Hitchin Festival - What's On 2023

We are delighted to be back all through July with a huge variety of talks, walks, performances and more, showcasing just some of the amazing arts and culture on offer in Hitchin throughout the year.

At the risk of missing anyone out we’d just like to say a huge thank you to everyone involved in organising this year’s programme and putting on the events.

This year we are delighted to have the support of Hitchin Creative, a new community interest company set up to discover, develop, support and promote all aspects of the arts in Hitchin and the surrounding area.

The team are already running a number of events this year and from next year they will take on an even bigger role to help grow the festival and hopefully increase opportunities for local creatives in town and around.

For more information on our past and what’s coming up this year, please visit, www.hitchinfestival.co.uk.

We hope you enjoy the Festival and have a lovely summer.

Best wishes Glyn Doggett, Keith Hoskins, Tim Farr and Cherry Lincoln (Festival

Committee)

Hitchin Festival is supported by:

A warm welcome to everyone attending or putting on events during this year’s festival.

Hitchin Festival is a voluntary organisation. Registered at 1A Churchyard, Hitchin, Herts, SG5 1HR. Company limited by guarantee. Registered in England under company registration number 2590724.

Glyn Doggett Director & Chair

Keith Hoskins Director Tim Farr Director Cherry Lincoln Box Office Cover artwork by

Booking Festival Events - BOX OFFICE

IN PERSON -

From 12th June - 29th July

Mondays - Saturdays 10.00am - 4.00pm

Festival Box Office is open at: Hitchin Information 1A Churchyard, Hitchin, Hertfordshire, SG5 1HR

ONLINE - From 1st June

You can book tickets for all events (unless specified as otherwise) via our website at: hitchinfestival.co.uk

All events are listed in good faith from information supplied. Hitchin Festival is not responsible for any changes to line-ups etc.

The Art Trail

Hitchin Creative and Hitchin Festival teams have combined this year to organise the Hitchin Art Trail - a month-long celebration of Hitchin’s visual art and artists.

We are turning Hitchin into a giant art gallery with over 40 venues in the town centre featuring the work of artists from around the town and members of Hitchin Creative.

All artwork is available to purchase via the festival website or by scanning the QR codes on the pictures themselves. Payment can also be made in person via the fesitval box office at the Hitchin Information Centre.

Find out more and pick up your map from the Hitchin Information office in the Churchyard or download it from www.hitchinfestival.co.uk.

HITCHIN

DIARY

HHS - The Scilla Douglas

Lecture: The invention of public space in Victorian and Edwardian England from railings to benches

DIARY

"LOCAL AUTHORS LOCAL VENUES

Poetry reading from 'Underword'"

& Eatery William Schaw Lindsay, Victorian Entrepeneur a talk by author Bill Lindsay

"LOCAL AUTHORS LOCAL VENUES YOU GUESS IT – Animals and Adventures"

James Willis: The Magic of Johannes Vermeer – A Dutch Master

Fri 30th June & Sat 1st July

12 noon - 11pm

Hitchin Town Football Club present the fourth Cider & Cheese Festival

Hitchin town football club present the 4th cider and cheese festival

All ciders sourced from Cornwall, Devon and Somerset. Music on both days.

Canary Club, Fishponds Road

FREE ADMISSION

Sponsored by Screenbond - Lyndhurst

Financial Management - B&D civil engineers

Saturday 1st July 10am - 4pm

Chalking Churchgate

Hitchin BID and Tim’s Art supplies brings you an art competition for all ages. Come down to Churchgate and design your A4 grid with chalk. Prizes for winners for Under 10’s,Under 15’s, and Over 15s.

Get in touch with your creative side or just have fun!

Face painting, Churchgate business participation and music to enjoy.

Churchgate Shopping Centre off the Market Square. FREE

Saturday 1st July 9am - 4pm

Hitchin Art Club: The Arcade Exhibition

A free, open-air exhibition of works by the members of Hitchin Art Club –now in its 80th Year!

