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This is your go-to site for everything you need to know about living in St Albans with kids. Activities, things to do, parties, local facilities, services and child-friendly businesses in St Albans & surrounding villages can now all be found at the click of a button!
We've had a number of queries from people asking how they can help out and donate to their local foodbanks and other charities to support those experiencing tough times at the moment. We've also included here some ways to get help if you need it.
The St Albans and District Foodbank have donation points in Tesco Metro, Waitrose and Co-Op Food (St Albans, London Colney, & Chiswell Green). You can find more information on their website along with links to make a monetary donation.
During October half-term the Foodbank will be offering freshly made ready-meals of families to take home and heat. If you are in need of help from the Foodbank you will need to be referred. You can find more information about this on their website.
The Hygiene Bank also help out local families in need with basic hygiene products. They have a donation point in Boots (St Albans & Colney Fields), The Alban Arena, Beech House, St Peter' Church, Jade Pharmacy, Inn on the Park, Budgens, Emmaus, the Co-Op (Chiswell Green & London Colney) in St Albans and at the Barefoot Accountant in Redbourn and the Village Surgery in Wheathampstead. Or you can donate products via their wishlists on Easho. or Amazon. There is also a Just Giving page for monetary donations, or you can set them as your chosen charity on Amazon Smile and Easy Fundraising.
During October half-term the Vineyard Church will be providing lunch to children entitled to free school meals. Normally they would provide these onsite, but during the current situation they will be cooking homemade meals, and providing families with a pack of activities & crafts, that will need to be collected at the church on Wednesday 28th October. Visit their website to sign up. If you would like to support this initiative you can text VINEYARDREFUEL to 70085 to donate £10.
The FEED Foodbank at Vineyard Church accepts donations through BANKUET, their FEED Fund, or you can drop off food & toiletries at the church Monday-Friday between 10am-3pm. If you need help from the Foodbank are not a current guest you will need to be referred at this time. More information on this can be found here.
The Vineyard Church also operate KIT, which aims to help families of young children who find themselves struggling financially. They can provide children’s clothes & shoes for under 5s, School Uniform for ages 4-18 and baby equipment. At this time there is a very specific list of items they need and can take, so please contact the KIT team before you drop anything off.
Sopwell Community Trust is a BAE charity in St Albans and they work in partnership with St Albans District Foodbank. To arrange donations to them contact 07534 523232 or [email protected] They can arrange cooked meals or food parcels. If you are need of help do get in touch.
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For October half-term The Rose and Crown and The Hare and Hounds pubs have announced on their Facebook pages: "during half term next week from Tuesday to Friday if you are a parent in need you can give us a call or send us a message and we will arrange a time for you to collect free Mac and Cheese (with a bit of broccoli on the side) for your kids no questions asked." The Hare and Hounds can be contacted at 01727 762041 and The Rose and Crown on 01727 859739 or message via their Facebook pages.
Also The Ridgeway Fish Bar have said they are "offering a free child’s meal during half term on Wednesday and Thursday 4:00-6:00pm and Friday 12:00-2:00pm. Meals will include child’s Cod Bites and Chips, child’s Sausage and Chips or Chips alone. We just ask that you order in store with child present and have one meal per child per day. Please state that you would like the ‘Kids Half Term Meal’ when ordering, should you need it in these uncertain times."
Also Taste of Nawab are helping out families whose children entitled to free school meals and attend primary or secondary school by offering a free children's size curry with rice or naan on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday (26th - 28th October) between 5:15pm-6:30pm. They say "We ask that a parent/guardian is present with a child when ordering a free school meal. Please mention to a member of staff that you are ordering a free meal."
For anyone who doesn't know what to do with all the toys, clothes and equipment your children have grown out of, or who is looking for kids’ stuff for free, there is a brilliant new app that has just launched across Hertfordshire called YoungPlanet
This half-term may be feeling a bit different but there's still plenty of events going on to enjoy, but do remember that most require you to book in advance.
Want to pick and/or carve some pumpkins...
If you'd prefer a Halloween-themed trail...
For a full round-up of everything this half-term, including some non-Halloween themed events take a look at our What's On page.
And looking ahead a bit further, St Albans Cathedral are crowdfunding to put on an aerial fireworks display for the whole of St Albans on 7th November. You won't have to leave your front door - just look up!
