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This is your one-stop site for everything you need to know about living in Harpenden with children.
Advertising Feature by Musicale
Don’t book your summer holiday just yet! Musicale Summer Holiday Courses only run for two weeks in the summer and you don’t want to miss out on our EARLY BIRD offer. From 21 July 2025, every young musician from pre-grade 1 up to diploma level, aged 8-18, will have the opportunity to explore all genres of music in orchestras and wind bands and make life-long friends. Book your place before 31st December 2024 and pay last summer’s price!
Mini musicians, aged 5-7, enjoy musical games, stories and compositions, an introduction to playing a range of instruments as well as art & craft, outdoor games and lots of other fun musical activities.
Musical theatre enthusiasts, age 8-18, will be putting on a production of Sister Act Jr in a week from 28 July. Don’t think this is just for girls! There are just as many parts for the boys and… NEWS FLASH! One of the male Musicale alumni from our Matilda and Annie Jr courses is now performing in the West End!
The music courses, aged 8-18, are an open opportunity for every young musician. The students are grouped in various ensembles according to age and ability and music is then chosen to challenge everyone. The tutors are all professional musicians who work with top international orchestras, ensembles and theatre companies.
Please visit our website for more information and to book: www.musicale.co.uk
Lovely comments from previous course attendees:
“Enormous thank you to the team at Musicale for the amazing week.. The quality of the course was incredible… Huge credit to the team for their wonderful inclusivity and heartfelt thanks for the inspiration and guidance they offered”
“Kids absolutely loved it, so did we. Thank you for everything you do with bringing music to life”
“another absolutely brilliant week at Musicale. I was completely blown away by the final performance.”
“Musicale summer course is helping her both musically and socially. For which I’m very thankful, she has had such a good week.”
“A MUST! The world needs what they offer like never before.”
The votes have been counted, checked and verified, and we are delighted to announce the results of our 2024 Awards! A huge thanks to everyone who took part whether it was in the nominations stage, the voting stage or both. And thanks to all the businesses who got involved and embraced it.
🌟 Best Activity Class or Group for Under 5s
WINNER: The Little Gym Harpenden
RUNNER-UP: Funnybones Music
🌟 Best Activity Class or Group for School-age Children
WINNER: Harpenden Colts Football Club
RUNNER-UP: Hurst Children's Theatre Group
🌟 Best Holiday Club or Class
JOINT WINNER: FizzBug
JOINT WINNER: The Little Gym Harpenden
RUNNER-UP: ArtShed!
🌟 Best Pre/Post-natal Support Service
WINNER: Zing Wellness
RUNNER-UP: Body Mechanix
🌟 Best Party and Celebrations Provider
WINNER: The Little Gym Harpenden
RUNNER-UP: Feeding Time
🌟 Most Family-friendly Café/Restaurant/Pub
WINNER: Brad & Dills
RUNNER-UP: The Waffle House (Harpenden)
🌟 Best Local Independent Business
WINNER: Threads
RUNNER-UP: Artscape
🌟 Best Local Event
WINNER: Harpenden Christmas Carnival
RUNNER-UP: Festival on the Field
Congratulations everyone!
New Banking Hub for Harpenden
Harpenden Town Council has announced that the new Harpenden Banking Hub will open on 11th December 2024, initially as an Interim Banking Hub at the Town Hall, on Leyton Road, while its permanent premises on the High Street is finalised.
Residents, business, voluntary and community organisations are urged to use the interim Banking Hub in the same way as their own bank. Cash withdrawals, opening an account, paying in cheques, financial advice and all other services are available Monday to Friday between 9am and 5pm.
Further information regarding the permanent Banking Hub location will be announced when agreements are in place.
A downloadable leaflet is available on the Harpenden Town Council website. Printed copies of the leaflet are also available from the Town Hall.
Hertfordshire Libraries have launched Winter Reads, a series of exciting reading challenges and events for all ages, taking place across Hertfordshire libraries until the end of January.
