Maryland State Fairgrounds

Hazardous household materials will be collected Saturday at the Maryland State Fairgrounds in Timonium. The items will be collected from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Residents may bring: paints, motor oil, antifreeze, gasoline, cleaning solvents, pesticides, herbicides, fertilizers, swimming pool chemicals, mercury thermometers, fluorescent light bulbs, fireworks and ammunition and other hazardous household wastes. Residents must use the Timonium Road entrance. Information: 410-887-2000. The county also collects household hazardous waste at the Eastern Sanitary Landfill, at 6259 Days Cove Road in White Marsh, from 7:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Monday through Saturday from April through November.

Beer, bourbon and BBQ fest The lowdown -- Lovers of hops, whiskey and meat will converge on the Maryland State Fairgrounds this weekend for the Beer, Bourbon and BBQ Fest. The event includes barbecue competitions, a tasting room and a heated cigar tent. The Kelly Bell Band and classic rock cover band Mister Wilson will perform. If you go -- The festival runs noon-8 p.m. in the 4-H building at the Maryland State Fairgrounds, 2200 York Road in Timonium. Admission is $18-$20 and includes a souvenir glass, two bourbon tickets and four beer tokens.

Big sounds for little earsThe Baltimore Symphony Orchestra will be at its boldest, brassiest best Saturday as conductor Daniel Hege leads a ``Brilliant Brass'' program for children. Showcasing the musicians of the BSO's brass section, the Classically Kids Series program includes a performance of Tchaikovsky's ``1812 Overture'' with narrator Rheda Becker. The event is designed for families with children ages 7 to 12.The program takes place Saturday at 11 a.m. at the Joseph Meyerhoff Symphony Hall, 1212 Cathedral St. $9. Call 410-783-8000.

How about a game of marbles? Perhaps a joust? Or a relaxing afternoon of watching some turtles race to the finish line? The Steppingstone Museum's annual Children's Games Day on Sunday will also include an ice cream-eating contest, frog-jumping contests, sack races, bean-bag tosses, Mr. Potato Head crafts, storytelling, face-painting, sand-art and even lawn -mower races. The Perry Hall Mibsters will be on hand to demonstrate the art of marble-shooting. And the Amateur Jousting Club of Maryland will conduct jousting competitions and present a Robin Hood skit.

BaltimoreSept. 15-19 National League of Cities, children and families conference, Holiday Inn, Lombard and Howard streets. Contact: John Kyle, 202-626-3030. Estimated attendance: 600Sept. 16-18 Malibu Pilots Association, Renaissance Harborplace, 200 E. Pratt. Contact: Bill Albert, 843-785-9349. Estimated attendance: 350Sept. 17-19 Maryland RV Show Part II, Maryland State Fairgrounds, York and Timonium roads. Contact: Jon Tancredi, 215-592-8601. Estimated attendance: 8,000Sept. 21-23 Supply Chain Expo, Convention Center.

'Star-Spangled Spectacular'Enjoy an evening of patriotic tunes by the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra on Saturday at Anne Arundel Community College. Associate Conductor Daniel Hege leads the program, which features Tchaikovsky's 1812 Overture as well as music from the "Star Wars" trilogy, accompanied by a fireworks display. Pre-concert festivities include music by the Crabtowne Big Band, Maryland Sings and the Annapolis Chorus. Picnic fare will be for sale. Lawn and bleacher seating will be available; blankets, chairs and your own refreshments are welcome.

Horsing aroundThe Horse World Expo this weekend at the Maryland State Fairgrounds features more than 40 stallions in demonstrations; a parade of breeds; presentations by 4-H clubs; and a variety of horse products and services from more than 280 vendors. Educational seminars will run the gamut from ``Controlling Your Horse Without Force'' by Dan Sumerel to ``Solutions for Shoeing Problems.'' All activities are indoors.The Horse World Expo runs from noon to 9 p.m. tomorrow, 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Saturday and 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday at the Maryland State Fairgrounds' Cow Palace, York Road in Timonium.

BaltimoreSept. 9-11 P.E.O. Sisterhood, convention center. Contact: Anne Pettygrove, 515-255-3153. Estimated attendance: 3,000Sept. 11-12 Maryland RV Show, Maryland State Fairgrounds, York and Timonium roads. Contact: JonTancredi, 215-592-8601. Estimated attendance: 8,000Sept. 15-19 National League of Cities, children's and families conference, Holiday Inn, Lombard and Howard streets. Contact: John Kyle, 202-626-3030. Estimated attendance: 600Sept. 16-18 Malibu Pilots Association, Renaissance Harborplace, 200 E. Pratt St. Contact: Bill Albert, 843-785-9349.

Train and toy showGet on track for the holidays as Greenberg's "Great Train and Collectible Toy Show" rolls into the Maryland State Fairgrounds Saturday and Sunday. See operating layouts from local model railroad clubs, attend informative workshops, browse the holiday market with its selection of toy and model trains, train parts and accessories, action figures and other collectible toys. See the Cactus Valley Railroad, built by modeler Dave Frary, featuring authentic desert scenery. And you'll think you're in New York City as you examine Baltimore artisan Roy Insley's Radio City Music Hall in miniature.