The Arcade, off the Market Square

FREE

Saturday 1st July 10am - 4pm

Hitchin Summer Art Market

Over 30 local artists come together with some wonderful artworks/ pottery/ photography/ glassworks and more.

Hitchin Market Square. FREE

Saturday 1st July 10am - 4pm

Saturday 1st July 7:30pm

Hitchin Creative Day

A celebration of the creativity of Hitchin, and of H-town’s new arts hub, Hitchin Creative. Music, art, crafts and more. Free event. Further details at @hitchincreative or hitchincreative.co.uk

Hitchin Market Place | FREE

Sunday 2nd July 3pm - 5pm

Hitchin Chamber Orchestra - Postcards from America

Hitchin Chamber Orchestra presents ‘Postcards from America’ featuring Barber’s Adagio for Strings, Copland’s Clarinet Concerto and much more!

St Mary’s Church | FULL: £12/ £14 door CON: £6/ £7 door (those in FTE)

Sunday 2nd July 2pm - 4pm

Homes for London : the Peabody Story. A talk by Christine Wagg

The story of the Peabody Trust, initiated in 1862 by American banker and philanthropist George Peabody to create better housing for “the poor of London”. Tea included.

Holy Saviour Church, Radcliffe Rd.

Tickets £10

Hitchin Urban Sketchers Afternoon

Come and join the Hitchin Urban Sketchers for an afternoon of sketching out wonderful town centre with artist guided tips for successful drawing and sketching. All ages and abilities welcome. Bring your own materials, paper, pencils, pens or paints.

Meet in the Market Square FREE EVENT

Sunday 2nd July

Gates 5:30pm, Music from 6pm

Tuesday 4th July 1:05pm

The Priory Picnic

This is a lovely evening of music from ensembles at North Herts Music School in the grounds of The Priory School ending with a firework display.

NEW VENUE! The Priory School, Bedford Road, Hitchin, SG5 2UR

Adults: £12

Family (2 adults/2 children): £30

Child £6, free under 5s.

Tues 4th & Tues 18th July 6:30pm

Lunchtime Concert: American voices

Jubilate! Directed by

John Edwards

Celebrating Independence Day with a musical montage, showcasing some of the many voices of America, from folk to classical via the Silver Screen and Broadway.

St Mary’s Church | FREE (donations)

Tuesday 4th July 7:30pm

From Him to Her and my life as Katie

Two short stories to try and raise awareness of what it’s like to be transgender and the inner battle that goes on within.

Windmill Hill (By PRIDE BENCH) FREE

Hitchin Light Orchestra Summer

Sizzler

Hitchin Light Orchestra and Singers will be bringing a fabulous mix of Latin jazz and swing for this celebration of Summer.

Hitchin Town Hall | Tickets - £12

Tuesday 4th July 7:30pm

Wed 5th & Wed 12th July 7:00pm

Four Winds

Saxophone Quartet

Popular local sax quartet, Four Winds, return to Hitchin with a programme celebrating American Independence Day. More details at fourwindssaxophonequartet.com

Christchurch, Bedford Rd | FREE

Wednesday 5th July 7pm - 7:45pm

Hertfordshire Health Walks - Taster Health Walk

Join our free Health Walks lead by qualified leaders. Two levels of walk around Hitchin: 30/60 minutes. Wear appropriate footwear for pavements/ grassy paths Meet at Hitchin Market Square by the clock | FREE

Thursday 6th July 1.:05pm

LOCAL AUTHORS LOCAL VENUES

Local Spooky Fable

– not for the faint of heart

Short story based in Hitchin about how the drowning of a local witch in our lovely river long ago might have modern day horrific repercussion. An aperitivo is included in the price of the ticket.

Gusto Italian for Taste, Churchgate

Tickets: £15

Lunchtime Concert: Tom Coates Violin and Ben Ward Piano

Playing - Beethoven Op 24 and Brahms Op108

St Mary’s Church FREE

Thursday 6th July 7:30pm

Fri 7th - Sat 22nd July 6:30pm - 7:30pm & 8:30pm - 9:30pm

After Dark

Opening of Exhibition featuring paintings and prints of the night.

