Together with
Hello Friends—
Welcome to the 102 new subscribers who joined since last week’s edition. Happy to have you in our (growing) community of 10,100+ readers!
Last call for the Semi-Annual Reader Survey. This helps me make sure this newsletter is as useful and relevant as possible for you. It takes all of 30 seconds and I’m giving away $100 gift cards to a restaurant of your choice to 5 random people who filled out the survey. Click here to enter if you haven’t already.
🏠 For Sale: A 5-bed, 4-bath modern luxury home on 2 acres in Fallston. 3,382 sq ft with a gourmet kitchen, massive granite island, walk-in pantry, and a rear patio with a built-in fire pit overlooking farmland. Priced at $875,000.
☕ Menu Item: The CoffeeBar Bel Air’s Ex-presso Martini Cold Brew. Cold brew topped with creamy foam and a dusting of espresso/cocoa magic. Basically, your morning coffee put on a blazer.
🎟️ Hot Ticket: The Harford County Wine Festival 2026 returns to Bel Air on Saturday, September 26 from 1–6 PM with 200+ wines, an Oktoberfest Beer Garden, live music, local artisans, and serious “don’t wait until it sells out” energy.
Now to this weekend…
The Spring Festival @ The Mill of Bel Air…
The Bel Air Town Derby Returns…
And Falling Branch Brewery’s 10 Year Anniversary Party…
Scroll down, make plans, and enjoy your weekend!
TOGETHER WITH CARL’S DOOR SERVICE
The Fastest Way to Change How Your Home Looks From the Street
Your garage door takes up more of your home's front face than almost anything else. If it's dated, dented, or just tired-looking — people notice. Buyers especially.
A new door from Carl's Door Service can do more for your curb appeal than a fresh coat of paint, and Carl's has been helping Bel Air & Harford County homeowners make that upgrade since 1965.
They'll help you find the right style, handle the install, and leave you with a door that actually works as good as it looks.
Right now: $75 off a single door, $150 off a double — exclusively for Bel Air Brief readers. Just mention the newsletter when you call (410) 557-8700.
P.S. Tell them "Matt from Bel Air Brief" sent you or if you want me to personally connect you with the Carl’s Door Service team, email me here.
Things To Do This Weekend In Bel Air & Surrounding Areas
Friday, May 15th
Main Street Bridal Trunk Show (Free)
📅 Friday, May 15 | 11 AM
📍 K&B Bridals Bel Air, 24 S Main St, Bel Air
K&B Bridals hosts an appointment-only Main Street Bridal Trunk Show with expanded gown selections, one-on-one styling, and special trunk show bonuses. Brides can browse romantic gowns, chic fit-and-flares, and vacation reward offers on qualifying purchases.
Alice in Wonderland ($)
📅 Friday, May 15 | 7 PM
📍 Chesapeake Theater at Harford Community College, 401 Thomas Run Rd, Bel Air
Harford Dance Theatre brings Alice in Wonderland to the Chesapeake Theater with curious creatures, mad tea parties, riddles, royalty, and plenty of topsy-turvy adventure. Reserved seating is $20, with multiple weekend performances.
🎵 An Evening of Jazz: Ft. the Vocal Pop Ensemble and HCC Jazz Ensemble ($)
📅 Friday, May 15 | 8 PM
📍 Joppa Hall, 401 Thomas Run Rd, Bel Air
HCC’s Vocal Pop Ensemble and Jazz Ensemble team up for a night of vocal and instrumental works spanning jazz, theater, pop, and more. Tickets are $5 for adults, $1 for youth, and free for HCC students with ID.
Saturday, May 16th
Bel Air Farmers' Market (Free)
📅 Saturday, May 16 | 8 AM
📍 Bel Air Farmers' Market, 2 S Bond St, Bel Air
The producer-only Bel Air Farmers’ Market features 60+ local vendors with produce, meats, eggs, dairy, baked goods, flowers, honey, mushrooms, herbs, olive oil, drinks, and more. The market is dog-friendly as long as pups are leashed.
Annual Flea Market (Free)
📅 Saturday, May 16 | 8 AM
📍 Abingdon Fire Company, 3306 Abingdon Rd, Abingdon
Browse more than 25 vendors while supporting Abingdon Fire Company. Admission is free and open to the public, so this one’s an easy Saturday morning treasure hunt.
