🎄 HARPENDEN'S FESTIVE EXTRAVAGANZA IS HERE! 🎄

This week is absolutely bursting with Christmas magic – we're talking wreath-making workshops, festive concerts with mulled wine, Breakfast with Santa, carol singing with the Mayor, not one but TWO Christingle services, a Family Teddy Concert (yes, really!), Christmas markets galore, quiz nights for the competitive among you, and even a chance to meet West End star Emma Hatton! Whether you're after fitness classes to work off those mince pies, cultural treats to feed your soul, or just want to soak up the festive atmosphere on our gorgeous Twinkle Lights Trail, we've got you absolutely covered. So dust off that Christmas jumper, rally the troops, and let's dive into what's happening around town... ✨

THURSDAY 4TH DECEMBER

9:30am – Rachel's Body Tone class kicks off at The EMC – perfect way to start the day feeling energised and ready to tackle whatever comes your way! She's also running Zumba and Pure Stretch throughout the week – check out the full schedule! 💪

10am-10:30am (and again at 11:30am-12pm) – Baby Rhyme Time bounces into Harpenden Library with donations welcome and guaranteed giggles galore! 👶

7-9pm – The AT Society's festive Christmas Concert takes over the beautiful St John's Church with a local school choir, Magic Voices, and Mike Hodge. Mulled wine, mince pies, and a raffle too! 🎶

7:30-9:30pm – Harpenden Art Club presents a Workshop on Chiaroscuro with Peter Brown at Salvation Army Hall, Leyton Green. Non-members totally welcome for just £5 – give it a trial! 🎨

8pm – Quiz Night at The Harpenden Arms! It's Thursday, which means battle of wits time. Rally your team of up to 6 brainiacs for some serious brain-teasing action! 🧠

FRIDAY 5TH DECEMBER

9:30am – Rachel's Body Tone returns at The Harpenden Trust (above the Co-Op in Southdown)💪

11am – Ballet with Zoe for 2-3 year olds at The Harpenden Trust. She also does 2pm for 3-4 year olds on Fridays, and 4pm on Wednesdays for 4-6 year olds. Lively ballet lessons for the little ones – email [email protected] for a trial class! 🩰

Friday evenings – Top Hat Stage School at Roundwood Park School welcomes ages 4-17. Free trial, no experience necessary – just enthusiasm! 🎭

7-9:30pm – Adult Christmas Wreath Making at Harpenden Academy (£35) is your chance to create something truly special! Expert wreath makers guide you step-by-step, with all materials included plus a welcome drink. Whether you're a complete beginner or a seasoned crafter, you'll design a wreath that suits your personal style AND your front door! 🎄

SATURDAY 6TH DECEMBER

8am & 9:45am – Breakfast with Santa at The Old Cock Inn is pure magic! This pre-booked family event means your little ones get a festive breakfast PLUS a small gift from the big man himself. Email [email protected] or call 01582 712649 to book 🎅

10am-4pm – Satsuma Market at High Street Methodist Church (FREE entry!) supports local makers and small businesses. When you shop local, you're buying beautiful handcrafted gifts AND sharing joy with the people who create them. Every purchase supports a dream, a family, and the hard work behind every handmade item. 🛍️

10am-3:30pm – The massive Hertfordshire Christmas Shopping Fair at Hertfordshire Showground brings around 150 exhibitors celebrating Christmas gifts, arts & crafts, fashion & beauty, food & drink, and the wonderfully uncategorisable! This busy and popular fair is absolutely the place to be for unique finds. 🎁

12-3pm – A traditional Christmas Fair at Lourdes Hall, Southdown Road includes all the usual suspects: bottles, cakes, craft, gifts, toys, white elephant stalls, Irish coffees, hot dog lunches, and Santa's Grotto for the children to visit. Sorted! 🎄

2pm – Family Teddy Concert at The Chapel, Highfield Oval! YWAM Harpenden and Kings Chamber Orchestra present this interactive extravaganza with fun, games, music from the greats, film music, and original improvisations. There may be bonkers moments (we're promised!), dad jokes will flow, touching thoughts may comfort, but most of all the music will delight! Bring your teddies or soft toys to join the flying, dancing, and maybe even sleeping action! 🧸

2-5pm – Christmas Festival and Fayre at St Nicholas Church, Church Green serves up homemade cakes and mince pies in the café, live Christmas carols, handcrafted gifts, children's crafts, Father Christmas in his grotto, raffles, tombola and other festive stalls. Everything you need for Christmas cheer! 🎄

