Welcome! From bumps to teens we have it covered.
This is your one-stop site for everything you need to know about living in Harpenden with children.
Advertising Feature by Club Excel
Families in Harpenden can look forward to an exciting and activity-packed Summer holidays as our holiday camp returns to St Hilda’s School from 27th July to 28th August.
Open to children in Pre School to Year 6, the camp offers an activity to suit every interest this Summer, giving children the chance to explore new hobbies, develop skills and enjoy time with friends during the school holidays.
For active children, Multi Sports camps provide energetic days filled with games, competitions and team challenges. Creative campers can take part in Performing Arts & Crafts, building confidence through drama, creativity and performance. Weather permitting, children booked onto these activities will get the option of daily swimming sessions in the pool as well as a session on our inflatables!
This Summer also sees the return of our Mini Camp programme, designed specifically for 3-4 year olds in their pre-school year. With smaller groups and age-appropriate activities, Mini Camp offers a gentle introduction to holiday camps while providing affordable childcare for families. Parents can use their excess 15/30 free hours when booking Mini Camp with us!
Mums’ Guide to Harpenden readers can also take advantage of an exclusive 20% off discount for new customers using the code HERTMUMSGUIDE20 when booking.
With such a wide range of activities available, the Summer Holidays at St Hilda’s Harpenden School promises a fun, inclusive environment where every child can find something they love this holiday.
Visit www.clubexcel.co.uk to book now!
Advertising Feature by Musicale
Will you be booking your children onto a holiday activity this summer that's inspiring, educational and genuinely fun? Musicale's acclaimed Holiday Music Courses in Harpenden offer children aged 5–18 the chance to develop their musical skills, build confidence and make new friends in a supportive, high-quality environment.
Courses running this summer:
🎵 Step Up to Music (ages 5–7)
A fun introduction to music through singing, rhythm games, instrument exploration and ensemble playing.
📆 27-31 July and 3-7 August
🎺 Orchestras & Wind Bands (ages 8–18)
For young musicians up to advanced level, playing in standard-appropriate ensembles with specialist tutors. This summer's team includes international soloist Sarah Williamson and West End performer Lully Bathurst
📆 27-31 July and 3-7 August
🎠Musical Theatre Course (ages 8–18)
A week-long production experience led by industry professionals, including West End star Emma Hatton & MD Steve Moss, ending with a staged show of High School Musical Jr.
📆 3-7 August
🎸 Musicale Rocks! (ages 11–18)
For aspiring band members, bringing together vocalists and instrumentalists to rehearse and perform popular rock and pop music with Matt Fishwick and Nat Chapman.
📆 3-7 August
Whether your child is taking their first musical steps or performing at a high level, Musicale's experienced tutors help every student grow in confidence, creativity and musical ability.
Places are limited. View dates, availability and booking information here: Holiday Music Courses in Harpenden | Musicale
Join in the 2026 Summer Reading Challenge
Looking for activities for your children this summer? Why not encourage your them to join the Summer Reading Challenge taking place at all libraries across Hertfordshire, including at Harpenden Library. This year's challenge launches on Saturday 4th July.
Children can pop into the library any time from Saturday 4th to join. This year's challenge theme is “Read to the Beat” - bringing together the power of reading and music.
After every 2 books read, children can return to the library to collect stickers to add to their sticker book and complete the challenge. Your child can borrow and read any books, e-Books and audiobooks of their choice in any genre they like: fiction, fact books, poetry, joke books, picture books and graphic novels all count. And for younger children sharing a book with parents and carers counts. You will find lots of inspiration in the library and on the Summer Reading Challenge website.
Children who read 6 books and complete the challenge by 5th September will receive a certificate and medal.
JugArte Harpenden, a community initiative created to support children with Hispanic roots in strengthening their identity, their language, and their cultural connection through art, play, music, have been running informal classes and one-off activities since October 2025.
They are now looking host formal classes at weekends from September 2026 and are looking to gauge interest. If your family has Spanish or Latin American heritage and you would be interested in finding our more you can complete their Expression of Interest Form.
Advertising Feature by Festival on the Field
After an amazing 2024 event, we’re thrilled to bring Harpenden’s favourite family festival back to the playing fields of Sir John Lawes School on Saturday 4th July 2026.
Expect a full day of live music, great food, family activities and festival fun for all ages....
🎶 Festival on the field are excited to announce that Massaoke will return once again to get Harpenden dancing and singing rock anthems out loud as our headline act.
🎶 You may have missed the Live ’25 tour, but you can definitely experience the feeling of being at an Oasis gig at Festival on the Field this year with Definitely Could Be Oasis.
🎶 Get ready to dance - this year, Festival on the Field is thrilled to welcome Ultimate Dua Lipa, performed by the incredible lookalike and soundalike Rachel!
🎶 We’re thrilled to welcome The Sum of Sheeran to the playing field at Sir John Lawes School this year! With extraordinary vocals that capture the sound of one of the greatest singer-songwriters of a generation, performer Tom Morrison brings Ed Sheeran’s beloved music to life.
