...and what a host of events we’ve found for you to enjoy this month, from the Summer Carnival, Summer Evenings at the Zoo, Sunday at the Mills, Stratospheric Blues, the Simon & Garfunkel Story and St Albans Half Marathon to Cars at the Castle, a Concert of Choral Masterpieces, Comedy, Circus Zyair, a Charity Bike Ride and so much more! To make sure you don’t miss out the magazines are available to read online every month. If you run your own business we‘d love to include you it’s so easy, just book your space online today.
Jane & Wendy @theNOWmagazines
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Out & About
Foodies Festival
30th May - 1st June £27, child £8
A star-studded line-up of celebrity and award-winning chefs and chart-topping music stars. £21, child £6 Oaklands College, East Drive AL4 0HS www.foodiesfestival.com
D Day Family Weekend
31st May & 1st June 2025 marks the 81st Anniversary of the Normandy landings on 6th June 1944. Celebrate the anniversary with a weekend of music, dancing, children’s activities and more. Free, just drop in RAF Museum, London NW9 5LL www.rafmuseum.org.uk
Hertfordshire Zoo
Sunbear, Binturong & Otter Weekend
31st May & 1st June
A weekend of animal-themed merchandise, treats and more, dedicated to celebrating all three species at the Zoo, funds raised will go towards vital animal conservation. Included with admission
Summer Evenings at the Zoo
31st May & 7th, 14th, 21st & 28th June 6.30pm - 9.30pm, from £16
As the sun sets, enjoy an evening at the zoo and see the animals in a tranquil twilight setting, the World of Dinosaurs, entertainment and food. Hertfordshire Zoo, Broxbourne EN10 7QA www.hertfordshirezoo.com
Chiltern Open Air Museum
Napoleonic Living History Weekend
31st May & 1st June 10am - 5pm £16, £15, £11
Thrill at the musket, cavalry and artillery displays that will transport you to the heart of Napoleonic warfare.
Wildlife Discovery Day 7th June 10am 5pm
From £13, child from £10
Explore the Museum's 45 acre site and discover the diversity of species that live there with family-friendly activities.
Medieval Jousting
28th & 29th June £14.54, child £11
Step into a world of knights in shining armour and see displays of incredible skill and horsemanship. Be captivated by the bravery and agility of the armoured knights as they engage in thrilling jousting battles. COAM, Chalfont St Giles, Bucks HP8 4AB
As part of the first Herts Rivers Week why not spend a morning with the volunteers clearing vegetation alongside and in the chalk streams, and weeding young trees planted last winter.
The Castle will be open for you to explore, with over 60 exhibiting modern to vintage cars and motorcycles set within the grounds, live music, food and drink. Hertford Castle SG14 1HR www.hertford.gov.uk
Sunday at the Mills
1st, 15th & 29th June 11am - 4pm
Step back in time and explore the fascinating history of the historic gunpowder factory.
Summer Breakout - Custom & Classic Show
22nd June 10am - 4pm £10, child £5, u10’s free
See hundreds of classic and retro vehicles on display, ride on the narrow gauge railway and more. In aid of Make-A-Wish Foundation.
Royal Gunpowder Mills, Waltham Abbey EN9 1JY www.royalgunpowdermills.com
Harpenden Library
CareFest 2nd June 10.30am - 12.30pm free
It’s all about enriching your life and feeling supported by the community, find out about the free resources available from Health & Independent Living Support, Adult Care Services, Movement Specialists, CPR Demonstrations, Mental Health and Wellbeing and Carers in Herts.
Imaginary Landscapes: Poetry & Harp
6th June 7pm £7
A unique evening of music and performance, with words and semi-improvised music with awardwinning poet, author and raconteur, Chris Tutton and leading British harpist, Anne Denholm-Blair. High Street, Harpenden AL5 2RU www.hertfordshire.gov.uk
Out & About
Rye Meads
Wednesday Wander
4th June 12 noon - 2pm £5 - £6
An informal guided walk to see the diversity of wildlife that call the reserve home at this time of year. Wear appropriate clothing and footwear.
