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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. We're number one for information about what's on, things to do and children's activities locally!
Get in touch if you would like to list your business, or add your event to the What’s On page.
Interactive Science Exhibition
1st July
- 8th September
Stockwood Discovery Centre, Luton
Summer Garden and Sandpit
(FREE)
13th July
- 15th September
Burston Garden Centre, St Albans
Butterfly Corner
(FREE)
13th July
- 15th September
Aylett Nurseries, St Albans
Summer Spectacular
20th July
- 1st September
Willows Activity Farm, London Colney
Get Hands-on with History
20th July
- 24th August
Wrest Park, Luton
Summer of Sport 2019
(FREE)
22nd July
- 30th August
Chiltern's Gateway Centre, Dunstable Downs, Dunstable
Family Summer Trail: Nature Pirates
26th July
- 1st September
RSPB Rye Meads, Stansted Abbotts
Comics & Comic Books Promotion
5th August
- 17th August
Oxfam Books & Music, Harpenden
Waddesdon's Summer of Sport
14th August
- 18th August
Waddesdon Manor, Aylesbury
Ragged Victorians
17th August
- 18th August
Chiltern Open Air Museum, Chalfont St Giles
PYO Sunflowers and Sweetcorn
(FREE)
17th August
- 1st September
The Pop Up Farm, M1 Junction 9
Van Hage Summer Circus
17th August
- 26th August
Van Hage Garden Centre, Ware
Batford Springs Open Day
(FREE)
17th August
Batford Springs, Harpenden
Flower Farmers' Tea Party
(FREE)
17th August
Plot 31 Community Garden, Harpenden
Beautiful Alice Festival
17th August
The Gate, Bricket Wood, St Albans
Zog Storytime
(FREE)
17th August
Harpenden Library, Harpenden
Afternoon Tea at Rothamsted Manor
18th August
Rothamsted Manor, Harpenden
Fire Engines & Marshall from Paw Patrol
18th August
Buckinghamshire Railway Centre, Aylesbury
Meet Chase from Paw Patrol
18th August
Woburn Safari Park, Milton Keynes
Professor Nitrate's Test Zone
18th August
- 21st August
Royal Gunpowder Mills, Waltham Abbey
Toy Story Inspired Artventurers Holiday Class
19th August
Harpenden Public Halls, Harpenden
Celebration of Birds - Kids Outdoor Crafts
19th August
The Forest Centre, Marston Moretaine
Minibeast Mondays
19th August
RSPB Rye Meads, Stansted Abbotts
Pixie Door Trail
19th August
Forest of Marston Vale, Marston Moretaine
Pond Dipping & Bog Books
19th August
Forest of Marston Vale, Marston Moretaine
Dino Babies & Magic Show
19th August
- 23rd August
Standalone Farm, Letchworth Garden City
Paper Plate Pals
(FREE)
19th August
- 23rd August
Aylett Nurseries, St Albans
Pine Cone Critters
19th August
Welwyn Roman Baths, Welwyn Bypass
Drop-in Paper Crafting Sessions
19th August
- 23rd August
Frogmore Paper Mill, Hemel Hempstead
Play in the Parks
(FREE)
20th August
Rothamsted Park, by the Rose Gardens, Harpenden
Terrific Tuesdays
20th August
Chiltern Open Air Museum, Chalfont St Giles
Play in the Parks
(FREE)
20th August
Redbourn Leisure Centre, Redbourn
Family Activities - D-Day Machines
20th August
- 22nd August
Bletchley Park, Bletchley
Dinosaur Defences
20th August
- 22nd August
Tring Natural History Museum, Tring
Pixie Door Trail
20th August
Forest of Marston Vale, Marston Moretaine
Ashridge Adventurers
20th August
Ashridge Estate, Ringshall, Nr Berkhamsted
Tremendous Trees
20th August
Mill Green Museum, Hatfield
Hands-on with Hepworth
21st August
St Albans Museum & Gallery, St Albans
S.T.E.A.M Activity Day - Arts
21st August
- 22nd August
British Schools Museum, Hitchin
Play in the Parks
(FREE)
21st August
Marford Road Playing Fields, Wheathampstead
Ranger Ria
21st August
Herring Green Activity Farm & Birds of Prey Centre, Wilstead
Teddy Bear Fun Day
21st August
Mill Green Museum, Hatfield
Alice in Wonderland - Open Air Theatre
21st August
Hatfield Park, Hatfield
Theatre in the Park - Alice In Wonderland
21st August
Hatfield Park, Hatfield House, Hatfield
Pixie Door Trail
21st August
Forest of Marston Vale, Marston Moretaine
Waddesdon's Summer of Sport
21st August
- 25th August
Waddesdon Manor, Aylesbury
Play in the Parks
(FREE)
22nd August
Marquis Lane Open Space, Harpenden
Family Discovery Morning: Victorious Victorians
(FREE)
22nd August
St Albans Cathedral, St Albans
Back to Nature
22nd August
Herring Green Activity Farm & Birds of Prey Centre, Wilstead
Pixie Door Trail
22nd August
Forest of Marston Vale, Marston Moretaine
Ashridge Adventurers
22nd August
Ashridge Estate, Ringshall, Nr Berkhamsted
People of the World
22nd August
Mill Green Museum, Hatfield
Meraki Festival
23rd August
- 25th August
Hertfordshire County Showground, Dunstable Road
Summer Fun Fair
23rd August
- 26th August
Harpenden Common, Harpenden
Pixie Door Trail
23rd August
Forest of Marston Vale, Marston Moretaine
If you are running a local event for families or children you can add the details to our site for free.
