Half Term Havoc & Halloween Highlights! 🎃✨

The kids are off school, Halloween is here, and Bonfire Night is just around the corner – which means Harpenden is absolutely buzzing with brilliant events! From pumpkin patches under moonlight and spine-tingling scream parks to dazzling fireworks displays and cosy coffee mornings, we've got your entire week (and beyond!) sorted. Whether you're after family-friendly Halloween alternatives, cultural treats at the Eric Morecambe Centre, or just fancy a pub quiz and a pint, our wonderful town is serving up something special every single day. So grab your diary, rally the troops, and let's make this week one to remember! 🎆👻🎨

THURSDAY 30TH OCTOBER

9:30am - Body Tone with Rachel at The EMC 💪 Kickstart your Thursday with Rachel's energizing Body Tone class. Perfect for shaking off mid-week sluggishness and getting your body moving!

10am-10:30am & 11:30am-12pm - Baby Rhyme Time at Harpenden Library 👶📚 Bring your little ones for nursery rhymes, songs, and giggles. A lovely way to introduce babies to language and music. Donations welcome.

6:30pm-8:30pm - Moonlit Marshmallows & Pumpkins Evening at The Pop Up Farm ✨🎃 Magical evening featuring pumpkin picking under festoon lights, torch-lit paths, firepit marshmallow toasting, ceramic pumpkin painting (extra cost), hot food and drinks with vegan options. Free parking included!

7pm - Body Tone with Rachel at Katherine Warrington School 💪 Evening session for those who prefer working out after work. Tone up and de-stress with Rachel!

8pm - Quiz Night at The Harpenden Arms 🧠🍺 Weekly battle of wits! Gather your team of up to 6 for brain-teasing fun and friendly competition.

6pm-10:30pm - Halloween Haunt Fest at Hertfordshire County Showground 😱 New immersive scream park featuring Texas Chainsaw Massacre and E.D.E.N. Not for the faint-hearted!

FRIDAY 31ST OCTOBER – HALLOWEEN! 🎃👻

9:30am onwards - Pumpkin Festival at The Pop Up Farm 🎃 12-acre patch to explore, 'Big Bales Stack' to climb, tractor tyre sandpit, and The Pit Stop Café. Just off M1 J9.

9:30am - Body Tone with Rachel at The Harpenden Trust 💪 Start Halloween morning healthy! Check out the rest of her weekly schedule here.

10am-11am - Halloween Pool Party at Harpenden Leisure Centre 🏊‍♀️👻 Spooky swimming fun! Adults £7, children over 2 £3.50, under 2s £2.10. Book via app or website.

10am-5pm - Harpenden Art Club Annual Exhibition at Harpenden Trust Centre 🎨 Over 3,000 original artworks! Free entry. Runs all weekend.

5pm-7pm - Glow Party at Be. Kids, Crabtree Church 🌟 Brilliant alternative to trick-or-treating for kids aged 5-11! Glow sticks, games, crafts, food, and pure fun. Only £3 per child but spaces limited!

6pm-11pm - Halloween Haunt Fest at Hertfordshire County Showground 😱 Extra hour of terror tonight! Immersive scares running until 11pm.

7:30pm - Chantel McGregor at The Eric Morecambe Centre 🎸 Acclaimed guitar virtuoso and singer-songwriter with dynamic progressive-rock sound. £18 advance, £20 door.

7:30pm - Round the Horne at The Eric Morecambe Centre 🎤😂 Classic radio comedy live on stage featuring Julian and Sandy, Rambling Sid Rumpo, and more! From £21.50.

SATURDAY 1ST NOVEMBER

10am-10:30am - Saturday Storytime at Harpenden Library 📚🐛 Interactive stories including The Very Hungry Caterpillar and The Gruffalo for pre-schoolers. Free, no booking needed!

10am-5pm - Harpenden Art Club Annual Exhibition at Harpenden Trust Centre 🎨 Day two of the spectacular exhibition. Over 3,000 artworks, free entry!

11am-12noon - Haiku Poetry Writing Workshop at Harpenden Library ✍️🍃 Free adult workshop for Green Libraries Week. Discuss nature, sustainability, and write your own haikus! Book at the enquiry desk.

6pm-11pm - Halloween Haunt Fest at Hertfordshire County Showground 😱 Final night of scares! Last chance to experience this immersive Halloween attraction.

7:30pm - Thank ABBA For The Music at The Eric Morecambe Centre 🎤😂 Featuring all the classic hits, dressing up is encouraged! From £29.

9:30pm-midnight - DeLorean at The Plough & Harrow 🎸🎶 5-piece rock covers band! Brilliant Saturday night live music.

SUNDAY 2ND NOVEMBER

9:05am - 905 Run Club at The Park Harpenden 🏃‍♀️☕ FREE 5km or 3km run near Brad and Dills, Rothampstead. Warm-up, run, then social coffee afterwards!

10am-4pm - Harpenden Art Club Annual Exhibition at Harpenden Trust Centre 🎨 Final day! Last chance to see 3,000+ original artworks.

12pm-2:30pm - Redbourn Golf Club Sunday Carvery 🥘 First Sunday of every month. Proper Sunday roast in lovely surroundings!

2:30pm - Roast Dinners at Brad and Dills, The Park 🍽️ NEW! Sunday roasts every week starting November. Book in store or DM on Instagram.