Beginners Photography Workshop
29th June 10am £26 - £31
Join local photography experts as they share their skills and advise you how to use your settings, composition, and how to respect the subject you’re photographing. Aimed at beginners Rye Road, Hoddesdon, Ware SG12 8JS www.events.rspb.org.uk
Natural History Museum Tring
Tactile Tour: Museum Highlights 5th June 2.30pm
Join an audio described tour of the Museum’s key specimens, from bizarre cassowaries to a charismatic polar bear and a larger-than-life giant ground sloth. Free, please book Tactile Explorers 7th June 11am
Get hands on with real Museum specimens led by trained facilitators. Free, please book, age 5+
Tring HP23 6AP www.nhm.ac.uk
Live Longer Better with Dementia
Celebration Day 6th June 10am - 3pm free
Supporting people living with Dementia and their carers. There’ll be taster sessions, led by local organisations, where physical activity, social connection and cognitive wellbeing will take centre stage, with chair yoga, indoor bowls, walking sports, singing, seated cricket and much more. Wodson Park Leisure Centre, Ware SG12 0UQ www.bit.ly/LLBwDementia
Hatfield House
Live Music at The Coach House Kitchen 6th June 6.30pm free, but please book Miss Jones specialises in romantic jazz from the 30s - 50s, performing hits by Ella Fitzgerald, Nat King Cole, Billie Holiday and Frank Sinatra. Old Hatfield Market
7th, 8th, 14th, 15th, 21st, 22nd, 27th & 28th June
Stalls including crafts, food, drinks and artisan goods, as well as live music in the Stable Yard.
Landies on the Lawn 15th June
A celebration of all things Land Rover, an eclectic display of timeless, classic vehicles. Included with Park & Gardens admission Hatfield AL9 5HX www.hatfield-house.co.uk
Spring Butterfly Walk 7th June 11am
Join experts from Herts & Middx Butterfly Conservation to learn about the butterflies found in the meadows of Heartwood Forest, where there are at least 30 different species including the rare small blue. Free, please book Heartwood Forest, Sandridge AL4 9DQ www.eventbrite.co.uk
Summer Carnival 7th June 12 noon - 6pm
Entertainment, funfair, inflatables, a bubble performer, archery, climbing wall market stalls and more. Harpenden Common www.harpenden.gov.uk
Grove House Open Garden
7th June 2pm - 5pm £5
Explore this haven of flora and fauna or simply enjoy the tranquillity. The gardens offer hospice patients and visitors a peaceful space to pause and draw inspiration from the beauty of nature. Plants grown by volunteer gardeners will be on sale.
Grove House, Waverley Road, St Albans AL3 5QX www.renniegrovepeace.org
Outdoor Theatre: Macbeth
7th June 6.30pm £20, child £14
Enjoy Shakespeare’s most famous tragedy performed by The Duke's Theatre Company. Bring a chair or picnic blanket.
Bletchley Park, Milton Keynes MK3 6EB www.bletchleypark.org.uk
de Havilland Aircraft Museum
Film Night: The 6888 by Tyler Perry
7th June 5pm £25
A cultural educational experience of 80 years since Victory in Europe. Includes admission to the Museum, a talk on the Red Tails by Naval pilot Mike Garrick and a Caribbean meal.
Music at The Museum: WGC Brass Band 14th June 2pm £20
This Father’s Day weekend the Band will be performing Magnificent Men and their Flying Machines, music from Brassed Off and more. Enjoy sitting in the aircraft hangars while the DH Mosquito is rolled out!
Salisbury Hall, London Colney AL2 1BU www.dehavillandmuseum.co.uk
Art on the Common
7th & 8th June from 10am
With artwork from over 60 local artists, including paintings, ceramics, photography, sculpture, fabrics, jewellery and more. Harpenden Common www.harpenden.gov.uk
Out & About
IWM Duxford
Operation Overlord 7th June £36
Experience the story of D-Day, as it’s retold through a flying display with Spitfires, a Piper L-4 Grasshopper and other aircraft, reflecting on the role Duxford has played in aviation history.
Duxford Summer Air Show
21st & 22nd June £49.50, child free
Fuel your senses with fast flying, all action aerobatics in the air above and a jam-packed programme of entertainment on the ground. Enjoy living history groups, a modern military village museum, a traditional steam fair, a multi-sensory outdoor play area, jump free-fall from the top of a high tower, make and paint a plastic scale model, see snakes, lizards and tarantulas and much more.
Cambs CB22 4QR www.iwm.org.uk
Knebworth House
DogFest 7th & 8th June £17.50, child free
This exciting, family-friendly festival is a must-visit for dog lovers, packed with amazing activities, expert advice, and unforgettable experiences for you and your four-legged friends.