4:30pm & 7:30pm – Kings Chamber Orchestra presents 'The Light Fantastic' in both late afternoon and evening concerts! It's their 40th anniversary and they're on sparkling form with romance, wonder, and hope. Expect surprise elements including carols, stories, and music from the silver screen, amid classic favourites by Tchaikovsky, Nielsen, Strauss, Mozart and many more. The candle-lit Chapel creates a heavenly atmosphere that'll soothe your soul! Book at ywamharpenden.org 🎻

9:30pm-midnight – Carnegies (a brilliant 5-piece covers band) takes over The Plough & Harrow for a proper night out! 🎸

Saturday 6th-Tuesday 30th December – The EMC presents Polka Dot Pantomimes' Jack and the Beanstalk! It's the pantomime you've all BEAN waiting for! 🌱

SUNDAY 7TH DECEMBER

9:05am – 905 Run Club at The Park Harpenden offers a FREE 5km (or 3km) run every Sunday near Rothampstead by Brad and Dills. Warm up, run, then enjoy a social chat and coffee afterwards🏃

10am-4pm – Meet Father Christmas at Luton Hoo Estate's Walled Garden! Book your slot now – it's £15 per child (includes a pre-Christmas gift) with all profits going to the Little Feet Appeal at L&D Hospital. Places are limited because, well, it's a busy time of year for the big man! 🎅

10am-4pm – Christmas Market at Luton Hoo Estate! Tucked inside the Conservatory within the Walled Garden, this market is brimming with festive charm. Discover unique gifts, indulge in delicious seasonal treats, all surrounded by twinkling lights and cheerful music. Parking is only £2 and entrance is FREE! 🎄

10am-3:30pm – Hertfordshire Christmas Shopping Fair continues at the Showground if you missed it on Saturday! 🎁

11am – Christmas Wreath Making at Aldwickbury Park Golf Club (£60 per person including tea/coffee & cake). Partnering with the talented florists at Maples Flowers for a fantastic festive crafting experience! 🌿

11am-1pm (ages 11-15) – Behind The Broomstick: A Magical Musical Theatre Experience with actual West End Leading Lady and real life Elphaba, Emma Hatton! Character work, storytelling, song, and dance in a supportive environment at Musicale, Homecroft Sun Lane. Parents and guardians are welcome to join the special live performance, Q&A, and photo opportunity!⭐

2-4:30pm (ages 16-22) – More Behind The Broomstick magic continues for the older performers! Perfect for aspiring performers and anyone who simply loves musical theatre. ⭐

4:30pm – St Nicholas Church Christingle Service organised by the Harpenden Committee of The Children's Society. This candle-lit service is perfect for children of all ages and their parents and carers – the perfect start to the Christmas season! Each child receives a Christingle (an orange decorated with sweets, dried fruit, red ribbon and a candle). There'll also be a short talk about the work of The Children's Society, which runs local projects helping children and young people when they're at their most vulnerable. Lasts approximately 50 minutes, donations invited. 🕯

5pm – Harpenden Music Foundation presents The Gift of Music... at Christmas at Our Lady of Lourdes Church, Rothamsted Avenue. Celebrate the season with local opera singers Alison Langer and William Thomas, pianist Susanna Stranders, and the Monday Choir while raising funds to support opportunities for young singers and musicians in the Harpenden area 🎶️

5pm – Christingle at St John's Church, St John's Road – a family friendly service learning about the light of the world and supporting the Children's Society. 🕯️

MONDAY 8TH DECEMBER

10am-12pm – Bennets Coffee Morning with parents and toddlers at Bennet's Royal British Legion, 21 Leyton Road. Take a break while your children play in a safe, welcoming space. Every Monday! ☕

10:30am-12pm – Harpenden Library Coffee Morning happens every Monday – come hang out and meet people over a cuppa!

3:45-4:45pm – LEGO Club at Harpenden Library brings fun challenges that build problem solving, spatial awareness, and creative thinking. Places are limited so please book – £4.40 per session. Children under 8 must be accompanied by an adult. 🧱

TUESDAY 9TH DECEMBER

1:30pm – Harpenden Gardening Society at All Saints Church Hall presents a talk on 'The Blitz as a catalyst for greening London' by Garden Historian Katharine Woods. Wine and mince pies to follow – don't forget to bring your glass! Non-members £5, all welcome. 🌻

2:15-2:45pm – StoryTime at Harpenden Library welcomes all – donations appreciated! 📖

9pm – Weekly Quiz at The Engineer! Max 6 per team, £1 entry, cash prizes up for grabs. Game on! 🧠

WEDNESDAY 10TH DECEMBER

9am-3pm – THC Monthly Coworking Pop Up at Red Gables brings together like-minded professionals in lovely bright contemporary workspaces. Experience all the benefits of co-working! THC Members £10+VAT, Non-members £15+VAT. 💻

