Remember last weekend's cancelled events due to those dire weather forecasts? 🌦️ Well, this week more than makes up for it with an incredible lineup! Football kickabouts and live music, quiz nights galore, Father's Day celebrations, inclusive sports sessions, creative open mics, scenic walks, and networking socials. Sometimes the best weeks follow the biggest weather ‘surprises’! ☀️

Thursday 12th June

10:00am-11:30am - Business networking time at Lewis Restaurant! ☕ The Harpenden Connect event at Rothamsted Conference Centre is perfect for local business owners who want genuine conversation over coffee (just pay for your own pastries). No formal introductions, just good vibes and great connections!

12:00pm-1:00pm - Lace up those boots for Football Club at THC! ⚽ Head to Harpenden Town Football Club for a brilliant lunchtime kickabout - completely free and perfect for de-stressing with fellow football lovers. What a fantastic way to break up the workday!

8:00pm - Quiz night! 🧠 The Harpenden Arms hosts their weekly Thursday quiz (up to 6 per team, book online here), perfect for testing those brain cells with friends!🍺

8:00pm-11:00pm - Open Mic magic at The Plough & Harrow! 🎤 Mik & Anne create such a welcoming space for poets, musicians and storytellers at 88 Southdown Road. Whether you're performing or just enjoying local talent, it's a true community gem!

Friday 13th June

12:00pm - Beat those Friday the 13th superstitions with Run Club at THC! 🏃‍♀️ Join fellow running enthusiasts for a weekly jog around the local area - all abilities welcome and completely free. What better way to start the weekend feeling energized?

12:30pm-3:00pm - The Berkeley Band at The Hollybush, Redbourn! 🎷 Treat your ears to some seriously smooth sounds from these experienced and well-respected musicians! They'll be serving up cool jazz standards, lively Latin grooves, blues and pop - the perfect Friday afternoon soundtrack for a relaxing drink!

7:00pm-11:00pm - Live music Friday at The George of Harpenden! 🎵 Kick off your weekend with fantastic live musicians - the perfect soundtrack for unwinding after a busy week!

Saturday 14th June

4:00pm Something completely different! 🥎🍹 The inaugural BAD Rounders Club (postponed from last week) combines "A Round of Rounders and a Round of Cocktails" at Brad & Dills in the Park. It's family-friendly, and the perfect way to add some competitive spirit to your Saturday. The restaurant stays open for drinks during the game because priorities! Drop in to book or contact them on Instagram.

8:00pm-1:00am - DJ night at The George of Harpenden! 💃 Get ready to dance the night away as The George transforms into party central with their resident DJ spinning all the best tunes!

8:30pm - Jewel Entertainments Karaoke Cabaret at The George, Redbourn! 🎤 Time to unleash your inner superstar! Whether you're brave enough to grab the mic or prefer cheering on the brave souls, this karaoke cabaret promises hilarious entertainment and unforgettable moments!

9:30pm-12:30am - RAZORZ absolutely smash it at The Plough & Harrow! 🎉 These experienced party legends will have you dancing till you drop with 60 years of the best songs, recent chart hits and so much more! Talk about an absolute party atmosphere - Saturday night sorted!

Sunday 15th June

12:00pm-3:00pm - Father's Day BBQ at Aldwickbury Park Golf Club! 👨‍👧‍👦 Let someone else do the cooking this Father's Day - enjoy sunshine on their lovely terrace plus there's a free drink for Dad! Perfect way to celebrate without the washing up!

2-course Father's Day Carvery at Redbourn Golf Club - Treat Dad to something special! £24.95 per adult, £12.50 for under 12s, and under 5s eat free. Scrumptious food and no dishes to clean - what more could you want? 🍽️

3:00pm-4:00pm - Annual Mayor's Civic Service at St Nicholas Church! 🏛️ Join the Mayor and fellow residents at this important community occasion on Church Green. All are warmly welcomed to this lovely tradition that celebrates our town spirit!

3:30pm-4:30pm - Inclusive Football at Roundwood Park School! ⚽ Harpenden Colts runs these fantastic free sessions for ages 6-21, welcoming young people with learning, physical or neuro-diverse needs. Disability-qualified coaches make it fun and supportive for everyone!

Monday 16th June

10:00am-1:00pm - Citizens Advice drop-in at The Salvation Army! 🤝 Need free, confidential advice? Head to Leyton Green for this vital community service - no appointment needed and it's completely free!

