Hello, Harpenden neighbors! 👋

As February bids us farewell with its final drizzly days, we're welcoming March with open arms and a cautious optimism that perhaps—just perhaps—we might be able to retire our heaviest coats to the back of the wardrobe! 🧥➡️🌷

The first hints of spring are teasing us around town: daffodils nodding along the Common, slightly longer evenings tempting us to linger outdoors, and the occasional brave soul sporting sunglasses on what we'll generously call "sunny" days. ☀️

This month's newsletter is bursting with events that will coax you out of winter hibernation. From toe-tapping live music to mind-expanding cultural events, Harpenden is shaking off the winter blues and embracing the promise of spring with typical enthusiasm. After all, there's nothing quite like the British excitement over temperatures creeping into double digits! 🌡️

Here's to longer days, lighter hearts, and the lovely community spirit that makes Harpenden bloom year-round! 💐

Happy March, everyone!

What's On in Harpenden: Your Cheeky Guide to Local Happenings! 🎉

The George 🍻

Strike up the weekend right with Live Musicians every Friday (7-11pm) 🎸 and shake what your mother gave you with DJs spinning tunes every Saturday (8pm-1am) 💃🎧. Your hangover? That's a future-you problem! 😴

New Moon - Hormone Reset Mini Retreat 🌙

Friday 28th Feb, 7-9:30pm at The Kinsbourne Barn Reset more than just your Netflix password this month! ✨ This mini retreat promises to help you tune those hormonal harmonies. Book at rebeccaedelman.co.uk while your estrogen (or testosterone) levels are still feeling generous! 🧘‍♀️

OASIZ at The EMC 🎤

Friday 28th Feb, 7:30pm, £24 Definitely maybe the UK's most authentic Oasis tribute band celebrating 30 years of "What's the Story Morning Glory." 🎵 Under 18s must be accompanied by an adult who's prepared to explain what the 90s were actually like. 👨‍👧

Harpenden Choral Society 🎶

Saturday 1st March, 1:30-6pm, High Street Methodist Church, £20 Come and Sing Mozart's Requiem! It's like karaoke, but classier, and Mozart won't mind how you interpret his masterpiece. 🎭

Southdown Performing Arts Centre Ceilidh 💃

Saturday 1st March Barn Dance with the Brookfield Band - where "I don't know the steps" quickly turns into "I am the steps!" 🕺 Adults £12, concessions £8, children £3 via ticketsource.co.uk/southdownspace.

The Plough and Harrow Live Music 🎸

Saturday 1st March, 9:30pm The X-Certs will be covering hits from the 60s to the 90s. Your chance to relive four decades of music without the questionable fashion choices! 👗👖

Redbourn Golf Club Sunday Carvery 🍽️

First Sunday of every month, 12-2:30pm Come for the golf ⛳, stay for the gravy! The perfect excuse to eat Yorkshire puddings the size of your head. 🍲

The EMC - Black Is The Colour Of My Voice 🎵

Monday 3rd March, 7:30pm, £26 Inspired by the legendary Nina Simone, this show features her most iconic songs performed live. Perfect for jazz fans and people who want to impress their dates with cultural sophistication! 🎹 Ages 12+.

Miles Jupp at The EMC 😂

Tuesday 4th March, 7:30pm, £26.50 The comedian's tour "On I Bang" promises tales of surprise, fear, luck, love, and people with actual medical degrees. Laughter is the best medicine (though antibiotics are pretty good too). 🤣

The Harpenden Collective Run Club 🏃‍♀️

Wednesday 5th March, 12pm For all abilities - from "I ran for the bus once" to "I could outpace a cheetah." Free for members and non-members. More info at theharpendencollective.co.uk/events. 👟

The Red Cow Monthly Pub Quiz 🧠

First Wednesday of the month, 8pm Exercise the muscle between your ears! Show off that useless trivia you've been storing since 1997. 🍺

Citizens Advice St Albans District 📋

Mondays, 10am-1pm at The Salvation Army on Leyton Green Getting advice has never been more convenient (except on bank holidays, when you'll have to muddle through your problems alone). 💼

📚 Library Corner: Harpenden's Literary Lounge! 📚

Century Celebrations! 🎂

28th February marks a whopping 100 years of countywide library service in Hertfordshire! That's a century of shushing, stamping, and spreading the joy of reading! 🥳 Here's to 100 more years of book-borrowing bliss! Here’s just a taste of what else they have to offer at our local library:

Harpenden Library IT Champions 💻

Baffled by browsers? Perplexed by PCs? Our digital heroes are here to rescue you from the technological wilderness! These tech-savvy volunteers will help beginners use computers, fill in those pesky online forms, or tackle any digital dilemmas you're facing.

When to find them:

• Mondays & Thursdays: 10am - 12pm 🕙

• Tuesdays & Fridays: 2:30pm - 4pm 🕝

No judgment, just help—because everyone has asked "Is this where I turn it on?" at least once! 😅

Pets as Therapy Read2Dogs Sessions 🐶

Imagine reading your favorite story to the most attentive, non-judgmental audience ever—adorable therapy dogs! Children can enjoy special 15-minute sessions reading to our four-legged literacy lovers.

🐾 Ask at the enquiry desk for upcoming dates—these popular sessions are truly something to bark about!

⚽ LOCAL MATCH ALERT! ⚽

Harpenden Town vs Baldock Town Saturday, KO 3pm at Rothamsted Park

The battle of the Towns comes to Harpenden this weekend! 🏆 Our local heroes take on Baldock in what promises to be a nail-biting clash at Rothamsted Park. Come down and show your support for the home team as they fight for crucial league points!

Bring your voices, your scarves, and your unwavering hometown pride as Harpenden aims to defend our turf against our rivals. Rain or shine, the beautiful game goes on – and with spring in the air, there's no better time to enjoy some proper grassroots football! ⚽

Will it be glory for Harpenden or heartbreak? Only one way to find out! See you on the sidelines! 👏

🚦 TRAVEL ALERT: Roadwork Obstacle Course! 🚦

Planning to catch the big match? You might need to leave earlier than usual! 😩 Our town is currently competing for the "Most Temporary Traffic Lights in a Five Mile Radius" award, with roadworks popping up faster than daffodils this spring!

Allow extra time for your journey, practice your deep breathing exercises, and remember that every red light is just another opportunity to perfect your in-car karaoke skills! 🎵

🚫 RAIL DISRUPTION WARNING 🚫

Weekend Engineering Works: Saturday & Sunday Planning a train trip this weekend? Think again! 🚂❌ Engineering work between Mill Hill Broadway and Luton means ALL LINES will be CLOSED. Replacement buses will be running (and by "running" we mean "crawling through the aforementioned roadworks").

The perfect storm of transport chaos means you might actually arrive at your destination faster by carrier pigeon! But hey, at least you'll get your steps in walking to the bus stop! 👟

Local tip: Consider staying in Harpenden this weekend - we have plenty going on, and your blood pressure will thank you! 🙏

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! ✨