🎶 Back for a second time to the Harpenden Festival on the Field, Totally Taylor by Melissa will thrill the Swifties of Harpenden with Taylor’s greatest hits and top tracks from the new album.
🎟 Grab your tickets here: www.festivalonthefield.co.uk
Draw with Rob Exhibition
(FREE)
27th March
- 20th September
St Albans Museum & Gallery, St Albans
Circus Zyair
17th June
- 21st June
Harpenden Common, Harpenden
Disco Night
(FREE)
19th June
Renwick Hall, Harpenden
Grove Schools' PTA Summer Festival
(FREE)
20th June
The Grove Infant & Junior School, Harpenden
Summer Evenings at the Zoo
20th June
Hertfordshire Zoo, Broxbourne
Tactile Explorers
(FREE)
20th June
Natural History Museum at Tring, Tring
Alban Day: Pilgrimage & Festival
(FREE)
20th June
St Albans Cathedral, St Albans
Father's Day Montessori Play (0-20m)
20th June
The Nest, St Albans
Father's Day Montessori Play (20m-4yrs)
20th June
The Nest, 17 Central Drive
Giraffe Gala Weekend
20th June
- 21st June
Woburn Safari Park, Woburn
Pizza & Pilates
20th June
Clarence Park, the field by Verdis, St Albans
Father's Day Weekend - Adults Go Free!*
20th June
- 21st June
Gulllivers Land Resort, Milton Keynes
Archery & Axe Throwing Experience
20th June
Celtic Harmony Camp, Brickendon
Pets as Therapy - Read 2 Dogs
(FREE)
20th June
Harpenden Library, Harpenden
Mini Beast Safari
21st June
Highfield Park Visitor Centre, St Albans
Meet Stick Man
21st June
Woburn Safari Park, Woburn
Medieval Jousting
21st June
Knebworth House & Gardens, Knebworth
Edge Outdoor Activities - Dads Go Free!
21st June
Edge Outdoor Activities, Ware
Summer Concert - Mozart's Requiem in D Minor K626
21st June
Our Lady of Lourdes RC Church, Harpenden
Dad's Go Free!
21st June
Willows Activity Farm, London Colney
Dads Go Free!
21st June
Aldenham Country Park, Elstree
Father's Day Hoedown
21st June
Lee Valley Animal Adventure Park, Waltham Abbey
Landies on the Lawn
21st June
Hatfield Park, Hatfield
Art in the Park - Graffiti Day
(FREE)
22nd June
- 23rd June
Rothamsted Park Stkatepark, Harpenden
Circus Zyair
17th June
- 21st June
Harpenden Common, Harpenden
Disco Night
(FREE)
19th June
Renwick Hall, Harpenden
Grove Schools' PTA Summer Festival
(FREE)
20th June
The Grove Infant & Junior School, Harpenden
Pets as Therapy - Read 2 Dogs
(FREE)
20th June
Harpenden Library, Harpenden
Summer Concert - Mozart's Requiem in D Minor K626
21st June
Our Lady of Lourdes RC Church, Harpenden
Art in the Park - Graffiti Day
(FREE)
22nd June
- 23rd June
Rothamsted Park Stkatepark, Harpenden
Skate Jam
(FREE)
26th June
Rothamsted Park Stkatepark, Harpenden
Family Baking Around the World Adventures
27th June
Discovery Den - High Beeches Primary School, Harpenden
St George's School Summer Fete
27th June
St George's School - Fields, Harpenden
Wood End School Summer Festival
27th June
Wood End School, Harpenden
Harpenden Farmer's Market
(FREE)
28th June
Lower High Street, Harpenden
The Harpenden BikeFest
28th June
Harpenden Common (opp British Legion), Harpenden
Choral Discoveries: Music from the New World
3rd July
St John's Church, Harpenden
Festival on the Field 2026
4th July
Sir John Lawes School, Harpenden
Art on the Common
4th July
- 5th July
Harpenden Common, Harpenden
Batford Community Festival
(FREE)
5th July
Porters Hill Park, Harpenden
Hurst Children's Theatre Group: Me & Ron
9th July
- 12th July
The Eric Morecambe Centre, Harpenden
Harpenden Lions Club Highland Gathering
12th July
Rothamsted Park, Harpenden
Classics on the Common
(FREE)
22nd July
Harpenden Common, Harpenden
Harpenden Farmer's Market
(FREE)
26th July
Lower High Street, Harpenden
Summer Sessions - Children's Theatre
(FREE)
31st July
Rothamsted Park, Harpenden
Teddy Bear's Picnic
(FREE)
5th August
Rothamsted Park, Harpenden
Summer Sessions - Friday Sounds
(FREE)
7th August
Harpenden Common, Harpenden
Summer Sessions - Street Performer Angie Mack
(FREE)
15th August
Church Green, Harpenden
Summer Sessions - Pop-up Farm
(FREE)
18th August
Rothamsted Park, Harpenden
Why not browse through some of the listings we have recently added to the site...