The Big Scoot, Bike & Trike for Children - in aid of Keech Hospice
22nd May
- 31st October
Near you, St Albans
Celebration Garden at Aylett Nurseries
(FREE)
20th June
- 31st December
Aylett Nurseries, St Albans
Vauxhall - Made in Luton (Thu - Sun only)
(FREE)
5th September
- 11th April
Stockwood Discovery Centre, Luton
Pumpkin Patch at Rumblers Farm - SOLD OUT
10th October
- 31st October
Rumblers Farm, Hemel Hempstead
PYO Pumpkins
15th October
- 31st October
The Pop Up Farm, M1 Junction 9
Spook-Fest - SOLD OUT EXCEPT 1 ST NOV
16th October
- 1st November
Aldenham Country Park, Elstree
Willows Farm Pumpkin Festival - SOLD OUT
17th October
- 1st November
Willows Activity Farm, London Colney
Our Escape Rooms have been taken over by Ghosts and Ghouls!
17th October
- 31st October
Don't Get Locked In, Bedford
Hitchin Lavender - Pick your own Pumpkins - SOLD OUT
17th October
- 31st October
Hitchin Lavendar, Ickleford
Boo at the Zoo
17th October
- 1st November
Cedars Nature Centre, Cheshunt
St Albans Halloween Trail
19th October
- 31st October
City Centre, St Albans
Dinos After Dark
23rd October
- 1st November
Paradise Wildlife Park, Broxbourne
Audley End Miniature Railway Halloween Special - SOLD OUT
24th October
- 1st November
Audley End Miniature Railway, Saffron Walden
Spooky Wrest Park - SOLD OUT
24th October
- 1st November
Wrest Park, Silsoe
Halloween @ Waddesdon
24th October
- 1st November
Waddesdon Manor, Aylesbury
Pumpkin FunFest
24th October
- 31st October
Mead Open Farm, Billington
Wild Things at Halloween
24th October
- 1st November
RSPB Rye Meads, Stansted Abbotts
Halloween Festival - SOLD OUT
24th October
- 1st November
Odds Farm Park, High Wycombe
Halloween at ZSL Whipsnade
24th October
- 1st November
ZSL Whipsnade Zoo, Dunstable
Nocturnal Creatures Trail - SOLD OUT
24th October
- 1st November
Tring Natural History Museum, Tring
Half Term Activities | St Albans Cathedral
24th October
- 1st November
St Albans Cathedral, St Albans Cathedral
Family Activities: October Half Term
24th October
- 1st November
IWM Duxford, Duxford
St Albans Rainbow Trail Halloween Week
(FREE)
25th October
- 31st October
Around St Albans District, St Albans
Pumpkin Week at Rothamsted
26th October
- 31st October
Rothamsted Research Conference Centre, Harpenden
Halloween & Day of the Dead Half Term Special
26th October
- 2nd November
Online, St Albans
Miller's Trail at Mill Green Museum
(FREE)
26th October
- 30th October
Mill Green Museum and Mill, Hatfield
October Half-term Days Out @ Celtic Harmony Camp
27th October
- 31st October
Celtic Harmony Camp, Brickendon
Halloween at the schoolyard
27th October
- 1st November
British Schools Museum, Hitchin
Don't Worry Bee Happy
29th October
Stockwood Discovery Centre, Luton
Spooky Woodland Walks - SOLD OIT
29th October
- 31st October
Wrest Park, Silsoe
Pumpkin Carving
29th October
- 31st October
The Olde Watermill, Barton-le-Clay
Halloween Pumpkin Pop! - SOLD OUT
29th October
Hitchin Lavender, Hitchin
Dress up & Draw!
(FREE)
30th October
On Facebook, St Albans
Redbourn Pumpkin Trail
(FREE)
30th October
- 1st November
Around the village, Redbourn
Buckinghamshire Railway Centre Halloween Event
31st October
Buckinghamshire Railway Centre, Aylesbury
Monster Trail
31st October
Around the Mandeville area, St Albans
Halloween Pumpkin Pop! - SOLD OUT
1st November
Hitchin Lavender, Hitchin
If you are running a local event for families or children you can add the details to our site for free.
Need some help deciding where to go and what to do? Read about the places we've tried and tested...
Work is beginning on the new children's play area in Verulamium Park. The attraction will include 30 features and will be divided into zones that reflect the City’s rich history including a Roman-style basilica, a mini-amphitheatre, a market street and a main pathway named Watling Street. The play features will include a multi see-saw, five-way swing, a battering ram group swing, stepping posts, two carousels, Roman-numeral hopscotch and a picnic area. The play area will be located on the site of the tennis courts which will be removed. Click here to see a larger version of the plans.
Christmas may feel a bit different this year, but that won't stop Santa doing his best to bring some cheer to as many children as possible. Whilst some venues have confirmed their grottos will not be running this year quite a few are going ahead, but with limited choice and limited numbers due to social distancing you will need to book, and probably best to book early! Whether it's in a winter wonderland, a Christmas grotto or on a train, here's what we know so far. Keep an eye on this page and our social media for new additions.
Why not browse through some of the listings we have recently added to the site...
If you are a local business/organisation you can add your listing to our site for free.
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