Laurel, this is Fresh This Month.
A monthly newsletter. Straight to the point. Every issue covers the things that are actually happening in your community:
- Local events worth your time
- New spots to eat in the DMV
- Who's hiring and how to get in
- What's going on in Laurel
June is not a slow month. Juneteenth weekend is here, and if you don't have plans yet, we're about to fix that. There are three grant deadlines for small business owners that land in the next 30 days — real money, real urgency. Summer programs for the kids are starting up, and some spots are already going fast. Plus a big story about a Laurel institution most people don't know is in trouble. Let's get into it.
Laurel News
What's Poppin' in Laurel
Maola Dairy Plant in Laurel Is Closing
Operations start curtailing June 1, with full closure scheduled for December 31, 2026. Maola's Laurel ingredients plant is shutting down, and local jobs are going with it. This story hasn't gotten much coverage beyond The Laurel Independent — which is exactly why you need that publication in your life. If you or someone you know works there, Maryland's American Job Centers can help with job placement and retraining at labor.maryland.gov/county/pg.
$10K Grant for New Laurel Businesses: Deadline June 30
The City of Laurel's Thrive Small Business Grant is giving away $10,000 to businesses that opened between July 1, 2025 and June 30, 2026, inside city limits. First-come, first-served. Email ECD@laurel.md.us now and ask about eligibility. Full details at cityoflaurel.org/1929.
Laurel Park Deal on Hold: 45-Day Review in Play
The Maryland Stadium Authority's $48.5 million deal to buy Laurel Park hit a wall in May. The Legislative Policy Committee put a 45-day review on it. That window closes in June — keep an eye on marylandmatters.org for updates.
Laurel Museum: New Exhibit on Freedom
The Laurel Historical Society has a new exhibit up exploring how Laurel's diverse communities have understood and celebrated freedom from 1876 through 1976 and beyond. A look beyond the 4th of July. Worth a visit, especially with the family. Full details at laurelhistoricalsociety.org/exhibits.
Farmer's Market: Every Thursday Through October
The Laurel Farmer's Market is the perfect place to find fresh, locally grown produce and one-of-a-kind handmade goods while supporting small businesses in our community. Located at 378 Main Street from 3–7 PM. Runs through October 29. cityoflaurel.org/1617
Things To Do
Events
AFRAM 50 Free
The 50th Annual AFRAM Festival: free admission. Three days packed with concerts, African drumming, carnival mask-making, art showcases, a Health & Wellness Village, a Podcast Patio with DTLR, and 100+ vendors. Performances by Charlie Wilson, The Lox, Mario, Tamia, PJ Morton, Lil' Mo, Ultra Naté, and more. Only 45 minutes from Laurel. More info at aframbaltimore.com.
A Taste of the DMV: Food & Cultural Festival
A community-focused festival bringing together food, music, dancing, cultural performances, local vendors, and entertainment from across the DC, Maryland, and Virginia region. Multiple stages, more than six hours of entertainment, family-friendly activities, and small businesses. Tickets currently $10, with children under 11 admitted free. Full details at atasteofdmv.com.
33rd Annual Barbecue Battle
Known as America's Food & Music Festival, the event features world-class pitmasters competing for $50,000 in prizes, more than 100 free food samples, cooking demonstrations, and local vendors. Live music across multiple stages — go-go, reggae, rock, R&B, and world music — plus family-friendly attractions. Free admission for children under 12. More details at bbqindc.com.
