🎪 HARPENDEN'S BIG TOP WEEK! 🎪

Hold onto your hats, Harpenden! This week we're practically running away to join the circus - and thankfully, we don't have to leave town! 🎭 Between Circus Zyair taking over the Common, our magnificent Summer Carnival bringing FREE entertainment (yes, you read that right!), and enough coffee mornings to fuel a small army, we're serving up seven days of pure community magic ✨

Whether you're after death-defying acrobats, bottomless brunches that'll make your Saturday legendary, or just want to watch some cricket while pretending you understand the rules, we've got you covered! So grab your diary, charge your phone for all those Instagram-worthy moments, and let's dive into what promises an entertaining week ! 🎉

Thursday 26th June

9:30am-11am - Little Fishes Toddler Group at Crabtree Church (AL5 5RD) is the perfect spot for parents to grab a much-needed coffee while your little ones burn off some energy during term time! Plus there's plenty of parking, which is basically a miracle in itself! ☕

10am-10:30am & 11:30am-12pm - Baby Rhyme Time at Harpenden Library brings musical magic to your morning - donations welcome because our lovely librarians deserve all the support (and probably need the coffee fund topped up)! 🎵

7pm - Circus Zyair on Harpenden Common promises an evening of jaw-dropping entertainment with over 30 international performers who make the rest of us look like we can barely walk in a straight line! This family-friendly spectacular features acrobats and stuntmen that'll leave you wondering if gravity is just a suggestion. Running until Sunday 29th June, so book via TicketSource! 🎪

Friday 27th June

7pm - Circus Zyair continues its magical residency on Harpenden Common - because one night of death-defying stunts is simply not enough! 🎪

7:30pm - 'Yesterday Once More – The Carpenters Songbook' at The EMC features the fabulous Toni Lee performing all those nostalgic hits like 'Superstar' and 'Close to You' that'll transport you straight back to the golden era of music. Tickets from £27 (plus £3.50 booking fee) - basically cheaper than therapy and probably just as emotionally satisfying! 🎶

Saturday 28th June

10:45am - Zumba Gold at Gibbons Hall offers dance exercise for active older adults - because age is just a number and dancing is eternal! £7 per class of pure joy. 💃

11am - Harpenden Cricket Club vs North Mymms CC kicks off on Harpenden Common - perfect for those who appreciate the gentle art of watching cricket while pretending to understand the rules! 🏏

11am, 3pm & 6pm - Circus Zyair pulls out all the stops with three spectacular shows on Harpenden Common - they're practically taking over the whole area with their gravity-defying shenanigans! 🎪

12pm-4pm - Wood End School Summer Fair on Yeomans Avenue (AL5 3EF) celebrates its diamond 60th anniversary! Expect food vans, local heroes Pip in Boots providing the soundtrack, inflatables for bouncing away your weekend stress, and craft stalls for those who like their entertainment with a creative twist. 🎉

12pm-6pm - The 58th Harpenden Summer Carnival takes over Harpenden Common & Town Centre with FREE entry (yes, you read that right - FREE!). The Cha Char Chimps will entertain, circus star Richard Filby will dazzle, and Angie Mack will show us all how hula-hooping should really be done. The music stage features Sam Lewis, Threefold, Maida Vaies, and The Carnegies, while your taste buds can tour the world with BBQ, Greek mezze, South African cuisine, vegan delights, smash burgers, pizza, and frozen cocktails! 🎡

1pm-4pm - Vinsanto's legendary Bottomless Brunch delivers unlimited Aperol Spritz or Margaritas (try their famous spicy ones if you like it HOT!) alongside specially designed brunch Cicchetti. £40 per person for 2 hours of civilized weekend indulgence - upgrade to unlimited Piper Heidsieck Champagne for just £20 extra because life's too short for ordinary bubbles! 🥂

7:30pm - Quorum Singers of St Albans and Luton plus South Beds and Harpenden Samaritans present 'You've Got a Friend' at Roundwood Park School - an evening of light musical entertainment with free entry and retiring collection for the Samaritans. Perfect for those who like their entertainment with a side of good cause! 🎵

