The Carroll County Arts Council has announced its Fall 2026 season, headlined by a new concert series spotlighting local musicians, a revamped approach to ticket pricing, and a full calendar of film, visual arts, classes and community events at the Carroll Arts Center at 91 West Main Street in downtown Westminster, according to a media release from the Arts Council.
New this fall: the Hometown Headliner Series
The Arts Council is launching the Hometown Headliner Series, a new concert series built around musicians who live, work and create in Carroll County.
The series opens Saturday, Sept. 12, at 7:30 p.m. with longtime local favorite June Star, the project of singer-songwriter Andrew Grimm, blending lyrical songwriting with Americana and alt-country.*
The series continues Friday, Oct. 23, at 7:30 p.m., when Carroll County-based indie-pop-folk act Ebb & Nova marks its 10th anniversary with a concert featuring favorite songs, special guests and surprises. The band has shared stages with national acts including Good Charlotte, Gin Blossoms and Smash Mouth, according to the Arts Council.
New tiered ticket pricing
Arts Council-produced live performances are moving to a tiered pricing model this season. Every standard adult ticket grants the same access to a performance; patrons choose the tier that reflects how much they'd like to invest:
Tier | Price | Goes toward |
|---|---|---|
Access | $20 | Core production costs |
Support | $25 | Compensation for artists and creative professionals |
Sustain | Pay what you will, starting at $30 | Future Arts Council programming |
Youth (18 and under) | $10 | — |
The Arts Council says the tiers support four areas: youth access to the arts, artist sustainability, community gathering and connection, and cultural infrastructure.
Film, magic and a spooky week
Film Lovers in Carroll County screens Reign Over Me, starring Adam Sandler and Don Cheadle, on Friday, Sept. 11, at 1 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.; tickets are $10. The Arts Council notes the film — about two former college friends reconnecting after one struggles with loss following the Sept. 11 attacks — is being shown on the anniversary date.
David Anthony's Magic & Comedy Hypnosis Show comes to the Arts Center Saturday, Oct. 3, at 7:30 p.m., pairing stage magic with audience-volunteer comedy hypnosis. Standard tickets follow the tiered pricing above; a limited $40 VIP package, capped at 25 guests, adds a meet-and-greet, up-close magic and a gift bag.
The Arts Council's annual Scary-Tale Evenings Week runs Oct. 27–30:
Tuesday, Oct. 27, 7:30 p.m. — The Phantom of the Opera (1925 silent film, starring Lon Chaney), $10
Wednesday, Oct. 28, 7:30 p.m. — Ex Machina, $10
Thursday, Oct. 29, 6 p.m. — Tricks & Treats with D's Magic, family-friendly magic with Dave Thomen; tiered pricing
Friday, Oct. 30, 10 p.m. — The Rocky Horror Picture Show, with a pre-show costume contest, live performances and trivia hosted by Maya Pinion, $30
Exhibitions, classes and community jams
The Arts Council's 24th Annual Members Show, titled Our Collective Canvas: A Community of Makers, runs Sept. 17 through Nov. 7 and features painting, photography, sculpture, fiber arts and mixed media from Arts Council members. Admission is free.
A new season of classes and workshops opens for youth and adults, including:
Take the Stage (drama, elementary and middle school sections), four weeks beginning Oct. 1, $125
Make It & Take It (youth mixed media), beginning Oct. 6, $125
Landscape Painting from Photos, beginning Oct. 3, $75 per session or $225 for the three-class series
Create Your Own Unique Dream Catcher, Oct. 8, $35
Middle & High School Portfolio Development, beginning Oct. 10, $250
Reflections of Autumn in Mosaics, Oct. 17, $65
Fall Landscape in Pastels, Nov. 7, $75
The Art of Zentangle, Nov. 14, $45
The Arts Council says scholarship assistance is available for youth and adult students so cost isn't a barrier to enrolling.
Free 1st Wednesday Community Jams, held in partnership with Common Ground on the Hill, welcome musicians and listeners of all skill levels to play bluegrass, old-time, blues and Celtic music. Jams run 7–9 p.m. on Oct. 7 and Nov. 4; no registration is required, and donations are welcome.
Fall 2026 at a glance
Sept. 11, 1 & 7:30 p.m. — Reign Over Me — $10
Sept. 12, 7:30 p.m. — June Star with Mike Holden (Hometown Headliner) — $10–$20+
Sept. 17–Nov. 7 — Our Collective Canvas: A Community of Makers — Free
Oct. 1–22 — Take the Stage (Elementary 4–5 p.m.; Middle 5:30–6:30 p.m.) — $125
Oct. 3–24, 1–3:30 p.m. — Landscape Painting from Photos — $75 / $225 series
Oct. 3, 7:30 p.m. — David Anthony's Magic & Comedy Hypnosis Show — $10–$20+, VIP $40
Oct. 6–27, 5–6:30 p.m. — Make It & Take It — $125
Oct. 7, 7–9 p.m. — 1st Wednesday Community Jam — Free
Oct. 8, 1–3:30 p.m. — Create Your Own Unique Dream Catcher — $35
Oct. 10–Nov. 21, 10 a.m.–2 p.m. — Portfolio Development — $250
Oct. 17, 10 a.m.–1 p.m. — Reflections of Autumn in Mosaics — $65
Oct. 23, 7:30 p.m. — Ebb & Nova 10th anniversary (Hometown Headliner) — $10–$20+
Oct. 27, 7:30 p.m. — The Phantom of the Opera — $10
Oct. 28, 7:30 p.m. — Ex Machina — $10
Oct. 29, 6 p.m. — Tricks & Treats with D's Magic — $10–$20+
Oct. 30, 10 p.m. — The Rocky Horror Picture Show — $30
Nov. 4, 7–9 p.m. — 1st Wednesday Community Jam — Free
Nov. 7, 10 a.m.–4 p.m. — Fall Landscape in Pastels — $75
Nov. 14, 1–3:30 p.m. — The Art of Zentangle — $45
Complete event details, tickets and class registration are available at carrollcountyartscouncil.org or by calling the Arts Center at 410-848-7272.
About the Carroll County Arts Council
The Carroll County Arts Council promotes the arts, arts education and cultural expression throughout Carroll County. The Carroll Arts Center, at 91 West Main Street in downtown Westminster, houses a 263-seat theatre, galleries, a gift shop, classrooms and the Arts Council's offices. This article is based on a Sept. 1, 2026 media release from the Carroll County Arts Council.
*Disclosure: Westminster Wire publisher Mike Holden is scheduled to perform as an opener at the Sept. 12 Hometown Headliner concert referenced in this story.