'Rites of Spring'For a showcase of garden delights, attend the "Rites of Spring" show this weekend at the Maryland State Fairgrounds in Timonium. Sponsored by the Union Memorial Hospital Foundation, the benefit event includes landscape exhibits, garden boutiques, floral-arranging demonstrations, educational exhibits, children's activities and food. Hours are 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Friday and Saturday and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday. Admission is $7, $6 for seniors. Call 410-554-2662. Celebrate Earth Day from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday at Hutchins Park on the shores of the Chesapeake Bay in historic Havre de Grace.

Legionnaires' bug at hospital Employees and patients at St. Joseph Medical Center in Towson are being warned not to use the water at the hospital after routine tests showed the presence of the bacteria that causes Legionnaires' disease in the hot water supply. Hospital officials said the type of Legionella pneumophila found in the hospital's water is the kind that is less likely to make people sick and that there have been no cases of hospital-acquired Legionella at St. Joseph. Officials said they hope to have the situation remedied by this afternoon.

With a background in urban search and rescue, Jenny Shilling figured she was a logical choice to take part in the county Department of Fire and Rescue Services' recent mission to aid the people of hurricane-ravaged Louisiana. Members of the unit - known as USAR - are trained in finding and extricating disaster victims. After making the 26-hour trip to rural Alexandria, Shilling and the other four members of the second relief unit sent in September by the Department of Fire and Rescue Services immediately worked an 18-hour shift.

As autumn approaches, it brings with it a flurry of festivals, an opportunity to celebrate the region's bounty and diversity. You can go high-brow or low, jazzy or classical and taste the homiest or the most exotic of flavors - sometimes all at one event. There are many opportunities to be festive. Here are just a few: Many Moons Festival 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Sept. 6. Towson University's Center for the Arts Celebrate Asian cultural traditions with performances by dancers and musicians, hands-on crafts workshops and martial arts demonstrations.

PERFORMANCE DANCE ON Dance Baltimore's season continues tomorrow and Saturday with "Ageless Grace" and "The Men's Dance." "Ageless Grace" features dancers over age 40, while "The Men's Dance" showcases the work of male dancers and choreographers. Both performances are at Theatre Project. The performances continue April 19 with "Let's Move: A Community Dance Concert," taking place at the Baltimore Museum of Art. .................... This weekend's shows are at 7:30 p.m. with "Ageless Grace" tomorrow and "The Men's Dance" Saturday.

Lauretta nostalgia At the safe distance of Owings Mills, far from the urban blight the West Baltimore neighborhood of Lauretta Avenue has become, former residents of the enclave will hold a picnic reunion to fondly remember what was. Maryland baltimoresun.com/marbella One of those nights A night like no other, a night for baseball statisticians to savor, for testing the wits of sports bloggers, for a scorekeeper to remember and for members of the Baltimore Orioles to try their best to forget.

German or not, you're welcome to attend the 107th annual German Festival at the Maryland State Fairgrounds in Timonium this weekend. Visitors can listen to traditional and popular music, watch folk-dancing, browse an array of authentic crafts and collectibles, and enjoy German food and drink. There will also be various activities for the younger set. The festival runs 11:30 a.m.-10 p.m. Saturday and 11:30 a.m.-8 p.m. Sunday at the fairgrounds, 2200 York Road, Timonium. $5; $4 seniors; free for ages 11 and younger with a paying adult.

Hazardous household materials will be collected Saturday at the Maryland State Fairgrounds in Timonium. The items will be collected from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Residents may bring: paints, motor oil, antifreeze, gasoline, cleaning solvents, pesticides, herbicides, fertilizers, swimming pool chemicals, mercury thermometers, fluorescent light bulbs, fireworks and ammunition and other hazardous household wastes. Residents must use the Timonium Road entrance. Information: 410-887-2000. The county also collects household hazardous waste at the Eastern Sanitary Landfill, at 6259 Days Cove Road in White Marsh, from 7:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Monday through Saturday from April through November.

Beer, bourbon and BBQ fest The lowdown -- Lovers of hops, whiskey and meat will converge on the Maryland State Fairgrounds this weekend for the Beer, Bourbon and BBQ Fest. The event includes barbecue competitions, a tasting room and a heated cigar tent. The Kelly Bell Band and classic rock cover band Mister Wilson will perform. If you go -- The festival runs noon-8 p.m. in the 4-H building at the Maryland State Fairgrounds, 2200 York Road in Timonium. Admission is $18-$20 and includes a souvenir glass, two bourbon tickets and four beer tokens.

With the Super Bowl over and baseball season more than a month away, people looking for a dose of machismo should head to the Timonium Mid-Atlantic Motorcycle Show this weekend. Held at the Maryland State Fairgrounds, it is one of the largest motorcycle shows on the East Coast. This year, organizers expect to draw more than 40,000 people. "We're sort of the kickoff of the entire motorcycle season," said Rich Kohles, the show owner of American Recreational Promotions. "We're one week after the Super Bowl, so as far as testosterone goes, there's nothing this weekend ... and it's three weeks before everybody leaves for Daytona [Fla.

Beach in a box The lowdown -- Having trouble sticking to that New Year's resolution to lose weight? Kraft Foods is bringing a warmer weight-losing environment to you with tFitness guru Julie Funderburk will demonstrate cardio exercises that correspond to the South Beach Diet. If you go -- The Beach in a Box will be in Fells Point noon-5 p.m. Tuesday and 8 a.m.-1 p.m. at the Harborplace and Gallery Wednesday and Jan. 25. Free. For more information, go to southbeachdiet.com/kraft. Winter hike The lowdown -- Walk through Leight Park Saturday and look for signs of winter activity as part of the "Winter Wonders Hike" program.