The Market Theatre Cabaret Bar

FREE ENTRY

Bar open from 7.30pm

After Dark

Art exhibtion featuring paintings and prints of the night.

The Market Theatre Cabaret Bar

FREE ENTRY

Bar open before and after the theatre

Thurs 6th & 20th July 4pm - 9pm

Thursday 6th July 7pm - 7:45pm

Hitchin Street Food Monthly

The biggest street food market in Hertfordshire returns for 2022 with the cream of Indie food traders, stocked bars and live DJ’s!

Riverside in front of St Mary’s Church FREE

Friday 7th July

Doors: 7:30pm, Start: 8:00pm

LOCAL AUTHORS LOCAL VENUES

Poetry reading

Local poet Chris Burleigh will read poems to move you, to surprise you, and to make you laugh -then give you insight into the mind of the writer, and why each poem is constructed the way it is. An aperitivo is included in the price of the ticket.

Gusto Italian for Taste, Churchgate

Tickets: £15

Friday 7th July

Doors at 7pm, Start: 7:30pm

Hitchin Films

Aftersun (12)

Twenty years after their last holiday at a fading vacation resort, Sophie reflects on the rare time spent with her loving and idealistic father Calum. Sophie’s recollections become a powerful and heartrending portrait of their relationship, as she tries to reconcile the father she knew with the man she didn’t.

The Queen Mother Theatre Studio Tickets from www.hitchinfilms.co.uk

Singing for Crisis with Beth Merill

Local singer/ songwriter will be performing an evening of orginals & covers all to raise money for homelessness charity Crisis.

The Market Theatre, Sun Street £5 (all ticket money and donations to Crisis)

Friday 7th July 8:00pm

Sat 8th July 11am onwards

Eats and Beats

Come down and enjoy the eclectic mix of businesses on Sun St and Bucklersbury.

Club Classics @ Hitchin Town Hall

Join us as we kick off the summer season with an evening of club classics and 90’s/00’s dance tracks. Book in advance to avoid disappointment!

HItchin Town Hall

Get tickets from https://www.

Enjoy food, drink, and bakes from the great eateries this area of town has to offer, whilst enjoying some live music and DJ’s. Shops and businesses will also have stalls and activities for you to participate in.

Sun Street and Buckersbury

FREE

t: 01462 437687

e: info@hairbytalents.co.uk

Saturday 8th July 7:30pm

Saturday 8th July 7:30pm

Watch The Wings

Hitchin Concert Band

A Summer evening of music for all the family: showstoppers – movie themes – well known jazz and classical pieces including solos played by Lesley Pearce (violin) and Debbie Barnes (Bassoon)

St Mary’s Church | £10 full. £5 children

Saturday 8th July 7:30pm

A Song Cycle by Laura McHugh

Be the first to hear some brand new musical theatre! Local composer (and Market Theatre veteran) Laura McHugh presents a song cycle exploring the themes of Releasing and Restarting. Featuring singers from the West End. The Market Theatre, Sun Street Tickets £13.20

Sat 8th & Sun 9th July 12pm - midnight (Sat) 12pm - 9pm (Sun)

A Slice of Jazz - North Herts Guild of Singers

North Herts Guild of Singers present an exciting evening of Jazz accompanied by a Jazz Trio, conducted by Harry Bradford. Details nhgs.org.uk

Walsworth Road Baptist Church

£15 Full, £5 those in FTE

Beer Festival at the Town Hall

Join us for local brewed beer, live music, open mic and DJ sets. Free entry, 18+ only entry, ID required.

Hitchin Town Hall

FREE

Sunday 9th July 12 noon - 8pm

Tuesday 11th July 1:05pm

Vino Fest

Great wine, tasty food and live music, what else could you ask for? Join us for the first Vino Fest.

