🎪 SUMMER'S GRAND FINALE STARTS NOW! 🌻

The summer holidays are about to explode into their most spectacular week yet! 🌟 We've got a dazzling five-day funfair rolling into town, Thursday's farm-themed fun morphing into Monday's magnificent Sunflower Festival extravaganza, plus quiz battles, live music, and enough family adventures to make these final summer days absolutely legendary! From puppet workshops to patio parties, karaoke nights to farmers markets - Harpenden's pulling out all the stops to send summer off in style! ✨

Thursday 21st August

9:30am-12:00pm - Games & Glue at High Street Methodist Church is serving up farm-themed fun this week! 🐄 Primary school kids can dive into agricultural crafts and games for just £2, while the little preschoolers enjoy their own free play area. There's even a puppet workshop where they can learn some new theatrical skills - who knows, you might discover the next generation's finest puppeteer! Plus Wesley's community cafe will be serving refreshments to keep the grown-ups caffeinated. Don't forget the optional pay-what-you-can picnic lunch - just order by 11:15am and you're sorted for the day!

5pm onwards - The Summer Funfair kicks off its fabulous five-day run at its Thursday location! 🎪 They're offering happy hour during the first hour of opening each day, so get there early for the best ride deals. It's the perfect timing for after-school thrills and cotton candy adventures!

8pm - Quiz Night at The Harpenden Arms transforms your Thursday into a battlefield of wits! 🧠 Gather your dream team of up to 6 brainy buddies for some seriously competitive trivia action. Will your team reign supreme or will you be drowning your sorrows in excellent pub grub?

Friday 22nd August

10:00am-12:00pm - Stay & Play at High Street Methodist Church welcomes under 5s for completely free fun every Friday throughout August! 🧸 It's not just for the tiny tots either - older siblings get lego building challenges and other activities to keep them entertained. Perfect for parents wanting a relaxed morning with zero entry fees and maximum entertainment value!

2pm onwards - Summer Funfair switches to its weekend schedule with earlier opening times for maximum family fun! 🎡 More time for candy floss, carousel rides, and that slightly queasy but utterly delightful feeling after one too many spins.

7-11pm - Live Musicians take the stage at The George for your perfect Friday night soundtrack! 🎵 Nothing beats live music to kick off the weekend - whether you're settling in for a quiet drink or gearing up for a proper Friday night celebration.

Saturday 23rd August

12noon-4pm - Music in Lydekker beckons with your picnic blanket and deckchairs for an afternoon of gorgeous live tunes! 🎼 Pack your favourite sandwiches and soak up the atmosphere, with refreshments available if you can't be bothered to make your own. It's the quintessentially British way to spend a Saturday afternoon!

2pm onwards - Summer Funfair keeps the weekend thrills rolling with full weekend opening hours! 🎠 Perfect for working off that picnic lunch with some gentle (or not so gentle) fairground excitement.

8:30pm - Karaoke with Jewels at Three Blackbirds, Flamstead - time to unleash your inner superstar! 🎤 Whether you're a bathroom singer ready for the big stage or a seasoned karaoke warrior, Jewels will have you belting out classics like you're headlining Glastonbury!

9:30pm-midnight - DeLorean brings their brilliant 5-piece rock covers to The Plough & Harrow! 🎸 These guys know how to get a crowd moving with their fantastic rock repertoire - perfect for a Saturday night that demands proper live music and possibly some questionable dance moves.

Sunday 24th August

10am-2pm - The Farmers Market transforms the area with around 70 amazing stalls packed with the most delicious local food and drink! 🥕🍯 From artisan breads to local honey, craft beers to organic vegetables, it's a foodie paradise. Perfect for stocking up on treats and supporting local producers while enjoying the bustling Sunday market atmosphere.

12pm onwards - The Silver Cup fires up their Bank Holiday BBQ Party with live music to get the celebrations started! 🍖🎵 Nothing says bank holiday weekend like sizzling burgers, cold drinks, and toe-tapping tunes in the sunshine. The perfect way to fuel up for the rest of your Sunday adventures!

2pm onwards - Summer Funfair continues its weekend spectacular with full opening hours! 🎪 Last chance to grab those weekend deals before Monday's bank holiday finale.