Mark These Dates: Other Events in June
| Date | Event | Location |
|---|---|---|
| June 11–13 | Upper Bay Juneteenth Festival | Darlington, MD |
| June 19 | Anacostia Community Museum Juneteenth Celebration Free | Washington, DC |
| June 19–20 | Scotland Juneteenth Heritage Festival | Rockville, MD |
| June 20 | Laurel Juneteenth Celebration | Laurel, MD |
| June 20 | Annapolis Juneteenth Festival | Annapolis, MD |
| June 20 | Silver Spring Blues Festival | Silver Spring, MD |
| June 20 | DMV R&B Wine Festival | Crownsville, MD |
| June 27–28 | 33rd Annual Barbecue Battle | Pennsylvania Ave NW, DC |
| Every Thursday | Laurel Farmer's Market (3–7 PM) | 378 Main St, Laurel |
Juneteenth: What It Is and How to Spend the Weekend
Juneteenth marks June 19, 1865 — the day enslaved people in Galveston, Texas were told they were free, two and a half years after the Emancipation Proclamation was signed in 1863. The news hadn't reached everyone; in some places it was deliberately withheld. This year, Juneteenth lands on a Friday with a full three-day weekend of events. Here's how to use it:
- Friday, June 19 — AFRAM kicks off at Druid Hill Park in Baltimore. Free. Bring the family. Get there early.
- Saturday, June 20 — The Laurel Juneteenth Celebration right here at Granville Gude Park & Lakehouse, AFRAM day two, the Anacostia Museum's free celebration in DC, or the Scotland Juneteenth Heritage Festival in Rockville.
- Sunday, June 21 (Father's Day) — AFRAM wraps up. Take dad somewhere from the list below.
New Eats
Eat Something New
Father's Day is June 21. Take him somewhere new. Here's where to go.
Blue Sunday Bar & Grill New in Laurel
Blue Sunday just opened their Laurel location and it is built for a night out. Full sushi menu, handcrafted cocktails, an outdoor patio, a lounge, and live music every Friday and Saturday. The spot for Juneteenth or Father's Day. Open Mon–Thu 3 PM–midnight, Fri–Sat 3 PM–1 AM, Sun 3–11 PM. Reservations and takeout available. bluesundaybargrills.com
Swahili Village
Minutes from Laurel and one of the best African restaurants in the DMV. Authentic East African food — grilled meats, traditional stews, and bhajia (spiced potato fritters). The kind of meal that becomes a tradition. Open Mon–Thu 11:30 AM–midnight, Fri–Sat until 2 AM, Sun until 1 AM. swahilivillages.com
Blü Cā: On the Radar Coming Fall 2026
From the team behind KŌNŌKŌ and Island Spice — a 4,600 sq ft waterfront restaurant with indoor and outdoor dining and live music. Set to open in the fall, but worth keeping on your list. expbluca.com
For the Parents
Family Playbook
Summer is starting. If you haven't signed your kids up yet, this is your last real window. Several programs fill fast.
Cops Camp 2026: Laurel PD
A weeklong program for kids ages 6–13 to build positive relationships with Laurel Police officers — safety talks, arts and crafts, swimming, field activities, and hands-on lessons about police work. Download forms at cityoflaurel.org/356. Questions: 301-498-0092.
PG Parks Summer Day Camp
Registration is open. One- and two-week sessions with art, sports, robotics, nature, theater, swimming, digital media, and gymnastics. Therapeutic Recreation Camps for residents ages 6–21. Fee assistance available for eligible families. Call 301-699-2255 or visit pgparks.com.
Columbia Association Camps
One-week summer programs — art, nature, sports, or general day camps at locations throughout Columbia. Register at columbiaassociation.org or call 410-313-7275.
HCC Kids on Campus
Hands-on classes in STEM, sports, culinary arts, and creative arts, with morning, afternoon, online, lunch, and aftercare options. Registration is open — sign up early. howardcc.edu
Howard County Conservancy Nature Camps
Campers spend most of the day outdoors — hiking, exploring, games, and crafts. Weekly themes include nature detectives, water exploration, survival skills, climate science, and environmental engineering. Sign up at howardnature.org/camp.
PG County SYEP
The Summer Youth Enrichment Program places youth ages 14–24 in summer work experiences across community organizations, private companies, and government agencies — 1,000+ paid positions. Check syep.mypgc.us for remaining spots.
Local Economy
Economy Pulse
Three Grant Deadlines. Thirty Days. Move Now.
If you run a small business, June is the month to act. Three separate programs have open applications right now, and they all close before July.