Garden Theatre: Comedie of Elizabeth I 8th June gates 6pm, performance 7pm
Performed by The Three Inch Fools. Bring a picnic, blanket and chairs.
Medieval Father's Day Jousting 15th June 12pm & 2.30pm
With stalls offering crafts, gifts, food and drinks. Enjoy family-friendly activities, a tractor display for budding future farmers and tractor enthusiasts alike, a carousel and bouncy castle. A fun summer day out on all the family. Free, parking £2
The Walled Garden, Luton LU1 4LF www.lutonhooestate.co.uk
St Albans Half Marathon
8th June closing date 5th June
This event raises money for local charities and organisations and is a great day out for all the family.
The scenic Half Marathon, Walking Half and Wheelchair Course takes you on a challenging but rewarding route through the country lanes of St Albans. The closed road 10k course is perfect for all runners, and the 5k takes you on a route around Verulamium Park and is open to 11 years and over.
Half Marathon: 9am £38 - £40
Walking Half: 7.30am £26
10k: 9am £30 - £32
5k: 8am £20 - £22
Fun Run: 9.15am £11
Verulamium Park, St Albans AL1 2DL www.stalbanshalfmarathon.com
Tree Cathedral Picnic & Celebrations
8th June 11am - 4pm
A day of fresh air, fun and reflection beneath the leafy canopies of Whipsnade Tree Cathedral. With guided history tours telling the story behind the Tree Cathedral and how it’s looked after, a teddy bear hunt, family games, a service with Whipsnade Church and lots more. Bring seats or blankets. No need to book Whipsnade Tree Cathedral, Dunstable LU6 2LQ www.nationaltrust.org.uk
Tour de Vale Charity Bike Ride
8th June
This charity ride passes through villages in Bucks and Oxfordshire. With entertainment from Bucks Radio and a BBQ. Funds raised will help disabled children and adults take part in sport at Stoke Mandeville Stadium. 25k £20 / 75k £27.50 / 110k £35
Enjoy machinery demonstrations, tractor rides, farm tours and more at this historic family farming estate. Over 30% of the farm is organic or in organic conversion and the majority is run on regenerative principles.
Gaddesden Home Farm, Hemel Hempstead HP2 6EZ www.gaddesdenestate.co.uk
St Albans South Signal Box
8th & 22nd June 2pm - 5pm
Visit the largest preserved Midland Railway signal box in the UK open to the public and next to a main line railway. See signalling demonstrations, operate working signals, a point and more. Free 5 Ridgmont Road, St Albans AL1 3AJ www.sigbox.co.uk
Benington Lordship
Plant Fairs Roadshow
8th June 11am - 4pm £10, child £4
A unique opportunity to buy locally grown and unusual plants from award winning nurseries.
Floral Festival & Open Gardens
28th & 29th June 12pm - 5pm £10, child £4
St Peter's Church will be decorated with floral displays, and some village gardens will be open. Refreshments will be available in the village hall.
Benington Lordship, Nr Stevenage SG2 7BS www.beningtonlordship.co.uk
NOW for some Entertainment
The Alban Arena
Curtis Stigers 1st June 8pm from £24
Songwriter, saxophonist and guitarist with a rich singing voice at turns both mournful and playful.
Simon & Garfunkel Story 3rd June 7.30pm £30
A cast of talented West End actor-musicians tell the story of Simon and Garfunkel from their humble beginnings to their success and break up, finishing with a recreation of the 1981 Central Park concert.
An Evening with Jimmy Tarbuck 5th June 7.30pm from £32
One of the most popular household names from the golden era of British stand up is back with a bang!
Aljaz & Janette: A Night To Remember 6th June 7.30pm from £54.50
A night of unforgettable dancing, great music and plenty of laughter from these Strictly favourites.
Jools Holland & his Rhythm & Blues Orchestra 7th June 7.30pm from £67.50
Continuing to dazzle, involve and impress audiences with their exuberant live performances.
Spoken Word/Audience With ADHD - Unmasked 11th June 7.30pm £29.50
A unique, interactive event taking a closer look at ADHD, with inspiring stories and experiences.
Rumours of Fleetwood Mac 12th June 7.30pm From £37.50
Endorsed by founding member, Mick Fleetwood, this is the ultimate tribute to one of rock and roll’s most remarkable groups.
Reverend Richard Coles: Borderline National Trinket 13th June 7.30pm £30 age 16+
The only British vicar to have had a number-one hit and appeared on Strictly. An intimate evening with one of the UK’s most distinctive voices, sharing anecdotes from a life well lived with gossip, wit and wisdom.
