CHRISTMAS LIGHTS, FESTIVE MARKETS & SANTA'S COMING TO TOWN! 🎄✨

Brrr! Can you feel that chill in the air? 🧣 The temperature's dropping, the scarves are coming out, and Harpenden is positively buzzing with festive energy! This week is absolutely packed with Christmas markets, twinkling lights switch-ons, cosy quiz nights, and enough seasonal cheer to warm even the coldest November evening. From flower arranging with a festive twist to Freddie Mercury party nights, African drumming sessions to the arrival of Santa himself at our Christmas Carnival – there's something magical happening on every corner of our gorgeous town. So grab your warmest coat, rally your friends and family, and let's dive into the wonderful whirlwind of events that'll take us right through to the big lights switch-on! ✨🎅

THURSDAY 20TH NOVEMBER

9:30am - Rise and shine, fitness fans! Rachel's kicking things off with Body Tone at The EMC – perfect for getting your Thursday off to an energetic start 💪

10am & 11:30am - Meanwhile, if you've got little ones, head to Harpenden Library for Baby Rhyme Time – donations welcome and guaranteed giggles all round! 👶📚

10:30am - Got a curious mind? The Arts Society Harpenden Area is showing "The Subtle Science and Exact Art of Colour in English garden design" at the Eric Morecambe Centre – lectures start promptly so arrive from 10am for free tea, coffee and a chat! 🌺☕

2:15pm - The U3a general meeting at Harpenden Trust Halls features Mary Smith giving a fascinating talk called "A School Girls' War" – sounds intriguing! 🎓

7pm - Evening classes are calling! Rachel's back with another Body Tone session at Katherine Warrington School. Check out her weekly schedule for even more options including Zumba and Pure Stretch! 💃

7pm (7:30pm start) - Fancy flowers with a festive twist? The Harpenden Evening Floral Group has a special demonstration at Katherine Warington School with Lorena Dyer presenting "Sleighbells, Slippers & Sparkle" ❄️🌸 Tickets are £17 in advance and all those gorgeous arrangements get raffled off – email [email protected] for details!

7:30pm-9:30pm - Art lovers, gather at the Salvation Army Hall on Leyton Green for Harpenden Art Club's review of members' work. Non-members are absolutely welcome for just £5 – why not give it a go? 🎨

8pm - Quiz enthusiasts, your moment has arrived! It's Quiz Night at The Harpenden Arms 🧠 Get your team of up to 6 together for some serious brain-teasing action – it's become a Thursday tradition for good reason!

8pm - Theatre buffs, don't miss the High Street Players presenting Alan Ayckbourn's comedy "How the other half loves" at Southdown Performing Arts Centre. Directed by Rachel Tegg, this hilarious show runs through the 21st with a matinee on the 22nd 🎭 Tickets are just £12 online, from Manor Pharmacy, or ring 01582 620269.

8pm - Head to The Queens Head in Southdown for Pints of View, where they'll be exploring the thought-provoking question "Is monarchy Christian?" 🍺💭 All welcome to join the conversation with an open heart and ready ears!

FRIDAY 21ST NOVEMBER

11am, 2pm & 4pm (Wed) - Got little dancers? Ballet with Zoe runs throughout the week at The Harpenden Trust – Fridays at 11am for 2-3 year olds, 2pm for 3-4 year olds, and Wednesdays at 4pm for 4-6 year olds. Email [email protected] for a trial! 👧💕

Friday evenings - Budding performers aged 4-17, Top Hat Stage School runs at Roundwood Park School – free trial and no experience needed! 🌟

7pm-9pm - African Drumming at the Quaker Meeting House on Southdown Road – a brilliant Women Supporting Women Workshop 🥁 All women welcome from teenagers to retirees! Start with a welcome circle, drum your hearts out, then unwind with refreshments.

7pm-late - Feeling fancy? Head to Aldwickbury Golf Club for A Festive Freddie Mercury Party Night! 🎤 The fabulous Gary Goodmaze brings rock royalty vibes, plus there's a DJ and disco to follow. £52.50 includes welcome prosecco and a three-course meal – we are the champions indeed!

