Summer Fun in Full Swing! 🌞

The school holidays are officially here, and Harpenden is absolutely buzzing with excitement! 🎉 From fascinating museum exhibitions and quiz nights that'll test your grey matter, to African festivals, tango dancing, and puppet shows that'll delight the little ones - this week has something magical for everyone. Whether you're after morning coffee catch-ups, creative workshops, or evening entertainment, our lovely town is serving up a feast of fun that'll keep the whole family entertained. So grab your calendars and get ready for seven days of pure Harpenden brilliance! ✨

Thursday 24th July 🌟

10am-11am - Our brilliant emergency services heroes are invited to tuck into the Blue Light Breakfast at Lea Grange Care Home 🚑 Free tea, coffee and bacon rolls for our local lifesavers - what's not to love? Contact Sarah Hall on 01727 223600 if you'd like to know more.

10am-12pm - Business folk, assemble! 💼 At The George, it's Business Buzz Harpenden - the networking event with actual personality! No stuffy membership fees, just rock up (or book ahead) for £10 + VAT and mingle with the local business community. It happens every fourth Thursday, so mark those calendars!

11am-3pm - There's a fascinating new exhibition at The Harpenden Museum in The EMC celebrating the incredible life of George Hogg (1915-1945). This unsung hero might be little-known here in Harpenden, but he's absolutely legendary in China - we're talking statues in multiple cities! 🏛️ He saved 60 schoolboys by marching them 700 miles to safety from the invading Japanese army. What a story! Pop down to the lower floor of the EMC at Rothamsted Park (AL5 2FR) - they're open Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays.

8pm - The evening belongs to quiz enthusiasts for Quiz Night at The Harpenden Arms! 🧠 Get your team of up to 6 ready for some serious brain-teasing action - you know the drill: heated debates about B sides from the 70s, weather patterns, and plenty of "I KNEW that!" moments.

Friday 25th July 🎭

7pm-11pm - Music lovers, head to The George for their live musician night! 🎵 Nothing beats live music on a Friday evening to kick off your weekend in style - settle in with a drink and let the talented performer transport you into the perfect Friday night vibe!

Saturday 26th July ☕

9am-12pm - Rise and shine for the Coffee Morning at 50 Westfield Road! Free tea, coffee AND cakes - plus you can grab a free motorcycle monthly newspaper and spend a few hours chatting with some lovely bikers 🏍️ Open to absolutely everyone, so don't be shy!

12pm-10:30pm - The big excitement of the day is Zimfest at Herts Showground! 🎵 This African festival has grown into one of the biggest celebrations of its kind, showcasing Zimbabwe's incredible artistic and culinary cultures. It's family-friendly too, so bring everyone along for this unique musical adventure! Last entry is 7pm.

9:30pm-11:55pm - Night owls can catch Probable Cause (a fab 5-piece covers band) at The Plough & Harrow 🎸

Sunday 27th July 🌅

10am-2pm - Start your Sunday right with the Farmers Market - around 70 stalls packed with gorgeous food and drink! Perfect for a leisurely browse and some tasty treats 🥕

4pm-8pm - Tango lovers, this one's for you! 💃 Twilight's monthly Milonga at The Memorial Hall, Wheathampstead. All welcome to join this Social Argentine Tango Dance with traditional music, complimentary buffet, and a mini licensed bar. Free parking too - what more could you want?

5pm-7:30pm - St Nicholas Church is hosting Come and Sing Choral Evensong 🎼 Missing those beautiful harmonies? Can't commit to regular choir practice? Were you a chorister back in the day? This is absolutely perfect! Rehearse from 5-6pm, enjoy tea and a chat, then sing the Evensong service at 6:30pm. Wear whatever you like and email music@parishofharpenden to let them know you're coming (and your voice part).

Monday 28th July ☕

10:30am-12pm - Pop into Harpenden Library for their Coffee Morning - perfect for mid-morning caffeine and a good browse 📚

3:45pm-4:45pm - The afternoon gets creative with Lego Club at Harpenden Library! 🧱 Ages 5+ and £4.40 per session - but booking is absolutely essential, so don't leave it to chance!

Tuesday 29th July 🎪

2:15pm-2:45pm - Story lovers can enjoy StoryTime at the library 📖 All welcome, donations appreciated.

3pm-4:30pm - Crafty types should head to Harpenden Library for Craftea - their monthly coffee & craft social 🧶 Just bring whatever project you're working on and enjoy some lovely company!

3:30pm - The Eric Morecambe Centre presents "A Squash and A Squeeze" - a delightful musical adaptation perfect for ages 3-8! Follow the little old lady whose cosy cottage feels too small, and see if the wise old man's rather unusual solution involving a flappy, scratchy, greedy bunch of farmyard animals actually works! Beautiful puppets and enchanting songs guaranteed ✨

9pm - Quiz addicts get their fix with the Weekly Quiz at The Engineer! 🧠 Max 6 per team, £1 entry, and actual cash prizes - now we're talking!

Wednesday 30th July 🏗️

9:30am-11am - Early birds in the construction world should head to Harpenden Golf Club for The Construction Collective networking event! Property professionals, trades, builders, architects, interior designers - if you're connected to construction around St Albans, this is your crowd. £20 plus booking fees, but think of all those brilliant connections! 🤝

10:30am & 1:30pm - The Eric Morecambe Centre has two more showings of "A Squash and A Squeeze" - perfect if you missed Tuesday's performance or fancy seeing those adorable puppets again! 🎭

8pm - Quiz night enthusiasts, don't miss the Old Cock Inn's Monthly Pub Quiz! 🧠 It's the last Wednesday of the month, so gather your trivia dream team and head down for what's sure to be a brilliant evening of brain-bending questions and friendly competition. Nothing beats a proper pub quiz to round off the working week!

What a packed week ahead, Harpenden! See you out and about! 🌟

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! 📱✨