If you want to get into the Christmas spirit, you won't have to travel far. There's so much going on in Harpenden in preparation and celebration of the big day!   Keep an eye on this article as we'll keep adding more, and don't forget this is just what's going on here in Harpenden.  Take a look at our What's On page for details of more events and activities in the surrounding area.

🎄Christmas Lights

26th Nov: The big event in town - Harpenden Christmas Carnival, including the procession and lights switch-on, Christmas Farmer's Market and the Christmas Emergency Services Open Day.

30th Nov: The lights will be switched on in Batford accompanied by carols, refreshments and craft activities.

1st Dec: Southdown Lights and Lanterns celebration will include a lantern parade, Santa's grotto, carols and the all-important lights switch-on. The Harpenden Trust will be providing free craft and refreshments in the Well Bean Cafe at 130 Southdown Road, while you wait to meet Santa.

Also, the residents of Westminster Fields in Harpenden have decorated and lit up their houses in aid of Macmillan Cancer Support.  Everyone is invited to pop along and take a look and make a donation if you are able.

🎅Christmas Family Fun

18th Nov: Enjoy a free Christmas Trail around town courtesy of the Salvation Army.  Pick up a trail sheet from the SA Hall or Harpenden Library.

18th Nov: Christmas card making at Harpenden Library. Free, drop-in, 2-3pm.

Until 24th Nov: Thompson's Galleries on Church Green are hosting a Christmas Baubles competition.  Children aged 4-18 are invited pop in and collect a Christmas Bauble to decorate using any medium. Each piece will be hung in the window of the gallery for Harpenden Christmas Carnival on Sunday 26th November when the prizes for 1st, 2nd 3rd winners will be announced.

25th Nov: St Nicholas School PTA Christmas Fair includes family photoshoots in an inflatable globe, a chance to visit Santa's Post Office to write your letter, and then the opportunity to meet the man himself, as well as lots of stalls, refreshments and a sing-along.

26th Nov: Family Christmas Craft Festival at URC Harpenden where you can have fun making decorations.

1st - 22nd Dec: Look out for the Harpenden Round Table Santa Float as it makes it way around the streets collecting for charity.

2nd Dec: Our Lady of Lourdes Christmas Fair in Lourdes Hall, Southdown Road.

2nd Dec: Sauncey Wood School Christmas Fair

2nd Dec Manland School Christmas Fete

2nd, 9th & 16th Dec: Enjoy breakfast with Santa at Monty's Cafe.

3rd Dec: Get outdoors and enjoy some Christmas Creations with the Countryside Ranger on Nomansland Common

3rd Dec: Look out for the Herts Young Farmers Tractor Run making its way through Harpenden from approx 5.45pm, and Batford around 6.30pn in support of Essex & Herts Air Ambulance.

9th, 16th & 23rd Dec: Breakfast with Santa at The Old Bell.

9th - 30th Dec: Harpenden's annual family panto, Beauty & The Beast, will be running at the Eric Morecambe Centre.  There will be a relaxed performance on 13th December.

9th Dec: St Nicholas Church will be holding their Christmas Fair, and there will be lots of musical entertainment from the choir and Harpenden Concert Band.

16th Dec: Join St John's Christmas Holiday Club to learn about the Christmas story, and prepare for our all age nativity taking place on 17th Nov.

17th Dec: Have brunch with Santa at Aldwickbury Park Golf Club.  They are also holding Christmas party events for grown-ups.

22nd Dec: Santa will be making a special stop at The Little Gym Harpenden and popping in to the see the children in their Santa's Grotto.

22nd Dec: Young musicians can join in a Christmas Music Day with The Music Factory

Throughout December: Look out for the St Albans Postboxes post box toppers adorning some of the postboxes in town (as well as in Redbourn, Wheathampstead and across St Albans). 

🎁Christmas Shopping

23rd Oct - 15th Dec: Stock up on your Christmas cards whilst helping good causes at the Cards for Good Causes pop-up shop in the United Reform Church.

10th - 19th Nov: Creative Collective will have their Christmas Pop-up Shop at 8&, opposite Waitrose.

18th Nov: St George's School Christmas Fayre features a host of guest stalls with beautiful gifts, as well as lots of the usual family Christmas fun

18th Nov: The Salvation Army Christmas Market on Leyton Green

26th Nov: Part of the Christmas Carnival is the Christmas Farmer's Market on the High Street.

1st Dec: To coincide with the lights switch-on in Southdown, The Engineer will be holding a Christmas Market

10th Dec: Luton Hoo Estate (just outside Harpenden) are holding their first Christmas Market.

If you need somewhere to drop the children while you get on with your shopping, FizzBug at Harpenden Leisure Centre are offering a "Drop & Shop" service on Saturdays 2nd, 9th & 16th December.

