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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!
The Mum's guide to Harpenden Awards are back for 2019, bigger and better than ever! Voting has now closed so we are counting the votes ready for our Awards Reception where the winners will be announced.
Harpenden Child Contact Centre is a safe, friendly and neutral place where children from separated families can spend time with their parent who no longer lives at home with them (or sometimes other family members) and where problems have arisen in agreeing contact arrangements.
The Centre is well equipped with toys, games, art materials and facilities suitable for different age groups. HCCC makes no charge: refreshments are also offered free of charge.
HCCC is a registered charity and an accredited member of the National Association of Child Contact Centres. It is run by a management committee of trustees and two co-ordinators, and is staffed by volunteers. The Centre sessions take place at All Saints’ Church Hall in Station Road, Batford, Harpenden and is open on the 2nd and 4th Saturdays of each month from 1.00pm to 4.00pm.
Visit Harpenden Contact Centre website for more information. If you would like to use the Centre, or to know more about becoming a volunteer, member and/or trustee please contact one of the co-ordinators, Stephen Pam or Ken Brennan, on 07842 167767 or [email protected]; or our Chairman, Brigid Brennan, on 07881 785299 or [email protected].
After a lovely Awards ceremony on Friday 5th July with all our Finalists we can now reveal the full results of the 2019 Mum's guide to Harpenden Awards!
Thanks again to everyone who took part in voting, to all our Finalists for embracing the Awards, and to everyone who helped make the Awards night run smoothly, not least Harpenden Town Council and Deputy Mayor Mrs Nicola Linacre.
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Interactive Science Exhibition
1st July
- 8th September
Stockwood Discovery Centre, Luton
Burston Summer Garden and Sandpit
(FREE)
13th July
- 15th September
Burston Garden Centre, St Albans
Aylett Nurseries Butterfly Corner
(FREE)
13th July
- 15th September
Aylett Nurseries, St Albans
Hatfield House Community Day
(FREE)
20th July
Hatfield House, Hatfield
The Close-up Show
20th July
Hertford Theatre, Hertford
TrackPlay Harpenden
20th July
Roundwood Primary School, Harpenden
Shape your own Mini Sculpture
20th July
St Albans Museum & Gallery, St Albans
Afternoon Tea at Rothamsted Manor
21st July
Rothamsted Manor, Harpenden
Hip Hopperty Fun
21st July
Herring Green Activity Farm & Birds of Prey Centre, Wilstead
Meet Chase from Paw Patrol
21st July
Buckinghamshire Railway Centre, Aylesbury
Summer of Sport 2019
(FREE)
22nd July
- 30th August
Chiltern's Gateway Centre, Dunstable Downs, Dunstable
Showtime Circus Industry Intensive Workshop
22nd July
- 23rd July
Luton Hoo Walled Garden Marquee, Luton
Play in the Parks
(FREE)
23rd July
Redbourn Leisure Centre, Redbourn
Play in the Parks
(FREE)
23rd July
Rothamsted Park, by the Rose Gardens, Harpenden
Pond Dipping & Bog Books
23rd July
The Forest Centre, Marston Moretaine
Dinosaur Diets
23rd July
- 25th July
Tring Natural History Museum, Tring
Classics on the Common
(FREE)
24th July
Harpenden Common (outside the Public Halls), Harpenden
Play in the Parks
(FREE)
24th July
Marford Road Playing Fields, Wheathampstead
Summer Drop-in Arty Sessions
24th July
Artscape, Harpenden
If you are running a local event for families or children you can add the details to our site for free.
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!
If you thought June was packed, wait until you see what July has in store!
13th & 14th July is a busy weekend with a brand new event organised by Harpenden Town Council taking place in Lydekker Park on the Saturday. WildFest is all about getting up close to the nature that’s all around us. The day will include nature-related activities for all the family - and it’s free! And on the Sunday it’s and old favourite, the annual Highland Gathering in Rothamsted Park organised by Harpenden Lions in aid of various charities. Expect sporrans, cabers, chanters and ghillies (and if you don’t know what we’re talking about head to the Highland Gathering to find out!)
If all that wasn’t enough that same weekend is also Wheathampstead Village Weekend, including Wheathampstead’s Got Talent, Picnic on the Meads and Village Day.
If you missed it last time, TrackPlay are bringing their giant train tracks back to Roundwood Primary School on Saturday 20th July. Places must be booked in advance.
Watch out for a spectacle in Harpenden Town Centre on 24th July when thousands of classic cars and motorbikes will drive through the High Street and take pride of place on the common for another annual favourite Classics on the Common, organised by Harpenden Rotary Club. Pop down and have a look - entry is by donation.
To finish the month off, after the success of the first event last year, the Emergency Services Open Day is back on 27th July. Join our local first responders at Harpenden Fire Station for a day of fun, demonstrations and information.
A couple of events that begin this month and continue throughout the summer holidays are an Interactive Science Exhibition at Stockwood Discovery Centre, and the Butterfly Corner at Ayletts Nurseries, which is free.
And don’t forget the the Summer Reading Challenge begins on 13th July. Keep the children busy and reading all summer as they aim to read 6 books to collect their rewards and complete the challenge. Pop into Harpenden Library to register to join in the “Space Chase”.
Of course that’s just a fraction of what’s going on the month. Check out the rest on our What’s On page and get planning for the summer holidays!
Need some help deciding where to go and what to do? Read about the places we've tried and tested...
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