Allstate Main Street Grants — $20,000 | Closes June 23
The earliest deadline of the three. Apply at helloalice.com. Don't let this one slip.
City of Laurel — Thrive Small Business Grant — $10,000 | Closes June 30
For businesses opened July 1, 2025 – June 30, 2026, inside Laurel city limits. First-come, first-served. Email ECD@laurel.md.us or visit cityoflaurel.org/1929.
City of Laurel — Returning Citizens Employment Grant — $10,000 | Closes June 30
Hire a returning citizen and the city covers $5/hour of their starting salary, for businesses with 50 or fewer employees. Email ecd@laurel.md.us or visit cityoflaurel.org/1961.
These deadlines will be here before you know it. Share this section with any small business owners you know.
Jobs & Opportunities
Get That Bag
Entry Level & County Jobs
- Cybersecurity Apprentice — PG County | $17–20/hr | Closes July 5 | employpg.org/hot-jobs
- IT Asset Transportation Specialist — PG County | $17–20/hr | Closes June 14 | employpg.org/hot-jobs
- Always-on resources: indeed.com | employpg.org/hot-jobs | jobapscloud.com/MD | usajobs.gov | labor.maryland.gov/county/pg
Learn a Trade
Howard County's Office of Workforce Development connects job seekers and employers to registered apprenticeships across Maryland — paid, on-the-job training with classroom instruction. Start at howardcountymd.gov/hcapprenticeships or the statewide locator at dllr.state.md.us/labor/appr.
Coming Next Month: The Maryland Blockchain Association's BlockchAIn Bootcamp & Workforce Expo runs July 13–17, 2026 at Capitol Technology University in Laurel — blockchain education, workforce development, and careers in AI, Web3, cybersecurity, and digital assets. workforce.marylandblockchainassociation.org
Gig Life
| App | What You Do | Sign Up |
|---|---|---|
| Curri | Deliver construction & industrial supplies. Higher pay than food delivery. | curri.com |
| Uber Eats | Food delivery, flexible hours. | Sign up |
| Instacart | Grocery shopping and delivery. | Sign up |
| Veho | Package delivery, often better rates than UPS/FedEx gigs. | shipveho.com |
Watch This Space
Community Spotlight
The Laurel Independent
The Laurel Independent is doing the work that keeps this community informed — and right now, it's fighting to survive.
This is the publication that dug up the Maola dairy plant closure, and the same outlet covering the Laurel Park deal the Maryland Stadium Authority tried to push through without publishing a cost estimate. Local stories that affect people in this city, written by people who live here and care about the outcome.
Here's the problem: Mayor Sydnor's budget reduces city funding to The Laurel Independent from $50,000 to $20,000 starting July 1. That's a $30,000 cut to a nonprofit local newsroom. Without local funding, local coverage shrinks, and residents lose access to the information they need to hold their own city accountable.
Read it. Share it. Support it if you can. streetcarsuburbs.news | @thelaurelindependent on Instagram.
Local Government
Town Hall
June 8 — Mayor and City Council Meeting, 6:00 PM
The monthly city council meeting is open to the public. This is where zoning, budget, and ordinances get decided. Agenda at laurel-md.municodemeetings.com. You can also watch on Laurel TV.
June 30 — Master Plan Update Public Meeting, 6:00 PM
The city is updating its master plan, and these meetings are open to residents. This shapes land use and development for the next decade. Show up if you have opinions about your neighborhood. cityoflaurel.org/1950
Stay On The Lookout: Laurel Park
The 45-day legislative review on the $48.5M Stadium Authority purchase may close this month. The committee flagged that no cost estimates or timelines were provided before the deal was announced. The outcome is yet to be determined. Stay tuned at marylandmatters.org.
Fresh Out
Let's sum it up: AFRAM 50 for Juneteenth weekend, three grant deadlines for small business owners, summer programs still open but filling up fast, and a co-sign to local news for trying to keep Laurel honest.
That's Issue #02 of Fresh This Month. If someone in your circle should be reading this, forward it. Sign up at tcutme.com/blog.