Hitchin Cricket Club and Blueharts

Hockey Club

Tickets from weevinoteca.com/events/

Bespoke commissions

Group & 1:1 workshops

527085

Bury Mead Road, Hitchin, SG5 1RT

Lunchtime

Concert: Catherine Wilmers & Jill Morton

Catherine Wilmers, cello and Jill Morton, piano present a selection of stunning music for cello and piano including Beethoven’s Variations on “Bei Mannern from the Magic Flute”, Marie Dare’s The Spanish Shawl and then the riveting and magnificent Shostakovich Sonata. St Mary’s Church | FREE

Tuesday 11th July 7:30pm

Rock ‘n’ Roll Politics with Steve Richards

The award winning author, presenter and podcaster, Steve Richards, takes you on a behind the scenes guide to all the latest epic political dramas. In memory of the late Judi Billing, Hitchin Councillor for over 40 years.

Sponsored by Cllr. Keith Hoskins and Cllr. Ian Albert The Market Theatre | Tickets £10

All sales to Herts Welcomes Refugees.

Wednesday 12th July 7:30pm

Wednesday 12th & 19th July 7pm start

A recital of trombone music

Leeds Conservatoire undergraduate

Briony Arnold and Hitchin pianist

Michael Crowley perform their favourite trombone music by female and non-binary composers. Proceeds to Helping Herts Homeless.

Christchurch, Bedford Rd

FREE - donations accepted

Hitchin Ghost Walks

Take a trip into Hitchin’s spooky past with your two informative and entertaining guides; prepare for a little history and lots of ghostly tales.

Meet outside Hitchin Information

£10.00 Adults, Children £5 ( under 15yr)

Available to purchase at Hitchin Information, 1a Churchyard, Hitchin or online www.hitchinherts.shop

Wednesday 12th July 8pm

HHS - The Scilla Douglas Lecture: The invention of public space in Victorian and Edwardian England from railings to benches

An illustrated talk by Professor Katrina Navickas, University of Hertfordshire.

Thursday 13th July 1:05pm

The Richard Whitmore Studio, Queen Mother Theatre, Walsworth Road

Tickets £5

Sponsor: Hitchin Historical Society

Thursday 13th July 7:30pm

Lunchtime Concert: Heather Fuller and Lucy Miller White: An Afternoon at the Opera

St Mary’s Church FREE

Thurs 13th - Sat 29th July

Every Thurs & Fri at 7:30pm / Sat at 7pm

Gertrude Lawrence:

A lovely way to spend an evening

The 1930’s star Gertrude Lawrence tells her story in her own words. Lucy Stevens embodies the spirit of Gertie with pacy dialogue which is funny and revealing. Bursting with songs including hits by Noel Coward and Kurt Weill.

St Mary’s Church | Tickets £10

Anne & Matilda (a Hitchin History play)

Anne and Matilda Lucas daughters of the painter Samuel, spent their spinster years wintering in Rome. The play is set at afternoon tea where we are enlightened by their Italian adventures.

The Market Theatre, Sun Street Tickets £14.50 / £12.50 conc (Thurs)

Friday 14th July 1:05pm

Friday 14th July

Doors: 7:30pm, Start: 8:00pm

Lunchtime Concert: The Alban Duo

Friends since school, Emma Adlard and Stephanie Rawlins founded Alban Duo in 2014 with their first fundraising concert in St Albans. Since then, Alban Duo has raised thousands of pounds for charity. Emma is Director of Development at London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art and Stephanie is Marketing Manager for Events at the Royal College of Music. St Mary’s Church | FREE

Saturday 15th July

10am - 2pm

Hitchin Eco Day

A day full of sustainable lifestyle, green initiatives and eco fun, with bike repairs, local products, rescued food, clothes swaps, workshops and much more.

Hitchin Market Square

FREE

Hitchin Films

SAINT OMER (12)

A piercing fiction feature in the form of a courtroom drama, based on a real-life case: mysterious, tragic and intimately unnerving. French court room drama.

The Queen Mother Theatre Studio Tickets from www.hitchinfilms.co.uk

Saturday 15th July

10:30am - 5pm

Shop Small HitchinSummer Market

An exciting market celebrating amazing creative, independent businesses from Hitchin and the surrounding areas. Come along, shop small and support local!