There are separate challenge for adults and children and you can either work through the challenges set, or change them to suit yourself.
❄️ Pick up your challenge materials from your local library. Adults will get a Winter Reads bookmark and children receive a Winter Reads challenge card.
❄️ Complete and record your challenges on your bookmark or challenge card.
❄️ Return to your local library to get a stamp for each completed challenge.
Once you've finished 6 challenges you’ll be entered into a prize draw to win an iPad (plus other fantastic runners-up prizes).
As well as being a great way to explore new books, authors and genres, Winter Reads is a brilliant opportunity to read together as a family or with friends.
Sleeping Beauty
7th December
- 30th December
The Eric Morecambe Centre, Harpenden
Family Friendly New Years Eve Party
31st December
Aldwickbury Park Golf club, Harpenden
New Year's Day Duck Race
1st January
The Marquis of Granby Pub, Harpenden
Ballet Bootcamp With Balls for Warchild
4th January
St Johns Church Hall, Harpenden
75th Harpenden & Wheathampstead Gang Show
14th January
- 18th January
The Eric Morecambe Centre, Harpenden
The Mum Club St Albans - Harpenden Brunch
23rd January
The George of Harpenden, Harpenden
Dick Whittington
23rd January
- 26th January
The Eric Morecambe Centre, Harpenden
The Teenage Brain (&how to survive it!)
30th January
High Street Methodist Church, Harpenden
Ashridge House Illuminated
29th November
- 1st January
Ashridge House, Berkhamsted
Aladdin
30th November
- 31st December
Watford Palace Theatre, Watford
A Christmas Carol
30th November
- 29th December
The Roman Theatre of Verulamium, St Albans
Family trail: Chaos at Christmas
5th December
- 31st December
Dunstable Downs, Dunstable
Beauty and the Beast
6th December
- 5th January
Grove Theatre, Dunstable
Sleeping Beauty
7th December
- 30th December
The Eric Morecambe Centre, Harpenden
Cinderella
12th December
- 12th January
The Alban Arena, St Albans
Sleeping Beauty
12th December
- 5th January
Campus West, Welwyn Garden City
The Naughty Elf Trail
20th December
- 5th January
Jordans Mill, Biggleswade
Winter Arts and Crafts at Rye Meads
21st December
- 2nd January
RSPB Rye Meads, Stanstead Abbotts
Christmas Reindeer Search
(FREE)
21st December
- 29th December
Stanborough Park, Welwyn
Van Hage Christmas Circus
21st December
- 5th January
Van Hage Garden Centre, Great Amwell
Cinderella and the Glass Slipper
26th December
- 1st January
BEAM Hertford, Hertford
Narnia at Wrest Park
27th December
- 31st December
Wrest Park, Silsoe
The Railway Children
27th December
- 28th December
Abbey Theatre, St Albans
Puss In Boots
27th December
- 29th December
Sandpit Theatre, St Albans
The Elves and the Jingle Bell Ball
28th December
- 31st December
The British Schools Museum, Hitchin
Post-Christmas Gentle Stroll
29th December
Dunstable Downs, Dunstable
Family Friendly New Years Eve Party
31st December
Aldwickbury Park Golf club, Harpenden
New Year's Day Duck Race
1st January
The Marquis of Granby Pub, Harpenden
Here's the latest recommendations from our visitors and followers. Click on the business name to find out more. If you'd like to add a recommendation for a business or organisation search for their listing here on the site and click on the Leave a recommendation button.
Mini Professors Science Classes
"Delightful class for little ones. Fun, factual, interesting and hands on"
"Well stocked local art supplies shop with multiple choices and friendly service. Very good picture mount / framing service across all sizes, with good turnaround times. I have had 15 pictures framed (9 of them under glass) so far."
"Wow fabulous class to introduce little ones to all sorts of arts and crafts. Small classes so personal touch and everything is provided and no mess for you to clean up. Just a happy child ."
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