The Howard County Conservancy is a local nature farm operated as an educational facility. If you haven’t visited, I highly recommend it. There are beautiful trails for hiking, animals to visit, and sights to see. On an average day, this location is beyond amazing. I was really excited to get tickets for a fundraiser event here for Mother’s Day 2016, and after attending, I can say this was one of the best nights I’ve had in Howard County. 

Howard County Conservancy Fundraiser Event May 26th, 2016

The fundraising event I attended was called Wine in the Garden and Beer in the Barn, but it offered so much more than a nice drink on Memorial Day weekend. The food offerings were incredible. I was so impressed with the quality of food that I tried. Each sampling was unique and flavorful. My only disappointment was that the majority of the food came from caterers instead of restaurants, so I can’t order out from them on a regular basis, as I might with a restaurant.Howard County Conservancy Fundraiser Event May 26th, 2016 - Wine in the Garden and Beer in the Barn

The variety of food was impressive. Each sampling offered something different from the last. One of my favorites was a savory arugula salad with corn and cheese (possible ricotta), and a shrimp skewer on the side. The dish was light yet satisfying. Howard County Conservancy Fundraiser Event May 26th, 2016 - Wine in the Garden and Beer in the Barn

Another favorite was the plate of mussels I tried. I usually never try mussels at a restaurant, so this was a real treat. The flavor was delicious. I loved the taste of the fresh bread dipped in the sauce. Even though I haven’t eaten seafood in a while, this was well worth ordering.Howard County Conservancy Fundraiser Event May 26th, 2016 - Wine in the Garden and Beer in the Barn

The range of food was incredible. The Elkridge Furnace Inn offered the most amazing ravioli I’ve ever had, paired with a salmon dip on a golden beet chip. It was really neat to have a chip made out of beets that had such incredible flavor. This was one of my favorite dishes by far.

Howard County Conservancy Fundraiser Event May 26th, 2016 - Wine in the Garden and Beer in the Barn

I’ve heard so much about Mission BBQ, but it wasn’t until I tried it that I got what all the fuss was about. This slider was the best BBQ I’ve had in awhile. I miss Southern BBQ from my hometown of Nashville, Tennessee, and this sandwich definitely met and exceeded my expectations for a delicious BBQ slider.

Howard County Conservancy Fundraiser Event May 26th, 2016 - Wine in the Garden and Beer in the Barn

Good food was not hard to come upon for the entire night. I got some amazing ideas for dishes to try at home, like this chicken and potatoes dish that come with the most amazing honey sauce. There was a shrimp and grits table that was comparable, but beyond that, there weren’t many other dishes that were quite so filling and satisfrying.

Howard County Conservancy Fundraiser Event May 26th, 2016 - Wine in the Garden and Beer in the Barn

Getting tickets to this event was the nicest Mother’s Day gift ever. I might have hinted once (or twice) that I wanted to try out this event and see what it was like, and it was super sweet that I ended up with the tickets. I couldn’t have been happier with the event. It was the perfect Mother’s Day gift for moms of any age. I felt right at home with the bluegrass music, laid back crowd, and relaxed atmosphere.

Howard County Conservancy Fundraiser Event May 26th, 2016 - Wine in the Garden and Beer in the Barn - Theresa

Did I mention the awesome music, by the way? This was the most relaxed venue for listening to incredible bluegrass. There were ample seats in the shade. Every time I sampled food, I could find a quiet place to listen to music away from the crowd.
Howard County Conservancy Fundraiser Event May 26th, 2016 - Wine in the Garden and Beer in the Barn

There were two venues for music, one in the garden and one in the barn. It was awesome that no matter where you went, you could be right in front of the band. I haven’t been to a live concert in years, and this was way better to me than any major concert series would have been. It was especially neat to check out these local talent so if I ever need a band to play at my kids’ birthday party, I’ll know where to look.

Howard County Conservancy Fundraiser Event May 26th, 2016 - Wine in the Garden and Beer in the Barn - Don Bellew - Music

So when your husband treats you to tickets to the best venue in town, what’s the right way to say thank you? Showing some excitement over winning the auction for Oriole’s tickets seemed like the right way to show some appreciation. He might not have a son to take, but Samantha, Georgiana, and I are going to be so happy to go to our first baseball game as a family.Howard County Conservancy Fundraiser Event May 26th, 2016 - Wine in the Garden and Beer in the Barn

Starting Memorial Day weekend a couple days early was well worth it. How are you spending your weekend? Share in the comments section below!

Disclosure

I received nothing for free, I just loved the experience and had to share it. 

About The Author

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Theresa has been writing since 2010 in magazines and online. Her lifestyle and parenting expertise has been featured in publications, including ShopSmart and Scholastic. She earned an M.Ed in Elementary Education from Vanderbilt as well as a BA in History from Flagler College, and she is a certified teacher.

15 Responses

  6. Leslie

    How fun! I’m babysitting a friend’s dog while she’s away this weekend. I think it would have been a better idea to have ordered from resturants too, even though it did look yummy!

    Reply
  7. Melanie

    Looks like you had a lot of fun. I love going to fundraisers. Makes me feel like I’m making a difference

    Reply
  12. Alonda

    That pea ravioli looks delicious! And what a cool event! Your guest I’m sure loved every second of it!

    Reply

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