5pm till late - Party on the Patio at The George for Sunday night shenanigans! 🎉 Why should Friday and Saturday have all the fun? The George knows how to extend the weekend with their brilliant patio party atmosphere.

Monday 25th August - Bank Holiday

All day - Sunflower Festival at The Pop up Farm is absolutely blooming gorgeous! 🌻 They've gone all out for 2025 with incredible new features: a stunning sunflower arch for perfect photos, giant 3D numbers, and the most adorable swing seat attached to an actual tractor! There's also a beautifully decorated bicycle and an extra piano in the field for those spontaneous musical moments. New games include sunflowers and crosses, a magical bubble station, and an exciting horseshoe throwing game. Don't miss their spectacular 7-acre sunflower trail that's bursting into full bloom, plus you can conquer the massive Big Bales Stack - covering a whole acre of huge oat and wheat straw bales from their local farm. Climb to the summit for glorious sunflower views, then tackle the circuit at base camp!

2pm onwards - Summer Funfair's grand finale day with full bank holiday opening hours! 🎡 Make the most of the last day of this fantastic five-day fairground extravaganza.

Tuesday 26th August

2:15-2:45pm - StoryTime at Harpenden Library welcomes readers of all ages for literary adventures! 📖 It's a lovely gentle way to ease back into the week after the bank holiday excitement. Everyone's welcome and donations are appreciated to keep these wonderful community sessions running.

3:00pm-4:30pm - Craftea at Harpenden Library is the perfect monthly crafty catch-up! ☕🧶 It's the last Tuesday of the month, so bring your current knitting, sewing, or whatever project you're working on, and enjoy a proper chat over a cuppa with fellow crafters. Completely free drop-in session - everyone's welcome, and donations are appreciated to keep the tea flowing!

9pm - Weekly Quiz at The Engineer with £1 entry, cash prizes, and maximum 6 per team! 💰🧠 Shake off those bank holiday cobwebs with some serious brain training and the chance to win actual money while you're at it!

Wednesday 27th August

10:30am-1pm - Pottery painting session with Glaze Time at Inn on the Green, Leyton Road is perfect for creating lasting memories or gorgeous gifts! 🎨 Book a table to share with friends or bring the children for some therapeutic creative time. These Wednesday sessions run every week, and while they're drop-in friendly, booking is definitely recommended to avoid disappointment - nothing worse than turning up paint-brush ready only to find no space!

8pm - The Amble Inn Quiz kicks off for midweek brain training! 🧠 Because why should Tuesday have all the quiz fun? Perfect for maintaining that mental sharpness throughout the week.

Ongoing Treats: The absolutely FREE WWII Exhibition and fascinating George Hogg Exhibition continue at Harpenden Museum (EMC lower floor) until September 25th! 🎖️ The George Hogg story is particularly incredible - this Harpenden man is virtually unknown here but celebrated as a hero in China for marching 60 schoolboys 700 miles to safety from the Japanese invasion. Open Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays.

The Summer Reading Challenge "Story Garden Crew" is still blooming brilliantly at the library - like Pokémon but with books! 📚 

Plus rugby enthusiasts of all ages can still contact [email protected] to get involved with this fantastic local club! 🏉

Looking Ahead: Friday 30th August, 3:30pm & 7:30pm - This is absolutely unmissable! Harpenden's own Dom Childs is co-presenting Supernova Spectaculars at Bedford Corn Exchange! 🚀 It's a completely mind-blowing sci-fi orchestra experience featuring the London Cinematic Orchestra performing iconic soundtracks from Star Wars, Interstellar, Minority Report, Star Trek, and Independence Day. But this isn't your typical stuffy classical concert - we're talking 3D holographic wizardry, flashing lights, pulsating strobes, and laser beams dancing through the air! It's designed more like a pulsating rock concert than a formal classical affair, welcoming everyone from seasoned concert-goers to wide-eyed newcomers. The stellar lineup includes top UK talents like trumpeter Mike Lovatt, whose sound has graced countless film scores. Prepare to be launched into a galaxy of wonder! ✨

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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