3:45pm-4:45pm - Lego Club at Harpenden Library! 🧱 Ages 5+ can dive into creative building fun - just £4.40 per session but you need to book in advance. What a brilliant way to spark imagination!

5:00pm-6:00pm - Junior Basketball for ages 7-10 at Harpenden Leisure Centre! 🏀 These new classes at Rothamsted Park are perfect for learning skills, teamwork and having a blast during term time!

6:00pm-7:00pm - Junior Basketball for ages 11-15! 🏀 The older group gets their turn right after - email [email protected] to book these exciting new sessions!

Tuesday 17th June

7:00pm-9:00pm - Networking Social at The EMC! 🥂 Connect with local businesses, creatives and community members over welcome drinks and delicious charcuterie. Open to all, with tickets available for non-members through their website!

7:00pm-10:00pm - Evening Walk from The White Horse! 🥾 Join Scenic Walks in the Chilterns for a gorgeous 5.5-mile route taking in Rothamsted Manor and Harpenden Common. Just £2 (book online here) and there's pub socializing afterwards - perfect Tuesday adventure!

9:00pm - Weekly quiz at The Engineer! 🏆 Teams of max 6, just £1 per person to enter, and there are cash prizes to be won. What better way to test your Tuesday trivia knowledge?

Wednesday 18th June

11:30am-1:30pm - Citizens Advice at Well Bean Community Cafe! ☕ Pop upstairs above the Co-op on Southdown Road for free advice in this lovely community cafe setting. Such a convenient and welcoming way to get support!

7:30pm - Community Services Committee Meeting! 🏛️ Fancy seeing local democracy in action? Harpenden Town Council's meeting is typically open to the public - check their website for venue details and agenda!

8:00pm - Quiz night at The Amble Inn! 🎯 Round off your week with another fantastic quiz opportunity - because you can never have too many chances to show off your general knowledge!

What an absolutely incredible week we have lined up! From sports and creativity to networking and community support, there's genuinely something for everyone. See you around town! ✨

Coming Up... 🗓️

New Mums Club Alert! 👶 Hey mamas! Mark Thursday June 12th in your diary! ✏️ 6WeekSocial's postnatal course kicks off for you and your 0-12 month bundles of joy! 🌟 Covering weaning, pelvic health, baby sleep and exercise PLUS (the best bit!) coffee catch-ups, lunches and walks with other adults who understand why you've worn the same leggings three days running! 😅 Join us at the Salvation Army & Little Gym - because parenting is better with friends and actual hot drinks! ☕💕 More info and pricing here.

Sitwell Food Safari: Last few tickets left! 🍽️🥂 Calling all food lovers! 🔥 William Sitwell (yes, THE William Sitwell - editor, writer, broadcaster and restaurant critic extraordinaire) is bringing his FABULOUS Food Safari to our very own Harpenden on Friday, 20th June! 🗓️ This isn't just any old dinner, folks! 👀 The Sitwell team will be shining their culinary spotlight on some of our absolute BEST local spots - Vin Santo, Brad & Dills, The Silver Palate, The Silver Cup, and The Pudding Stop! 🍷🍔🍰 It's basically a food lover's dream crawl through town! The whole delicious affair is proudly sponsored by our friends at Whittaker & Co. 👏 Want the full menu details and tickets? Pop over to williamsitewell.com right now! Your taste buds will thank you later! 😋

🚒 Saturday 21st June - Sparkling Cars for a Sparkling Cause and Fine Dining! ✨

10:00am-2:00pm - Harpenden Fire Station Charity Car Wash 🚒✨ Bring your car down to the fire station for a proper professional clean! With a minimum donation of just £5, you'll be supporting the Fire Fighters Charity while getting your motor absolutely sparkling. Huge thanks to Milehams in Southdown for their generous donations! It's community spirit at its finest - your car gets pampered and our brave firefighters get the support they deserve. 🌟

Fine Dining Evening at Rothamsted Manor - £80 🍷 Ready for something truly special? Treat yourself to an exquisite evening of creative dishes, seasonal ingredients at their finest, and carefully selected wine pairings at the stunning Rothamsted Manor. This is fine dining at its absolute best - perfect for a romantic date night or celebrating something special!

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! 📱✨