Hitchin Town Hall FREE

Saturday 15th July 10:30am - 3:30pm

Saturday 15th July 1pm

Jacqueline LordFunny verse about being old

Hitchin Historical Society - History Day

History Day with stalls from local heritage, history and civic societies

Church House, Churchyard

FREE Sponsor: Hitchin Historical Society

Saturday 15th July 11am - 4pm

Holwell Life DrawingLong Saturday Session

Tutored Sessions // All levels of ability welcome // 18+ // Participants must provide their own materials facebook.com/HolwellLifeDrawing

For more info please email matthew.burden@network.rca.ac.uk

Holwell Village Hall, SG5 3SS £30 - Booking essential

Jacqueline Lord will take you on a journey filled with drama and comedy. She sees, says and smells the world ,with emotive words ,laced with dramatic imagery.

Go and see her!

On top of Windmill Hill FREE

Saturday 15th July 11:00am - 11:45am

LOCAL AUTHORS LOCAL VENUES

Bibble and Bubbles story with some bubble fun

Local children’s author Alice

Hemming will read a fun story and have some bubble activities too – the fabulous folks at Fabios will provide an ice cream for each child (inc in price of ticket).

Fabios Gelato Hitchin | Tickets: £15 For ages 2-7

Saturday 15th July 1pm - 3pm

Saturday 15th July 7:30pm

Hitchin Physic Garden Open Afternoon

Explore this fascinating garden and learn about the medicinal use of plants and Hitchin’s pharmaceutical history.

Located near the Library at Paynes Park | FREE

Sponsor: Hitchin Historical Society

Sunday 16th July

2pm - 3:30pm or 3:30 - 5pm

An American Journey with Hitchin Band

An evening concert by Hitchin Brass Band playing an American themed programme with music from across the years.

St Mary’s Church

£10.00 Adult, £5.00 children under 16

Sunday 16th July

10:30am

BuzzWorks Open Day

Enjoy the flower garden, see bees and queen in the observation hive. Children’s activities.

Refreshments and honey.

BuzzWorks Discovery Centre

178 Old Hale Way, Hitchin FREE - Book at buzzworksweb@gmail.com

Stag Walker - Hitchin to Charlton Circular Walk

Join Stag Walkers, a Ramblers group aimed mainly at people in their 20s, 30s and slightly older, for a 5-mile circular walk. RSVP: meetup.com/ stagwalkers Woodside Car Park | FREE

Wednesday 19th July

Doors 7pm for 7:30pm

Tuesday 18th July 7:30pm

Hitchin Flower

Arranging Club Open Evening

NAFAS demonstrator, Elizabeth Robinson will be making floral arrangements with a theme of “My Family and Other Animals”, raffled at the end of the evening.

Church House, Church Yard

Tickets £8

Hitchin Rock Choir

An evening of rock and pop songs performed by Hitchin’s local choir. Proceeds will go to Stand-by-me Children’s Bereavement Support charity.

Tilehouse Street Baptist Church

Tickets £5

Wednesday 19th July 7:30pm

Deckchairs, Piers and Souvenirs: A History of the British Seaside in 100 objects

Historian Kathryn Ferry’s talk explores our experience of the seaside through the things that make it distinctive.

Holy Saviour Church, Radcliffe Road

Tickets £12 (includes welcome drink)

Wednesday 19th July 7:30pm

Wednesday 19th July 8pm

Hitchin Ukulele Club

A chance to join the group for the monthly jam and open mic session playing anything from Abba to Gun n’ Roses – don’t forget your ukes!

The Market Theatre Cabaret Bar FREE

Wednesday 19th July 8pm

Benslow MusicRose Consort of Viols

Remembering Byrd & Weelkes

William Byrd and Thomas Weelkes both died 400 years ago in 1623. Both wrote elegant fantasias, in nomines and dances for viols, alongside vocal music. This programme presents a cross-section of their output.

Benslow Music

Tickets £20 (under 27’s free)

Thursday 20th July 1.05pm

The Miss Lewis Lecture: The petticoat peril: exploring women in pharmacy history

An illustrated talk by Briony Hudson.