Spring Festival - The Mill of Bel Air (Free)
📅 Saturday, May 16 | 9 AM
📍 The Mill of Bel Air, 424 N Main St, Bel Air
The Mill of Bel Air’s Spring Festival brings a Saturday morning mix of local fun, seasonal shopping, and family-friendly activity. Stop by from 9 AM to noon and make it a quick spring win before lunch.
Garden Mart & Green Expo (Free)
📅 Saturday, May 16 | 10 AM
📍 Havre de Grace Maritime Museum, 100 Lafayette St, Havre de Grace
The 20th Annual Garden Mart & Plant Sale features native plants, perennials, herbs, vegetables, artisans, craft vendors, garden décor, kids’ activities, food vendors, and free environmental workshops. A separate Secret Garden Tour runs 12–5 PM both days with $25 tickets.
Grand Opening: Ward Home Improvements NEW Showroom (Free)
📅 Saturday, May 16 | 11 AM
📍 Ward Home Improvements, 3491 Merchant Blvd Suite 106, Belcamp
Ward Home Improvements is celebrating its new showroom with renovation inspiration, expert advice, complimentary refreshments, raffles, exclusive in-person discounts, and free estimates. If your kitchen, bath, exterior, basement, or addition has been giving you the side-eye, this is your sign.
Pickleball in the Park (Free)
📅 Saturday, May 16 | 11 AM
📍 Aberdeen Festival Park, 60 N Parke St, Aberdeen
Upper Bay Pickleball hosts a free pickleball meetup at Festival Park, with dinking rallies encouraged and prizes awarded. Bring your own paddle if you can, though some equipment will be available, and kids 12 and under need an adult.
Falling Branch Brewery 10-Year Anniversary & Beer Garden Opening Party (Free)
📅 Saturday, May 16 | 12 PM
📍 Falling Branch Brewery, 825 Highland Rd, Street
Falling Branch celebrates 10 years with a beer garden opening party featuring craft beer, food trucks, vendors, kids’ entertainment, and live music from Keyless Entry and Mark Hopkins & The Pretty War Band. The party is free to attend, family-friendly, and dogs are welcome on leash.
2026 Harford County Spring Nationals (Free)
📅 Saturday, May 16 | 12 PM
📍 Flying Point Park, 511 Kennard Avenue, Edgewood
The Harford County Spring Nationals bring power boat racing and live entertainment to Flying Point Park for a free, family-friendly weekend. Translation: boats, noise, music, and a very strong excuse to get outside.
Aberdeen Porchfest 2026 (Free)
📅 Saturday, May 16 | 1 PM
📍 Aberdeen B&O Train Station, 404 W Bel Air Ave, Aberdeen
Aberdeen’s inaugural Porchfest runs along historic W. Bel Air Avenue from the B&O Train Station to about Ray Avenue. Local musicians perform on neighborhood porches, lawns, driveways, and outdoor spots while audiences stroll through the community.
Essence Alchemy (Free)
📅 Saturday, May 16 | 2 PM
📍 Jarrettsville Library, 3722 Norrisville Rd, Jarrettsville
Channel your inner perfumer and craft your own signature scent during this hands-on library program. Registration is required, and the event page currently shows the program is full.
Sunday, May 17th
Bel Air Town Derby 2026 (Free)
📅 Sunday, May 17 | 8:30 AM
📍 Downtown Bel Air, Main Street, Bel Air
Cheer on local kids as they race down Main Street in the Bel Air Town Derby. Racing starts at 8:30 AM, so grab coffee first unless you enjoy sprinting before breakfast.
Stained Glass Car Charm Workshop ($)
📅 Sunday, May 17 | 11 AM
📍 Nook of Knots, 331 N Union Ave, Havre de Grace
Join stained glass artist Chris Link for a beginner-friendly workshop where you’ll design a pressed-flower car charm using the Tiffany copper foil method. All supplies are included, spots are limited, and tickets are required.