Sunday 29th June

10:30am - III Rivers Charity Bike Show opens its gates on Harpenden Common (AL5 2HU) - £5 per person, under 16s free! This charity extravaganza for Make a Wish features a ride-in bike show, great food, trade stalls, a tattooist for the brave, and live bands. Everyone's welcome to admire the bikes and support a fantastic cause! 🏍️

11am & 3pm - Circus Zyair takes its final bows on Harpenden Common - last chance to see those incredible performers who make the impossible look effortless! Don't miss the grand finale! 🎪

3pm-5:30pm - The Oddfellows Arms hosts 2Tone covers because Sunday afternoon tribute bands are basically a legal requirement for proper weekend closure! 🎵

4pm-6pm - Ross Burnett brings live music to Marquis of Granby - booking advised because good live music on a Sunday is worth planning ahead for! 🎸

5pm-7pm - Summer Sunday Sessions on the terrace at The White Horse (Hatching Green) features live local music to perfectly close out your weekend with that lovely Sunday evening vibe! 🎵

Monday 30th June

9:30am-10:45am - Monday Morning Yoga at Batford Memorial Hall offers a free trial session - email [email protected] because starting the week with zen is never a bad idea! 🧘

9:30am-10:15am - Little Kickers football classes cater to Little Kicks (1.5-2.5 years) and Junior Kickers (2.5-3.5 years) - because it's never too early to start perfecting those football skills! ⚽

10am-12pm - Bennets Coffee Morning at Royal British Legion (21 Leyton Road) provides a safe, welcoming space for parents and toddlers - take a well-deserved break while your children play to their hearts' content! ☕

10:30am-12pm - Harpenden Library Coffee Morning continues the Monday coffee theme because clearly Mondays require multiple caffeine opportunities! ☕

2pm-3:30pm - Memory Lane Café at The Salvation Army offers a warm welcome for people living with dementia and their families - community support at its finest! 🏠

3:45pm-4:45pm - Lego Club for ages 5+ at Harpenden Library costs £4.40 per session and requires advance booking - because building architectural dreams brick by brick never goes out of style! 🧱

6pm, 7pm & 8pm - Jado Kuin Do family martial arts at The Harpenden Trust (above the Co-Op in Southdown) runs Kids at 6pm, Advanced at 7pm (black belt students only - basically the ninjas), and Adults at 8pm. Free taster session available! 🥋

6:45pm - Frazzled Cafe at Harpenden Trust Halls in Southdown offers free hot drinks, emotional support, and comfort among others - because Mondays can be tough and we all need a friendly space sometimes! ☕

Tuesday 1st July

10:45am - Zumba Gold at Gibbons Hall brings dance exercise for active older adults - £7 per class of pure energetic joy! 💃

12:45pm-1:30pm - Inclusive choir for all at The Salvation Army Hall during term time - because everyone deserves to sing their heart out! 🎵

2:15pm-4:45pm - StoryTime at Harpenden Library welcomes all for afternoon tales and literary adventures! 📚

8pm-10pm - Harpenden Scottish Country Dancing Club at Lourdes Hall, Southdown requires no partner, just soft shoes and a sense of adventure - because dancing shouldn't depend on finding the perfect partner! 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

8:30pm - Trivia Tuesday Pub Quiz at The Engineer costs £2 per person with teams up to six and a prize pot over £100 - time to dust off those random facts about 1980s pop culture and medieval history! ❓

Wednesday 2nd July

10am - Southdown Marquetry Group at Southdown Trust Hall welcomes beginners with no experience required - all veneers provided because they're lovely like that! 🪵

10:30am - Pilates for 50+ gentle class at The Harpenden Trust (above the Co-Op in Southdown) - more info at pushmefitherts.com for those ready to push themselves fit! 🧘

8pm - Monthly Pub Quiz at The Red Cow (1st Wednesday of the month) because one quiz night per week is simply not enough for us quiz enthusiasts! ❓

Whatever you choose to do this week, have a fantastic time enjoying all that our wonderful town has to offer! 👑Tag us in your Instagram stories and keep supporting our amazing local venues! See you around Harpenden! 💖

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! 📱✨