Dancemania 15th June 2.30pm £20
An action-packed show of street hip hop and dance.
Rhys Darby: The Legend Returns 19th June 8pm from £29.50 age 16+
In a world full of AI and Robot tech can a simple dad with slightly tight jeans stay relevant?! Perhaps his unique human skills, once thought of as absurd, might just be useful after all!
One Night of Queen with Gary Mullen 20th June 7.30pm £26
For over 20 years they have been performing this world-renowned live concert, they Will Rock You and are Guranteed to Blow Your Mind!
An Evening with Gazza 22nd June 7.30pm From £32 age 14+
Football icon Paul Gascoigne chats about his career
and time with Rangers, Newcastle, Tottenham, Everton, Lazio, the England squad and more.
Tropicana Nights 28th June 7.30pm £19.50
The Ultimate 80’s Party night. The Alban Arena, St Albans AL1 3LD www.everyonetheatres.com
The Old Town Hall
Talk: The Hidden Corners of London with Jack Chesher 3rd June 7.30pm £18
This Sunday Times bestselling author will take you on a journey through London and its history.
Once 5th - 6th June 7.30pm £18
The story of a guy who gave up on love and music and the girl who inspired him to dream again.
Music, Mayhem & a Mezzo 13th June 8pm £18
This duo have worked with everyone from Pete Townshend to the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra. Journey through the History of Western Music through the medium of Abba, all served up with a filthily operatic sense of humour.
Martin Harley 21st June 8pm £20
Harley has captivated audiences for decades with his ability to blend Americana, Blues and Folk.
Fringe Comedy Previews
Katie Norris & Rob Auton 27th June 8pm £14 14+
Hal Cruttenden 30th June 8pm £14 16+
Hemel Hempstead HP1 3AE www.oldtownhall.co.uk
Barn Theatre
Jazz at the Barn- L’Esprit du Jazz 6th June 8pm £10
Talented jazz accordionist Karen Street and her quartet will perform music inspired by French swing, Latin and Tango, plus some original compositions.
A Midsummer Night’s Dream
12th - 21st June 8pm 21st, 14th & 15th June 2.30pm
Plus 22nd June 3pm outdoor performance at Harmer Green Lane, Digswell, Welwyn Shakespeare’s timeless comedy of fairies, lovers and mistaken identities. £15
Welwyn Garden City AL8 6ST www.barntheatre.co.uk
Hat Factory Arts Centre
Edinburgh Preview Shows 8pm £12 age 16+
Bilal Zafar & Rob Auton 6th June
Ahir Shah & Marise Gaughan 19th June
Ania Magliano & Tom Rosenthal 27th June
A sneak peek from these award-winning comedians, as they make their way to the Edinburgh Fringe.
Open Mic Night 19th June 8pm £8
Calling all local talent! An evening of encouragement in finding your voice, stepping into the light and shining.
Out & About
Wrest Park
Outdoor Cinema gates 8.15pm, films 9.45pm
Classic films on an open-air screen under the stars. Bring blankets or camping chairs
Dirty Dancing 12th June
Grease 13th June
The Goonies 14th June
Bridget Jones 15th June
Wrest Park Silsoe, Beds MK45 4HR
www.adventurecinema.co.uk
www.english-heritage.org.uk
Guided Dragonfly Walks
14th June 11am & 1.30pm age 8+ please book
Learn about these incredible insects, their lifecycles, hunting techniques and unique resting behaviours and identify different species in their natural habitat.
Meet in Thieves Lane Car Park
Panshanger Park, Hertford SG14 2NA www.panshangerpark.tarmac.com
A Midsummer Garden Concert
14th June gates 4pm, concert 5pm £10
A choral concert with Harpenden's Upbeat Choir, and a choir with children from 3 local primary schools. There will be a bar, Dan's Van Pizzas and afternoon tea picnic boxes to be ordered online by 12th June.
Crinkle Crankle Community Garden, Wheathampstead AL4 8AA www.wpcevents.co.uk
Roald Dahl Museum
Big Birthday Bash 14th June 10am - 4pm
Celebrating 20 splendiferous years of the Museum with storytelling, birthday cake, a popup village fete room, games, a birthday trail, clay workshops and a magician. Go along in fancy dress for a special prize. £11.95, child £9.95, clay workshop £5 extra
Danny the Champion of the World Father’s Day Walk 15th June 11.30am & 2pm
The walk takes you past the old buildings of Great Missenden, up to Angling Spring Wood and along paths that are steep and might be muddy. Enjoy homemade cake and tea and coffee afterwards.