These are quite shocking statistics and includes families in our area. If you can help by donating some items to the foodbank next time you are out shopping them please have a look at their website to see what items they are most in need of and add something extra to your shopping basket. Donations can be left at the drop-off boxes in Sainsburys and Waitrose.
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This year’s Summer Reading Challenge has a Space theme. It all blasts off on Saturday 13th July and is free to take part. Children can pop into Harpenden Library any time from then to register to take part. They have to try to read 6 books over the summer (they don’t have to be about space), return to the library to tell them about what they’ve read and collect stickers to add to their Space Chart. Collect all the stickers to complete the challenge and be entered into a prize draw to meet author Steve Cole!
New Cycle Map for St Albans District
Getting out and about, keeping active and entertaining the children during the summer holidays doesn't have to cost the earth! St Albans District have recently published a new cycle map showing the National Cycle Networks within the District and a section of the 170-mile Chiltern Cycleway. Pick it up from cycling shops, leisure centres, St Albans Museums and Council offices, or download it from the District Council website and get on your bike!
Summer holidays can be a drain on the purse, so for our August Monthly Picks we thought we’d pick out what’s FREE this month.
On 1st August Harpenden Library are taking over the concourse outside the library with their Favourite Toys Family Fun Day. Drop by to enjoy old toys, outdoor games and their reminiscence boxes.
On Sunday 4th August Rothamsted Conference Centre are also holding a Family Fun Day. This is free to attend, but you do have to register your place in advance! With kids & teen movies, art & crafts, science activities, bouncy castle and more it sounds like a packed day.
Play in the Parks is back for the summer - Tuesday mornings at Rothamsted Park, Tuesday afternoons at Redbourn Leisure Centre, Wednesday mornings at Marford Road and Thursday afternoons at Marquis Lane. No need to book, just turn up. This is suitable for 3-12 but parents of under 8s will need to stay with them.
Wednesday 7th August is the annual Teddy Bear’s Picnic in Lydekker Park. Pack a picnic and bring teddy along to enjoy theatre fun with Imajica Theatre, wildlife activities, Teddy hospital, punch castle and more!
Every Thursday during August St Albans Cathedral is running its Family Discovery Mornings featuring a themed trail around the Cathedral and a craft activity. Each week focuses on a different era - Romans, Victorians, Saxons and Tudors.
On 15th August drop into St Albans Museum and help artist Jo Hammond create a giant junk sculpture.
On 17th August head to Batford Springs Nature Reserve for their Open Day where you can search for minibeasts and butterflies, meet the rangers and go on a tour.
There's also free entry to the Pop-up Farm from 17th August though we can't guarantee that you won't be able to resist picking some sunflowers and sweetcorn! There's also a bale maze and sunflower trail. Please check the website to confirm opening dates and times as these will be dependent on the crop.
Return to Lydekker Park on 28th August for Harpenden Conservation Day where you can help build new homes for wildlife. This is a drop-in event, but there will be a limited supply of resources.
There are also a some free activities running daily this month:
So there you have it! Make the most of these free events this August and you won’t have to break the bank to keep the children busy, entertained. And don’t forget to look at the places and activities that are always free on our Things To Do page for more ideas.
Need some help deciding where to go and what to do? Read about the places we've tried and tested...
Why not browse through some of the listings we have recently added to the site...
Activities, clubs & classes
Flippers Swim SchoolMore businesses
Flow pressure washingHealth & Wellbeing
Preparing for Baby Course - St Albans Family Centre ServiceHoliday clubs & classes
Chiltern Open Air Museum - Archaeological DigThings to do
Ashridge Horse TrekkingIf you are a local business/organistation you can add your listing to our site for free.
OK, so maybe the second week is the most challenging. All the excitement of not being at school is waning and children have relentless energy. So it was definitely time to wear them out with a day at Orbital Trampoline Park Luton’s summer camp. For just £5 more than the usual entry fee the children can bounce for SIX hours which sounded like an absolute bargain. I took along the 11 & 8 year olds who had a jumptastic day. After warming up on the freestyle trampolines they were let loose to explore the rest of the park including the ninja warrior, gladiator beams, the climbing wall and the foam pits (unfortunately Meltdown wasn’t working but kids don’t hold a grudge!). They were especially excited to be given access to the performance trampolines and taught some basic moves like ‘swivel hips’ (yep, I’m not sure either…!?) “Super-friendly, kind staff” (according to my sensitive 8 yr old) and exhausted happy children gave Orbital the Big Thumbs Up from the MGTH Kids this week.
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