Find more Christmas Markets outside Harpenden.

🎶Christmas Music

Saturdays from 2nd Dec: Members of Harpenden Concert Band will perform carols outside Cornelia's Coffee shop at St Nicholas Church 10.30-12am

2nd Dec: Join King's Chamber Orchestra for 'The Christmas Garden'.  At 2pm there's the popular Family Teddy Concert (don't forget to take teddy along) followed by Afternoon and Evening performances.

2nd Dec: Caritas Harmony invite you to join them for Carols and Cake in aid of The Hospice of St Francis.

4th Dec: The talented young musicians at Musicale will be celebrating the end of term with a Christmas Concert in the chapel at St George’s School. There will even be mulled wine and mince pies! 

7th Dec: The A-T Society Christmas Concert will feature Magic Voices joined by children from Crabtree Junior School performing carols and classic Christmas songs.

7th Dec: Our Lady of Lourdes Choristers Christmas Concert

9th Dec: The Music Makers will be holding their Christmas Concert accompanied by children from Aldwickbury School.  They will be supporting the St Albans & Harpenden Hygiene Bank.

10th Dec: Harpenden Concert Band Family Christmas Concert will feature music from stage and screen and will be supporting Future Academy.

10th Dec: Christmas with Continuum in St John's Church

12th Dec: The Mayor's Annual Christmas Carol Concert supporting Harpenden Mencap and Herts Young Homeless will take place in St Nicholas Church and will feature singers from Harpenden academy, Katherine Warington School and Sir John Lawes School.

16th Dec: Herts Philharmonia Orchestra Christmas Concert with children from Sauncey Wood School. 

19th Dec: Carols for Choir and Audience with Harpenden Choral Society, in aid of Open Door.

21st Dec: The Lea Singers' annual Christmas concert in The Eric Morecambe Centre - FestiveLea - features carols for audience and choir, and the raffle will support The Harpenden Trust.

22nd Dec: Sonorite Festive Family Concert at St John's Church will include lots of family favourites.

🌟Christmas Services

3rd December

Christingle Service, URC Harpenden - 10.30am

Christingle Service in aid of The Children's Society, St Nicholas Church - 4.30pm

Advent Carol Service at Our Lady of Lourdes Church - 6pm

10th December

Nativity Service, URC Harpenden - 10.30am

Christingle Service in aid of The Children's Society, St Johns Church - 3pm

Bethany Community Church Carols, St George's School - 4pm

17th December

All-age Nativity Play, St Johns' Church - 9.45am

ChristChurch Christmas Carols for Everyone, Eric Morecambe Centre - 10.30am (Family), 7pm (Candlelight)

Nine Lessons and Carols, St John's Church - 5pm

Carols by Candlelight, High St Methodist Church - 6pm

Carol Service, St Mary's, Kinsbourne Green - 6pm

Candlelit Carol Service, All Saints Church - 6.30pm

Carols by Candlelight, URC Harpenden - 6.30pm

21st December

Firepit Carol Singing, All Saints Church  - 6.30pm

20th December

The Rock Church Christmas Service - 6.30pm

22nd December

Carols by Candlelight, Our Lady of Lourdes Church - 6pm

23rd December

Visit the Crib, St Nicholas Church - 10am - 12noon

Traditional Nine Lessons and Carols, St Nicholas Church - 6.30pm

Christmas Eve

Nativity Service, High St Methodist Church - 10.30am

Carols around the Crib, St John's Church - 11am

Christmas Eve Crib Services, St Mary's Church - 2.30pm & 4.30pm

Walking to Bethlehem, from outside Co-op to St John's - 3pm 

Christingle Service, High St Methodist Church - 3pm & 5pm

Family Crib Services, St Nicholas Church - 3pm & 5pm

All Saints Church Christmas Crib Service - 4pm

Our Lady of Lourdes Children's Nativity Service - 5pm

Mass during the Night, Our Lady of Lourdes Church - 10pm

Midnight Mass, St Nicholas Church - 11pm

Midnight Mass, URC Harpenden - 11.15pm

Midnight Mass (with incense), St John's Church - 11.30pm

Midnight Communion, All Saints Church - 11.30pm

Christmas Day

Christmas Services, St Nicholas Church - 8am, 9.30am, 11.30am

Christmas Day Masses, Our Lady of Lourdes Church - 8.30am, 9.45am (Family Mass, children are invited to come dressed as a nativity character), 11.30am (Sung Mass)

Christmas Day All-Age Eucharist, St John's Church - 10am

Christmas Day Family Communion, All Saints Church - 10am

Christmas Day Service, URC Harpenden - 10am

Christmas Day Celebration, High Street Methodist Church - 10.30am

Wishing everyone a happy and peaceful Christmas!