4pm-9pm - Harpenden Rugby Club Fireworks 🎆🍺 Spectacular professional display, food, drinks, music, and brilliant atmosphere! On-site parking £10 or £3 return shuttle bus.

4:30pm (Display at 5:45pm) - Wheathampstead Fireworks at Beech Hyde School 🎇🍩 Low-bang options available! BBQ, donuts, drinks. Adults £7, children £5.

MONDAY 3RD NOVEMBER

10am-12pm - Bennet's Coffee Morning with parents and toddlers ☕👶 Safe, welcoming space for children to play while you take a break.

10:30am-12pm - Harpenden Library Coffee Morning ☕📚 Weekly gathering for good coffee and friendly faces. Everyone welcome!

1pm-3:30pm - Mencap Harpenden Allotment Club 🌱 Practical outdoor social club. Learn planting, harvesting, watering, and weeding! Email [email protected].

3:45pm-4:45pm - LEGO Club at Harpenden Library 🧱 Fun challenges building problem-solving and creativity. £4.40, places limited. Book ahead! Under 8s need to be accompanied by an adult.

7:30pm - Strange, But True Crime at The Eric Morecambe Centre 🔍 Former forensics lecturer explores shocking crimes. No graphic images. Suitable 16+. £24.50.

TUESDAY 4TH NOVEMBER

10am-4pm - TAAI Conference on Biologicals in Tropical Agricultural Systems 🌾🔬 At Rothamsted Conference Centre. Global experts on biological agents for tropical agriculture. Continues Wednesday.

11am-12pm, 3:30pm-4:30pm & 7pm-8pm - Belief Dynamics Hypnotherapy MindSpa Sessions 🧠✨ 60-minute group sessions. First Tuesday of the month. £20pp, max 8 people.

2:15pm-2:45pm - StoryTime at Harpenden Library 📖 Lovely half-hour session for little ones. All welcome, donations appreciated.

9pm - Weekly Quiz at The Engineer 🧠💰 Max 6 per team, £1 entry, cash prizes!

WEDNESDAY 5TH NOVEMBER

10am-4pm - TAAI Conference Day 2 at Rothamsted Conference Centre 🌾🔬 Continues discussions on sustainable tropical agriculture.

10:30am - Walled Garden Walk 🌿 2.5-hour historical walk exploring the Luton Hoo Walled Gardens through the words of those who lived and worked on the estate. £7.50pp. Meet in the car park 10 minutes before the start time.

1:30pm - Pirates Love Underpants Live at The Eric Morecambe Centre 🏴‍☠️🩲 Swashbuckling adventure with music, puppetry, and glittering pants! Suitable ages 1+. From £13.50.

4:30pm-7:30pm - Hertfordshire Trustees' Conference 2025 🤝 At Rothamsted Research Conference Centre. For trustees and charity leaders. Book at eventbrite.com.

7pm - The Harpenden Arms Brush Party 🎨🍷 First Wednesday of the month. Paint, sip, chat, laugh!

8pm - Monthly Pub Quiz at The Red Cow 🧠 First Wednesday of the month. Friendly competition over a drink or two!

That's your week, Harpenden! From Halloween festivities to fireworks, art exhibitions to fitness classes, there's something for absolutely everyone. Get out there and enjoy everything our brilliant town has to offer, and check out what’s coming up below! 🌟💚

ONGOING COMPETITIONS

Whittaker & Co's Christmas Window Design Competition 🎨🎄 Submit your festive drawing by November 3rd! The chosen design will be displayed in the window all through December. Pick up an entry sheet from their office. The winner will be announced on November 23rd at Harpenden Lights Up!

Mayor's Christmas Card Design Competition 🎄💡 Ages 4-11! Your chance to design the official Christmas card AND turn on the Christmas lights with the Mayor! Submit A4 design with your name, age, school to the Town Hall by Friday 7th November.

ONGOING ACTIVITIES

Harpenden & District Local History Society 🏛️ Museum at the Eric Morecambe Centre open 11am-3pm Tuesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays.

Special Exhibition: George Hogg - Son of Harpenden, Hero in China Extended to the end of November! Discover this remarkable local hero.

Special Exhibition: Everyday Life in Edwardian Harpenden Runs to January 2026. Fascinating glimpse into town life over a century ago.

Create a Trail of Discovery 🗺️ Share local art, culture, history knowledge. No experience needed! Email [email protected].

COMING UP

Thursday 6th November, 12pm-7:30pm - Regenify Health Open Day Free 10-minute trial on the Human Regenerator for everyone who attends. Book at eventbrite.com.

Thursday 6th November, 4pm-5pm - Warhammer Alliance Club at Harpenden Library ⚔️ Special 4-week club for beginners! All materials provided. £5.50 per session. Book at the enquiry desk.

Thursday 6th November, 6:30pm-8:30pm - Greek Meze Evening at Silver Palate💙 Delicious Greek small plates for Stand Up to Cancer. Great food, great cause!

Friday 7th November, 6pm-8pm - KWAF Fireworks 🎆 Harpenden's only LOW BANG fireworks takes place at Katherine Warington School! Music, BBQ, bar, mulled wine. Adults £8, children £6, family £25. Limited parking £10.

Thursday 20th November, 7pm - Harpenden Evening Floral Group 💐 Special demonstration 'Sleighbells, Slippers & Sparkle' with Lorena Dyer at Katherine Warington School. Tickets £17 in advance. Email [email protected].

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! ✨

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