Queen Mother Theatre Studio | £5 Sponsor: Hitchin Historical Society

Lunchtime Concert: Clifton Hughes (Piano)

Chopin didn’t just write pretty waltzes; some of his melodies and harmonies take unexpected turns, as you’ll hear in this all-Chopin recital.

St Mary’s Church FREE

Thursday 20th July 8:30pm

Thursday 20th July 8:00pm

Mostly Comedy

Hitchin Jazz Jam

A great night of music, with a house band from H-Town’s finest jazzers. Come and listen, or join in. More info and tickets (£10, or £8 in advance) from facebook.com/hitchinjazzjam or markettheatre.co.uk

The Market Theatre Cabaret Bar Tickets £8 advance / £10 on door

Hitchin’s popular comedy club relaunches at the QUEEN MOTHER THEATRE. Join host DAVID EPHGRAVE for a mixed bill of top comedians, including standup from REGINALD D HUNTER (QI, Have I Got News For You) with full lineup TBA.

The Queen Mother Theatre Tickets from: mostlycomedy.co.uk

Friday 21st July 1:05pm

Friday 21st July

Doors: 7:30pm, Start: 8:00pm

Lunchtime Concert:

Joanna Lam

She studied music at Kings College where she received first class honours and was awarded the Purcell Prize for gaining the highest mark in the degree 2016-17.

St Mary’s Church FREE

Saturday 22nd July 7:30pm

Hitchin Films

RYE LANE (15)

This sunny south London romcom hits all the right spots. Sundance acclaimed. Two people spending a lovely day together. Filmed in Peckham, Brixton and the South Bank.

The Queen Mother Theatre Studio Tickets from www.hitchinfilms.co.uk

Sunday 23rd & 30th July 2pm

Caritas Harmony: Wine, Women and Song

Award-winning Ladies’ choir, Caritas Harmony present a memorable evening of popular and classical songs in aid of a local charity. Refreshments available.

St Mary’s Church

Tickets £10, Under 12’s FREE

History and Wildlife of Hitchin Cemetery

Lasting about an hour, this tour looks at the origins of the Victorian cemetery, tours notable graves and shows off some of the wildlife that this green space provides.

Starts inside the Chapel in Hitchin Cemetery, St.John’s Road

FREE - booking required

Monday 24th July 2pm

Tuesday 25th July 10am - 10:45am

Where are you Hartley Bear?

Join us in the Wobbly Wood for a heartwarming adventure of friendship and fun as we help Hartley Bear, a lost little teddy find his way home. Come with your Teddy Bear.

Hitchin Library | £3

Tuesday 25th July 1:05pm

LOCAL AUTHORS LOCAL VENUES

Nature in Your Local Patch

Nic Wilson - Guardian Country Diarist will give a talk about the importance of nature in our local area: exploring different ways of noticing and appreciating the natural world, and including readings from her Guardian country diaries. A drink is included in the price of the ticket.

Halsey’s Deli & Eatery | Tickets: £15

Tuesday 25th July 7pm

Lunchtime Concert: The Galliard Trio

The Galliard Trio was formed forty-two years ago and, since then, has been giving concerts in music clubs, stately homes, churches, schools and arts centres, often in support of good causes. It has played many times in Hertfordshire and this is its fourth visit to the Hitchin Festival.

St Mary’s Church | FREE

Historic Walking TourHitchin’s History

A guided walk around Hitchin’s historic Town Centre with the British Schools Museum’s former curator Andy Gibbs. Meet outside Hitchin Information

£7.50 Adults, Children £5 ( under 15 yrs) Available to purchase at Hitchin Information, 1a Churchyard, Hitchin or online www.hitchinherts.shop

Thursday 27th July 1:05pm

Thursday 27th July 3pm - 3:30pm

Lunchtime Concert:

Nick Evans-Pughe

Nick Evans-Pughe and friends perform the Piano Quartet by Schumann.