10:30am-10:30am – Pilates (50+ gentle class) with Push Me Fit Herts at The Harpenden Trust (above the Co-Op in Southdown) 💪

4pm – Ballet with Zoe for 4-6 year olds at The Harpenden Trust. Email [email protected] for trial classes! 🩰

6pm – The Mayor of Harpenden's Charity Carol Concert at St John's Church, St John's Road. Join the Mayor for some traditional carol singing with mulled wine and a mince pie included! £6 per adult, under 16s free. All proceeds go to the Mayor's Nominated Charities – the King's Pantry Foodbank and The Herts Domestic Abuse Helpline. Contact [email protected] for more details and tickets. 🎵

ONGOING LOVELINESS

Don't miss Harpenden's Twinkle Lights Trail! This FREE outdoor family activity runs from Frosty the giant snowman on the Common all the way to Santa and Teddy in the Sensory Gardens. Download the trail leaflet or grab one from Town Hall, stop for hot drinks and Christmas shopping along the route, and tag your photos with #harpendentwinkletrail! ✨

Mon-Sat 10am-4pm until 19th Dec – Charity Christmas Card & Gift Shop at United Reform Church, Vaughan Road. Stock up on cards and gifts while supporting great causes! 🎄

Harpenden Library's Winter Reads Challenge is open to ALL ages – complete your free challenge for a chance to win an iPad! Just join in at the Library. 📚

There's also a How to Train Your Dragon treasure hunt and dragon design competition at the Library! Design your own dragon for a chance to win 1 of 5 signed copies of Cressida Cowell's first 'How to Train Your Dragon School' book. Collect from staff and return by 11th Jan 2026! 🐉

Interested in rugby? Whether it's for you or getting the little ones into Mini's rugby, drop a line to [email protected]! 🏉

Harpenden Learning for Leisure is a voluntary group running local educational leisure courses for the whole community. Meet others, keep your mind active, and enjoy affordable courses on diverse topics! Check out harpendenlearningforleisure.org.uk 📚

King's Pantry Foodbank needs hamper donations by Monday 15th December latest for their 75-80 Christmas hampers for families they've supported throughout the year. Drop donations at Salvation Army Hall or the Coops at Southdown and Batford. Suggested items: Christmas pudding, nuts (whole or roasted), custard, tinned fruit, mince pies, jams, marmalade, and boxes of chocolates. 🎁

The Salvation Army Christmas Present Appeal is collecting new, unwrapped toys and gifts for children ages 0-18 years. Help make Christmas magical for children in our town! 🎅

Harpenden & District Local History Society and the Museum 🏛️

The Museum in the Eric Morecambe Centre is usually open 11am-3pm on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays – and honestly, it's an absolute gem run entirely by wonderful volunteers!

They've got some brilliant exhibitions on at the moment:

George Hogg: Son of Harpenden, Hero in China, 1915-45 has been extended by special request! Hogg became a hero in China because of his contributions to journalism, the co-operative movement, and education during that devastating war. Although his memory is revered throughout China, little is known about him in England, including right here in his home town of Harpenden. Fascinating stuff! 🌏

Everyday Life in Edwardian Harpenden (running to end of January 2026) explores the Edwardian era – remembered as both glamorous and gilded, but also a time when modern social and political change was brewing under the surface. The exhibition focuses on Harpenden, especially street views, giving us a real glimpse into what life was like back then. 🏛️

And there are brilliant NEW DISPLAYS FOR DECEMBER:

The Lydekker Gifts – Richard Lydekker (1849-1915) was a world-renowned naturalist and author of beautifully-illustrated books about the flora and fauna of the world in late Victorian times. Focusing mainly on his work, this new display includes examples that have now been photographed and enlarged. If you're into natural history, this is absolutely worth a look! 🦁

Harpenden Schools – From the early days of the British and Board schools right through to today, this exhibition returns to the museum with an updated display. Perfect for anyone who went to school in Harpenden or has kids doing so now – it's lovely to see how education has evolved in our town! 🎓

The Society is also running Harpenden Memories – A Competition! Were you living in Harpenden in the 1960s or earlier? They want to know what day-to-day life was like! Did you go to the Broadway Hall Market or the Regent Cinema? What was school like, and the shops, houses, discos, and the mini-skirt? Any funny stories to tell? Send memories to [email protected] or leave them at the Museum by 31st January 2026. The winner gets a bottle of champagne and books, and the best memoires will be published on the Society's website! 📝

Phew! That's your week absolutely sorted, Harpenden! There's something for everyone – from fitness to festive fun, culture to crafts. Get out there and enjoy everything our brilliant town has to offer! 🎄✨

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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