7:30pm - For a glitzy evening, The Eric Morecambe Centre has The Crooners Christmas Special – hilariously festive Big Band swing that'll get you in the Christmas spirit! Tickets £29.50 🎄🎺

8pm - Theatre time again! "How the other half loves" continues tonight at Southdown Performing Arts Centre – grab those £12 tickets while you can! 🎪

8:30pm - Music fans, get yourselves to The Gibraltar Castle where Den Pugsley & Jamie Cook will be serving up 60s/70s classics with just vocals, bass and acoustic guitars – no backing tracks, just pure talent! 🎸

SATURDAY 22ND NOVEMBER

10am-5pm - Christmas market magic awaits! The We Are Harpenden Christmas Market transforms The EMC into a sparkling winter wonderland ✨🎁 Think beautifully decorated stalls brimming with unique gifts, handmade treasures, and delicious seasonal treats. From handcrafted jewellery to festive food and drink, it's the perfect place to support local makers and tick off that Christmas list!

10:30am - UNA Harpenden hosts a public lecture at the Salvation Army Hall, Leyton Green. John White, CEO of Global Care, will discuss "Responses to Children Living in Poverty Overseas: The impact of education in sustainable development" – an important topic! 🌍

12pm-4pm - And here's a festive treat you won't want to miss! St George's Christmas Fayre at St George's School 🎄✨ Pop along to browse beautiful decorations and gifts – it's the perfect place to find those special handpicked treasures while soaking up all the festive atmosphere. Get your Christmas shopping started in style! 🎁

2pm – Rugby fans rejoice! HRFC is showing the Quilter Autumn Series live on three big screens. Grab a bacon cheeseburger and a pint for £10! 🏉🍺

2:30pm - Theatre lovers, there's a matinee performance of "How the other half loves" at Southdown Performing Arts Centre – perfect afternoon entertainment! 🎭

7:15pm-10:30pm - Support the Harpenden Hopper with a Ceilidh at Wheathampstead Memorial Hall! 💃🎻 Tickets are £20 and include a Ploughman's supper, plus there's a live band, bar and raffle. Grab tickets from harpendenlions.co.uk.

7:30pm - Irish music fans, don't miss "One Night in Dublin" at The EMC! Featuring the renowned Danny Muldoon backed by award-winning musicians with live fiddle and accordion – two hours of high-energy fun for £28 🍀🎶

9:30pm-midnight - Night owls, Scary Canary (a fab 5-piece pop/rock band) will be rocking The Plough & Harrow! 🎸🎤

SUNDAY 23RD NOVEMBER

9:05am - Early birds, the 905 Run Club meets at The Park Harpenden for a FREE 5km run every Sunday! 🏃 Meet near Brad & Dills in Rothampstead, warm up, then choose between 5K or 3K, followed by a social coffee at Brad and Dills.

Sunday mornings - Young performers, Jigsaw Performing Arts Schools runs at Katherine Warrington School for ages 3-18 – two week trial available on 01923 701803! 🎭

12pm-6pm - IT'S CARNIVAL DAY! 🎪🎄 Harpenden's Christmas Carnival with Christmas workshops for all ages, food and drink stalls, outdoor bars, fairground rides, and walkabout entertainment from cheeky elves and stilt-walking clockwork ballerinas! The Christmas Farmers' Market will be on the High Street along with Young Enterprise Stalls, and Santa's waiting in his Grotto! The Procession kicks off at 3pm from Lydekker Park, traveling along the High Street to Vaughan Road. The big moment? The Town's Christmas Lights switch-on at 5pm by The Town Mayor with the winners of the Mayor's Christmas Card Competition! The winner of the Whittaker & Co’s Christmas Window Design Competition will be announced as well. Free parking at the Station car park from noon, but walking is encouraged! 🎅✨

1pm-5pm - Also running is the Christmas Emergency Services Open Day at Harpenden Fire Station – always a brilliant family day out! 🚒

2:30pm - Speaking of Brad & Dills, they're serving Roast Dinners at The Park every Sunday throughout November – book in store or DM them on Insta! 🍖

MONDAY 24TH NOVEMBER

10am-12pm - Parents with toddlers, Bennet's Coffee Morning at Bennet's Royal British Legion on Leyton Road – your kids can play safely while you take a well-deserved break! 👶☕

10:30am-12pm - Coffee and community time! Harpenden Library Coffee Morning runs every Monday ☕

10:30am (talk at 11am) - History buffs, there's a talk at The Walled Garden Project – meet at the Estate Office for tea/coffee, then the talk starts at 11am. This month's topic? "The Leigh Family at Luton Hoo and their impact on local railways" 🚂 Just £7.50!