£10 plus museum entry, age 6+
Great Missenden, Bucks HP16 0AL www.roalddahlmuseum.org
Waddesdon Manor
Live Fire Dinner 14th June 7pm £150
Indulge in a unique summer evening with a fivecourse feast, expertly prepared on the bespoke charcoal grill, set against the backdrop of the Manor.
House Highlights Tour 18th June 11am
Take a guided tour of the ground floor and then explore the remaining floors at your leisure. £41
Summer Fest 21st & 22nd June £29, £17
A festival of performance, art, music, food and drink set against the magnificent backdrop of the Manor.
A Celebration of Britain 28th June 7pm £150
This five-course dinner is a celebration of the exceptional wines being produced by Britain’s burgeoning wine industry.
Waddesdon, Bucks HP18 0JH www.waddesdon.org.uk
Bubble Rush 15th June
See Gadebridge Park transformed into a sea of colourful bubbles, where everyone can join in the 5k fun run while raising funds for local Hospice care. There'll also be zorbing, entertainment, music and food. If everyone raises just £15, the event will raise over £30,000 to support local people living with a life-limiting illness.
£18.50, child £13 See page 6
Gadebridge Park, Hemel Hempstead HP1 1DN www.stfrancis.org.uk/bubblerush
Dunstable Downs
Nature Day for Great Big Green Week 15th June 10am - 5pm free
Bringing together local charities and organisations in a day packed with fun, discovery and inspiration. With nature rubbings, nature scavenger hunts, butterfly surveys and an orchids and wildflowers walk at 10.30am
(walk: please book £4, child £2)
Art Course: Watercolour Landscapes
24th June 10.30am
For beginners and improvers. Please book £47.50
Whipsnade Road, Dunstable LU6 2GY
www.nationaltrust.org.uk
Lecture: National Treasures -
Saving the Nations Art in WW2
18th June 10.30am £10
Telling the gripping and sometimes hilarious story of how a band of curators and custodians saved Britain’s national heritage during our Darkest Hour. As Hitler’s forces gathered, men and women from London’s national museums, galleries and archives forged extraordinary plans to evacuate their collections to safety. With Arts Society Welwyn Garden Campus West, Welwyn Garden City AL8 6BX www.campuswest.co.uk
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mandmdecs@gmail.com mandm_decorators
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Bleed Kits Now in Defibrillator Cabinets
Bleed control kits have been installed in the three St Albans community defibrillator cabinets at Barclays Bank, Christopher Place and The Maltings, thanks to local charity Hearts for Herts. The kits are designed for use on any extreme bleeding likely to cause death within minutes if not treated. They contain a tourniquet to restrict blood flow, haemostatic gauze that helps stop bleeding rapidly, a trauma dressing, gloves and a chest seal. The kits are registered with the Ambulance Service, so a 999 caller will be given the code to access them, allowing anyone to give vital treatment before paramedics arrive.
There are nearly 30,000 out of hospital cardiac arrests every year in the UK.
Less than 1 in 10 people survive an out of hospital cardiac arrest.
80% of out of hospital cardiac arrests happen at home and 20% happen in a public place.
8 out of 10 cardiac arrests occur due to a cardiac problem.
Public access defibrillator use is reported as being used in less than 1 in 10 cardiac arrests.
For every minute that someone’s in cardiac arrest without receiving CPR and having a defibrillator used on them, their chance of survival decreases by 10%
Catastrophic blood loss is life-threatening and can be caused by road traffic accidents, farming accidents, stabbings and machinery. Death can occur within a matter of minutes if it isn’t controlled.
The average ambulance response time is 6.9 minutes.
The Heartstart Lifesaver Course
Sign up today to take this FREE course, which covers the following:
How to perform CPR
How to safely use a defibrillator
How to help someone who is choking
How to place someone in the recovery position
How to help someone suspected of having a heart attack
How to use the public access bleed control kit “the red bag”
www.heartsforherts.co.uk
enquiries@gjsmithroofing.com
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harpendenblinds@outlook.com 01582 461639
20 Bewdley Close Harpenden
DJ&M
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We care about your small jobs too!
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Dean Herrington 01727 764217 07830 159010 info@djmplumbing.co.uk www.djmplumbing.co.uk see our main advert on the inside back cover
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