🌻 Summer Vibes & Village Thrills! 🌻

While half the town's probably building sandcastles in Cornwall and the other half is wondering why their lawn looks like the Sahara, we've still got plenty brewing in our lovely little corner of Hertfordshire! 🏖️ This week brings teddy bears' picnics, cricket on the Common, quiz night battles, and even a cheeky pop-up beach in St Albans (because apparently we can't escape sand anywhere!). Sure, it's a bit quieter during the summer hols, but fear not - we've got you covered with everything from farmyard musical mayhem to pottery painting zen sessions. Let's dive in! ☀️

Thursday 31st July

1:30pm & 3:30pm - Ready for some farmyard chaos? 🐷 The EMC is presenting "A Squash and A Squeeze" - a musical adventure that'll have your little ones (ages 3-8) giggling as they watch a little old lady deal with her "too small" cottage using some rather unconventional farmyard solutions! Beautiful puppets and catchy songs guaranteed to stick in your head for days! 🎭

8pm - The Harpenden Arms is hosting their brilliant weekly quiz! 🧠 Gather your dream team of up to 6 (so even your mates who make up half the answers can go) for some serious trivia warfare.

Friday 1st August

2pm - Fancy a roll-up? 🎳 No, not that kind! The Harpenden Bowling Club is hosting their weekly Friday shindig where 30+ members compete to see who can get closest to a tiny white ball. Head to Spenser Road (flat-soled trainers required - sorry, your Louboutins will have to stay home!) 👟

Saturday 2nd August

10:30am - Lions vs Australia - the final showdown! 🦁 Join the rugby crew at HRFC for breakfast rolls, hot drinks, and all the sporting drama on three big screens including that extra-large projector that makes you feel like you're right there in the action!

Also, if you're interested in getting the little ones into Mini's rugby, drop a line to [email protected] for some energetic Sunday fun! 🏉

11:00am - Cricket on the Common! 🏏 It's a proper Saturday sporting extravaganza as Harpenden's First XI take on Totteridge Millhillians CC right here on our lovely Harpenden Common. Pack a picnic, grab a deckchair, and enjoy some classic English cricket in the sunshine - there's something wonderfully timeless about the sound of leather on willow!

9pm-11:30pm - Rock out with Joyrider! 🎸 This 5-piece rock and pop covers band is hitting The Plough & Harrow, so dust off your air guitar skills and get ready for some proper toe-tapping action!

Sunday 3rd August

A quiet day in Harpenden so if you fancy a change of scenery…🏖️

St Albans has gone completely bonkers and created a Pop Up Beach right in the city centre! From 12pm today (then 10am-4pm daily until August 17th), Civic Close becomes your very own sandy paradise complete with buckets, spades, and faux ocean views. The kids will love it, and you can pretend you're somewhere tropical!

12pm-4pm - Art lovers, this one's for you! 🎨 The Young Creatives Art Exhibition is happening at Burston Garden Centre on N Orbital Road. Perfect for discovering the next Banksy (or at least some very impressive finger paintings)!

Monday 4th August

10:30am-12pm - Coffee Morning at Harpenden Library! ☕ Mid-morning caffeine fix combined with a good browse - what more could you want on a Monday morning?

3:45pm-4:45pm - Lego Club time! 🧱 If you've got a mini master builder aged 5+, this is their moment to shine at Harpenden Library. £4.40 per session and booking is essential - those bricks won't sort themselves!

Tuesday 5th August

2:15pm-2:45pm - StoryTime at Harpenden Library! 📖 All welcome for some literary magic - donations appreciated but not required to enjoy the tales!

9pm - Quiz night strikes again! 🧠 This time it's The Engineer's turn with their weekly brain-bender. Max 6 per team, £1 entry, and actual cash prizes - now we're talking!

Wednesday 6th August

11am-2pm - The Teddy Bears' Picnic is here! 🧸 Rothamsted Park transforms into teddy bear heaven for this beloved Harpenden tradition. Free activities galore including face painting, teddy bears' hospital (yes, that's a real thing!), outdoor games, and entertainment. It's basically Christmas morning for preschoolers and their furry friends!

3pm-5:30pm - Feeling creative? 🎨 Head to Glaze Time at The Cabin, Southdown for some therapeutic pottery painting. Perfect for a mindful afternoon with friends, family, or just some peaceful device-free time. Create something beautiful to treasure forever!

Ongoing Fun 📅

Don't forget about the FREE WWII Exhibition at Harpenden Museum (lower floor of the EMC) running until September 25th! 🎖️ Open Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays. Plus, there's a fascinating new exhibition celebrating George Hogg - a Harpenden hero who's practically unknown here but has statues all over China for his incredible story of rescuing 60 schoolboys during WWII. Mind-blowing stuff!

And book worms, the Summer Reading Challenge is still going strong at Harpenden Library! 📚 This year's "Story Garden Crew" theme is getting kids excited about reading all summer long. It's basically Pokémon but with books - collect stickers, go on reading quests, and become a literary legend!

That's your week sorted, Harpenden! From teddy bear picnics to quiz night glory, there's something for everyone. See you around town! 🌈

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! 📱✨