Barks and Brews Brunch Adoption Event (Free)
📅 Sunday, May 17 | 11 AM
📍 Fallston Barrel House, 2403 Bel Air Rd, Fallston
Fallston Barrel House and Saving Grace Animal Rescue host a brunch adoption event with DJ Nick Paros, free face painting, vendors, and a photo booth. Come for the brews, maybe leave with a new best friend who thinks your couch is now theirs.
Fallston Lions Club Scholarship Bingo ($)
📅 Sunday, May 17 | 1 PM
📍 Fallston Volunteer Fire and Ambulance Co., 2201 Carrs Mill Rd, Fallston
Fallston Lions Club hosts Scholarship Bingo with 36 total games, hot food, refreshments, a $50 minimum prize, silent bingo, and a progressive jackpot. Starter packs are $16, and guests can bring pantry or hygiene donations to earn free game cards.
🎵 LODI Patio Party at Barrel House Live (Free)
📅 Sunday, May 17 | 3 PM
📍 Fallston Barrel House, 2403 Bel Air Rd, Fallston
LODI CCR Celebration takes over the Fallston Barrel House patio with special guests Jeff Stike’s Suns of Rockabilly. Expect a family-friendly afternoon of comfort food, craft beer, and live music.
Save the Dates:
Free Community Food Truck Night, May 30th, St Mary’s Pylesville
Touch A Truck, May 30th, St Francis de Sales
Hope Center of MD Spring Bingo, June 6th, 3633 Level Village Rd
Annual 4-H Camp Fall Show, June 6th, Deer Creek Overlook
Inner County Outreach 40th Anniversary Family Day Celebration, June 7th, APGFCU Arena
Tea with a Twist: an Afternoon Murder Mystery, June 7th, Deer Creek Overlook
Artfest, June 13th, Prigel Family Creamery
For more live music on the schedule this weekend, check out the “Harco Live Music Round Up” facebook group…
It’s Not Just a Floor, It’s a Platinum Floor™
Barefoot Season Is Coming. Is Your Concrete Ready?
Summer is almost here and that means more time outside.
But if your concrete is hot, slippery or starting to crack . . . it’s not exactly built for bare feet, pool days or real life.
That’s where RevaFlex comes in.
This seamless rubberized coating transforms hard, unforgiving concrete into a surface that’s:
• Cooler underfoot, even in direct sun
• Slip-resistant, even when wet
• Soft, flexible and built to resist cracking
• Clean, seamless and easy to maintain
Installed right over your existing concrete, RevaFlex creates a safer, more comfortable space for pool decks, patios and play areas – without the hassle of a full tear-out.
And yes… it’s so cool, Piper approves! 🐾
Because summer should feel good – every step of the way.
Don’t spend another summer avoiding your own outdoor space. Schedule Your Free RevaFlex Estimate. Call 443-903-2999.
Headlines in the Community…
The 4th Annual Bel Air Town Derby takes over Main Street on Sunday, May 17, with local “super racers” rolling from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and road closures starting bright and early at 7 a.m. Read more…
The Freedom Truck rolled into American Legion Post 39 in Bel Air with a free mobile museum celebrating American independence, open to the public through Wednesday, May 13 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Read more…
The Bob Bell Automotive Group is expanding into Harford County and acquiring Plaza Ford, a 93-year-old Bel Air dealership on 25 acres, owned by the Walls family since 1962. Read more…
MaGerk’s Pub & Grill owner Bridget Lloyd turned a bartending gig into a Bel Air staple known for cheesesteaks, game days, and the kind of community chaos that somehow feels like family. Read more…
Harford County Public Library Foundation’s 22nd annual gala, “A Winter’s Ball: Revolution in the Stacks,” drops early-bird tickets May 19 for a Hamilton-inspired night at the Abingdon Library with local bites, live entertainment, and a raffle worth nearly $10,000. Read more…
Harford Community College is turning day trips into the easiest group chat plan ever with May and June bus adventures to du Pont Estates, Catonsville dim sum, Brooklyn Botanic Garden, Cape May, and the Philadelphia Zoo. Read more…
Harford County is asking residents to show off their favorite local landmarks this month with the #HarfordLovesHistoricPreservation campaign, because apparently your next selfie can count as civic pride. Read more…
Harford County’s LevelUp workshop series is giving small business owners a free May 14 crash course at Aberdeen’s CONVERGE Center on hiring their first employee without winging the paperwork. Read more…
Pet Of The Week: Presented by Our Friends at Shannon’s Pretty Paws Pet Grooming
We are more than just groomers, we’re a family!
