Summer Festival in Elkridge Canceled

The once traditional community celebration, Elkridge Days, slated for late August, has been canceled this year.

Started in the 1980s, Elkridge Days took place during the hotter months in lower Elkridge and later included .

"Years ago, organizations in Elkridge would gather along Main Street to have a parade and eventually end up at the old drive-in site, or what is now Elkridge Crossing, for a carnival. This event came to be known as Elkridge Days," according to literature from the Greater Elkridge Community Association (GECA), sponsor of the event.

Last year, the tradition was revived and included an evening of music in Rockburn Branch Park in addition to a parade down Main Street starring the

This year, the tradition will be laid to rest again, according to an announcement from GECA President Howard Johnson. In response to an inquiry from Patch, he wrote the following in an e-mail dated Monday, June 27:

"The Elkridge Days committee and the GECA board met last Thursday night and decided to cancel Elkridge Days 2011 due to lack of groups willing to participate this year. ... To the groups that have submitted applications and fees this year, we want to thank you. ... GECA will contact you and return any payments on record to your organization. ... We hope we can depend on you for next year as we retool and regroup for 2012."