Memorial Day lands Monday, May 25 — a three-day weekend, the official kickoff to pool season, and a trash week where every single day politely steps back one. Here's everything you need to know in HoCo before the long weekend: the closures, the pickup shuffle, the pools, and how to spend your days off well.
One Scoop heads-up first. We're taking the holiday too. There's no Columbia Scoop on Monday — we'll be back in your inbox Thursday, May 28. Go enjoy the sunshine. We'll see you then.
What's closed Monday
The holiday shuts just about every desk with a government seal on it.
Offices. Howard County government offices, the animal shelter, the 50+ Centers, and all state and federal offices are closed Monday. So are the local courts and the post office (no mail).
Libraries and schools. The Howard County Library System is closed for the holiday, Howard County public schools are off, and banks are closed too.
Rec spots. Alpha Ridge Landfill is closed, along with the Robinson Nature Center, the Harriet Tubman Cultural Center, the Gary J. Arthur and North Laurel community centers, Kiwanis-Wallas Hall, and county historic sites.
What's open
Good news for anyone allergic to staying indoors.
County parks are open all weekend, Memorial Day included.
The Roger Carter Community Center is open Monday — but it closes early, at 5 PM.
The pools. Here's the big one: Columbia Association's 23 outdoor pools open Saturday, May 23 for the season. Summer is officially on — cannonballs encouraged.
Trash and recycling: the whole week slides
This one's different from your average holiday. There's no Monday curbside pickup at all — no trash, no recycling, no yard trim, no food scraps — and Howard County's "slide" schedule then bumps every collection for the rest of the week back a day.
Monday moves to Tuesday. Tuesday moves to Wednesday. And it keeps rolling: Wednesday to Thursday, Thursday to Friday, Friday to Saturday.
So whatever day you normally drag the bins to the curb, add one. That's the whole trick.
Alpha Ridge Landfill is closed Monday too — save the dump run for Tuesday.
Getting around
The Regional Transportation Agency (RTA) runs a Sunday schedule on Memorial Day, so plan for fewer buses. Questions go to 1-800-270-9553 or transitrta.com. One thing that does not take the day off: parking. All parking regulations and fees are enforced Monday.
Headed to the beach? You're not alone. The Bay Bridge and I-95 turn into parking lots on Memorial Day weekend. Travel off-peak — early morning or late at night.
A moment to remember
Memorial Day isn't a mattress sale or just a day off. It's the day we honor the men and women of our armed forces who never made it home.
Columbia has a new place to do exactly that. The Howard County Veterans and Military Families Monument opened this month at Vivian C. "Millie" Bailey Park on the Downtown Columbia Lakefront — a quiet, lasting tribute to veterans, military families, and Gold Star families. It's worth a visit this weekend.
So what should I actually do?
A three-day weekend is a gift. Don't spend all of it scrolling.
A few weekend picks. Manor Hill Brewing has special hours on Memorial Day (noon to 5 PM) for farm-brewed beer, the pizza trolley, and music from Rainy Day Matinee from 1–4 PM. On Saturday, there’s Touch-A-Truck Day, a free family romp where kids climb on the mighty trucks that keep the county running, plus the Clarksville Commons Farmers Market, open at 9 AM with produce, fresh bread, and a side of live music.
Want the classics? Wander Historic Ellicott City and cool off with a Crazy Mason milkshake, hike Patapsco Valley State Park, or catch The Wizard of Oz at Toby's Dinner Theatre. And yes — the pools are open.
For everything else happening this weekend, our events calendar has the full rundown.
However you spend it, spend it well. Fire up the grill, find some shade, do a Murph workout, and we'll see you Thursday.