3:45pm-4:45pm - Little engineers, LEGO Club at Harpenden Library – fun challenges building problem-solving and creativity! Places are limited so book ahead, £4.40 per session (under 8s need an adult) 🧱

TUESDAY 25TH NOVEMBER

2:15pm-2:45pm - Story lovers, it's StoryTime at Harpenden Library 📖 All welcome, donations appreciated!

3pm-4:30pm - Crafters, Craftea with Sally at Harpenden Library – bring your own project and enjoy some creative companionship! Donations welcome 🧶

9pm - Quiz enthusiasts, The Engineer hosts their Weekly Quiz 🧠 Max 6 per team, £1 entry, cash prizes up for grabs!

WEDNESDAY 26TH NOVEMBER

9am-1:30pm - Agri-tech enthusiasts, the Rothamsted Campus Discovery event at the Rothamsted Conference Centre, Fowden Hall – bringing together scientists, innovative companies and the wider agri-tech community! 🌾🔬

10:30am - History lovers, join a volunteer guide for a Walled Garden Walk – a 2.5 hour exploration through the words of those who lived and worked on the estate. £7.50pp, meet in the Walled Garden Car Park ten minutes early 🌿

2:15pm-3pm - Active little ones? Active Rhyme Time at Park Hall Community Hall – a free 45-minute session of fun, active rhymes and songs for babies and toddlers (older siblings welcome too!) 🎵

4pm - Ballet with Zoe has their Wednesday class at The Harpenden Trust for 4-6 year olds – email [email protected] for a trial! 💫

Phew! What a week ahead! Get out there and enjoy everything our wonderful town has to offer! 💖🎉

ONGOING GOODIES

The Harpenden & District Local History Society needs volunteers! The Museum in the Eric Morecambe Centre is usually open 11am-3pm on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays. They're particularly looking for a marketing secretary and website editor – many hands make light work! 🏛️

Don't miss their exhibitions: George Hogg: Son of Harpenden, Hero in China (extended to end of November by special request), and Everyday Life in Edwardian Harpenden (running until January 2026)! 📜

Feeling creative? Why not create a Trail of Discovery about local art, culture and history? No experience necessary, just interest and enthusiasm! Email [email protected] 🗺️

GIVING BACK

Kings Pantry Foodbank is providing Christmas hampers again this year (75-80 families!) – donate by Monday 15th December to the Salvation Army Hall or either Co-op. Think Christmas puddings, custard, tinned fruit, mince pies, jams, and chocolates! 🎁

The Salvation Army's Christmas Present Appeal needs new, unwrapped toys and gifts for children aged 0-18 years. Let's make sure every child has something to smile about this Christmas! 🎅🎁

COMING SOON

Mark your calendars! Thursday 27th November, 4:30-6:30pm - Batford Lights Up, Friday 28th November, 5:30-7:30pm - Southdown Lights & Lanterns Extravaganza, Sunday 30th November, 10am-2pm - Aldwickbury Park Golf Club Christmas Market, 2nd & 7th December - Christmas Wreath Making workshops, and 6th-30th December - the pantomime Jack And The Beanstalk at the EMC! 🎄✨

Got a local event or special day you'd like us to feature? We'd love to hear from you! Just drop us a line at [email protected] and we'll shine our spotlight on your community happenings! ✨

P.S. Love staying in the know about local happenings? Spread the word! Tell your friends and neighbors about Harpenden Highlights so they don't miss out on the best events in town. Subscribe at https://harpenden-highlights.beehiiv.com/subscribe and never miss a local update again! 📱✨