Give your pet the 5-star treatment & book a grooming session at Shannon’s Pretty Paws today. Your furry friend will thank you (and so will your furniture).
This week’s reader submission is: Olive
“Meet Olive, our laid-back tuxedo cat. She loves claiming the comfiest spot in the house even if someone is already there. And enjoys winding down the long, hard day with an evening nap.”
Olive, hard at work
Have a furry, feathered, or scaly friend you’re proud of? Send a photo and a few fun facts, and we might feature them in an upcoming issue.
Real Estate Corner
Bel Air’s Trusted Local Businesses (Vetted & Community-Backed)
When you need something done right the first time, you don’t want to guess.
These are local businesses that Bel Air Brief readers rely on—trusted, proven, and part of the community.
Reach out and tell them “Matt from the Bel Air Brief” sent you.
✔️ Garage Doors: Carl’s Door Service has 150+ Google reviews and a 4.8-star rating—trusted locally since 1965 for fast, reliable garage door repair and installation.
✔️ Financial Planning: Paul Applegate — Edward Jones helps Harford County families and business owners build clear, no-pressure retirement and financial plans that actually make sense.
✔️ Flooring: Chesapeake Carpet & Flooring brings 40+ years of local experience—offering shop-at-home estimates and full-service installation for carpet, hardwood, tile, and more.
✔️ Roofing: Tar Heel Construction Group has 750+ five-star Google reviews, an A+ BBB rating, and has won “Best of Harford” six years in a row—Bel Air's go-to contractor since 2004 for roof replacements, repairs, siding, gutters, and solar.
✔️ Concrete Coatings: Platinum Concrete Coatings has 1,000+ five-star Google reviews—one-day installs with a lifetime warranty for garage floors, patios, and basements.
✔️ Pet Grooming: Shannon’s Pretty Paws is 4.7-star rated—calm, certified grooming for dogs and cats with walk-in nail trims available.
✔️ Community Resource: Fresh Start Furnishings at Inner County Outreach has helped furnish 2,000+ homes—providing free furniture to local families transitioning out of crisis.
✔️ Marketing: Hardiman Marketing helps local businesses grow through social media, photography, and video—built for brands that want more visibility.
✔️ Coffee & Community: The Screaming Bean Café has 500+ reviews and a 4.6-star rating—locally owned coffee shop that gives back to Harford County charities.
Want to be featured here and seen by 10,100+ locals each week? Learn more here.
Date Spot Of The Week
Venetian Italian Eatery (Edgewood)
📍 1901 Tree Top Dr, Edgewood
The Venetian Italian Eatery is the kind of Italian date night that doesn’t need to overcomplicate things: big plates, cozy classics, and enough pasta choices to make “I’ll just have a bite of yours” feel like a legally binding contract.
It’s a solid pick when you want something that feels a little more intentional than your usual weeknight dinner, but not so fancy that you need to rehearse how to pronounce anything before you walk in. Make a reservation, order something saucy, and let the red sauce do what red sauce does best — make everyone a little happier.
What to order: Start with the Burrata with honey fig jam, basil pesto, honey roasted walnuts, crostini, and arugula, or split the Arancini with alla vodka sauce if you believe fried risotto balls are basically a love language. For mains, the Gnocchi Caprese with San Marzano tomatoes, fresh basil, burrata, and Parmigiano Reggiano is a strong move, while the Pollo Ripieno — stuffed with prosciutto, spinach, and mozzarella over pappardelle — feels like the “we chose well” order. If you want to go full send, the signature Cotoletta Di Maiale Alla Parmigiano brings a 20 oz bone-in pork cutlet topped with marinara, fresh burrata, and parmesan, served with mezzi rigatoni alla vodka.
The vibe: Classic Italian comfort with date-night portions. Warm, filling, and dangerous in the best way if you both pretend you’re “too full for dessert” and then immediately look at the dessert menu.
Thanks for reading the Bel Air Brief today. Share it with someone is racing in the town derby.
Matt | Bel Air Brief
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