St Mary’s Church FREE

Thursday 27th July 7.30pm

LOCAL AUTHORS LOCAL VENUES

Poetry reading from ‘Underword’

JS Watts’ poetry and prose appear in publications in Britain, Canada, Australia and the States and have been broadcast on BBC and Independent Radio. Now she’s in Hitchin to read you some thought provoking poetry from her Underword while you enjoy a coffee. Drink included.

Halsey’s Deli & Eatery | Tickets: £15

Friday 28th July

1:05pm

William Schaw

Lindsay, Victorian

Entrepeneur

a talk by author Bill Lindsay

Lindsay will talk about his new book based on the unpublished journals of William Schaw Lindsay (1815-1877).

Hitchin British Schools | Tickets £4

Lunchtime Concert:

Masa Tayama

Masa Tayama is one of todays most accomplished pianists and is much in demand across Europe and Japan.

St Mary’s Church FREE

Friday 28th July 3pm - 3:45pm

Friday 28th July

7pm for 7:30pm - 9:30pm

LOCAL AUTHORS LOCAL VENUES YOU GUESS IT –Animals and Adventures

Local children’s author Jane WilsonHowarth will play ‘You Guess It’animal descriptions from her kid’s adventure stories for children to guess plus read a short story – the fabulous folks at Fabios will provide an ice cream for each child (inc in price of ticket).

Fabios Gelato Hitchin | Tickets: £15 For ages 8-12 but all children welcome

Friday 28th July

Door time: 6:45pm, Start time: 7:30pm

James Willis: The Magic of Johannes Vermeer – A Dutch Master

Celebrating the work of one of Holland’s great artists. Vermeer’s sell out exhibition in Amsterdam demonstrated just how extraordinary his paintings are. Willis discusses what makes them so magically appealing.

Walsworth Community Centre | £10

Elvis at St Mary’s Summer Spectacular

In beautiful St Mary’s Church, transformed for a spectacular musical experience, top class entertainment from the UK’s leading Elvis tribute artist, JD King. Regularly appearing on TV & Radio as well as on stage, JD King’s shows are enthralling experiences. Tickets on sale at www.wegottickets.com/HeartofHitchinEvents. There will be a bar & fundraising raffle on the night during the interval. Profits go to St Mary’s Preservation Trust ‘HeartofHitchin’ appeal to repair the building.

St Mary’s Church | Tickets £15 adult £5 under 18s.

Saturday 29th July 10am

Sunday 30th July 11am - 3:30pm

North Herts Pride Market

Pride Market in Hitchin’s Market Place from 10am. With stalls run by, or for, the LGBTQIA+ community.

Market Place Hitchin FREE

Hitchin Town Hall: Drag Brunch

Join us for bingo, bubbly and brunch! Featuring the fantastic MKFSounds & ‘Flick the Drag Queen’. Glass of Prosecco on arrival and Breakfast Brunch included.

Hitchin Town Hall | Tickets £38 www.wegottickets.com/location/873

Forthcoming Events

AUGUST

Tuesday 8th August – Monday 28th August

HITCHIN BEACH

Hitchin beach returns! Located in the Market Place from 8th - 28th August, 10am - 4pm each day

Saturday 26th & Sunday 27th August

BEACH BAR

Bridgetown Monroe brings you a beach bar for two nighs only. Come down and enjoy a beverage whilst dipping your toes in the sand. In the Market Place from 6pm - 9pm.

Saturday 12th August

JUNIOR JAM

A celebration of International Youth Day. Interactive activities, food, games, Independent stalls, art activities and a DJ. In the Market Place from 10am - 4pm

Saturday 19th August

HERMITAGE ROAD DAY

Hermitage road street day returns, bigger and better. 10am - 4pm

SEPTEMBER

Saturday 2nd (12pm - 6pm) & Sunday 3rd (10am - 4pm) September

FOOD FEST

The Hitchin FoodFest is one of the most popular on the foodie calendar. As well as our local eateries promoting their gastronomic delights, there will be the best in street food and drink, local produce and the ever-popular foodie activities.

FInd out more on the above and what’s on from October onwards at:

www.visithitchin.com