yourself some Laurel holiday spirit while you join with friends, neighbors, and family – See you there! 😀
LARS Turkey Trot - Race Against Hunger this Thu, Nov 27
A perennial tradition here in the Laurel, the Laurel Advocacy & Referral Services (LARS) annual “Turkey Trot” a.k.a. “Race Against Hunger & Homelessness” is set for this Thursday, November 27 with race time starting at 8 a.m. at McCullough Park.
If you haven’t participated before, this is a great year to start. And if this is already part of your annual Thanksgiving tradition, it’s also a great year to continue. :)
More information can be found on the event page for those ready to get in motion for the cause, and even if that’s not your thing but you’d still like to lend a hand, they’re also in need of volunteers to help the event go smoothly.
There’s always great energy and fun at this event – I guarantee no regrets to those coming out! 😀 🦃 🏃➡️
Annual Towne Centre Tree Lighting *Today*, Nov 20
Okay, so we may not be to Thanksgiving just yet, but perhaps you’re in the mood for some holiday cheer. :)
Pop on over to Towne Centre at Laurel starting at 6 p.m. for:
Admission is free, but registration helps the organizers ensure adequate supplies are on hand. And you’re also encouraged to bring a donation for the LARS holiday food baskets of cake or brownie mix along with a can of frosting (which you can drop off at their marked tent).
Here’s the event page to RSVP!
(And note: The City’s annual parade and tree lighting at the Laurel Armory will be on Saturday, Dec 6 – so be sure to mark your calendars and enjoy with the family as well!)
Laurel Blessing Baskets returns next Wed, Nov 19
Now in its third year, the Laurel Blessing Baskets Thanksgiving tradition started by Mike Mondy of Keller Williams Realty is hoping to continue and even widen its impact in 2025. From the event description:
After successfully donating 140 baskets in 2023 and 220 in 2024, the effort returns with the goal of helping even more families across 7 local elementary schools. Each Blessing Basket is filled with essential items and distributed directly to families in need by local volunteers.
Community members are encouraged to participate by pledging baskets through a sign-up form containing items such as laundry basket to hold the goodies; $30+ grocery card for turkey; cans of corn, green beans, & cranberries; boxes of stuffing; and more (see link for helpful list).
Baskets can be dropped off this coming Wednesday, Nov 19 at KB Karnival Hall at 555 Main Street (behind ‘Olivers Old Town Tavern’). And if you want to help but are unable to attend in person, you can use the event GoFundMe link.
Thank you Laurel for your generosity for our neighbors this Thanksgiving, both through this program, and ones through Laurel churches, schools, and others – These acts help build a strong Laurel so that we can all offer our gratefulness this November!
Laurel Elections Candidate Forum *this* Wed, Oct 22 hosted by LBOT
We’re essentially two weeks away from the 2025 Laurel General Elections and here’s a perfect way to get familiar with and hear from the candidates running for office —>
The Laurel Board of Trade (LBOT) will be hosting their Candidates Forum this Wednesday, October 22 from 6 - 9 p.m. in the Council Chambers at the Laurel Municipal Center.
You can come in-person; watch live online via LaurelTV or the MyLaurel app, or watch live on your TV via Comcast Channel 996 (HD)/ 71 (SD) or Verizon FiOS Channel 12.
LBOT is also collecting questions to distill down into the list posed to candidates over the course of the evening — So if you have any questions you’d like to see asked, they’ve asked if you can submit them via ‘direct message’ on their Facebook page.
More details below and hope you can make it!
