ART & EXHIBITIONS

The annual Herts Open Studios celebrates its 35th year with artists exhibiting in studios, workshops, galleries, shops and pop-ups all over the county. Download a brochure to see what’s on near you from exhibitions and demos to workshops, from 6 – 28 September.

Leaving Were The Ones Who could Not Stay is at Broadway Gallery, Lethworth from 4 Sept – 18 Oct. It explores migration and displacement through sound, video, collage and interactive installations, while Generations is at St Albans Museum + Gallery until 16 November. Through personal collections, photographs and creative storytelling, it explores what it means to be South Asian in St Albans.

THEATRE

Expect plenty of silliness with The Pantaloons’ production of Hamlet appearing at The Place, Bedford on Sept 5, Leighton buzzard Library Theatre on Sept 11 and Southern Maltings, Ware on Sept 14.

Over at Abbey Theatre, St Albans The Unfriend is a play about an English couple who befriend a lusty, Trump-loving widow from Denver, USA while on a cruise. From 12 – 14 Sept and 17-20 Sept.

Blending history, storytelling and comedy, hit show 5 Mistakes That Changed History is at The Eric Morecambe Centre on Sept 20.

Not exactly theatre, but a show of sorts. Catch Katie Price and Kerry Katona as they arrive at Watford Palace Theatre on Sept 19 as part of their tell-all tour. Sharing stories of marriage, divorce and bankruptcy expect singing, dancing and plenty of entertainment. Also at The Eric Morecambe Centre on Sept 30.

SCREENINGS

It’s your last chance to catch some al fresco film as Adventure Cinema hosts this year’s summer screenings at Knebworth House – the iconic country estate in Hertfordshire. You can book The Greatest Showman Sing-a-Long (5 Sept), Wicked Sing-a-Long (6 Sept), The Gruffalo/Stick Man (7 Sept), Andrea Bocelli 30 and Pretty Woman (7 Sept). Gates open at 1.30pm and 6.30pm and there’ll be hot food and snacks, plus a bar available, but you can also bring your own picnic if you prefer.

Here’s something different. Hertfordshire’s first ever drone light show! Using AI and light drone technology Space Safari will transform the St Albans sky into a luminous, cinematic spectacle. At Herts Showground on Sept 27.

FOOD & DRINK

Catch Tom Kerridge’s popular food and music festival Pub in the Park over at Verulamium Park in St Albans from 5-7 September. This year he’s joined by chefs including Matt Tebbutt and Simon Rimmer on the demo stage. Plus there’ll be firepit sessions, the chance to meet your local foodie heros at the pop-up cookbook shop and try dishes from their restaurants. Plus there’ll be music from Dizzee Rascal, Daniel Bedingfield, Squeeze and The Amy Winehouse Band.

Welwyn Garden City Food and Craft Market is on 6 & 20 September, with local and national traders selling everything from burgers to bao buns, plus gifts, crafts and more.

Toast the end of summer with a Roots Dining Experience at Tewinbury Farm. Hosted by celebrated chef Francesco Mattana enjoy a bespoke four-course menu at the long communal table set in Tewinbury’s idyllic garden setting. On Sept 12. Tickets £98pp.

Get your fill of cask ales, craft beers and international lagers and perries at the Camra St Albans Beer and Cider Festival at the Alban Arena from 24 – 27 September. There’ll also be fine wines and spirits, street food, live music, and festival games.

Wine lovers, here’s another one for you! Bailey Hills Estates in Bishop’s Stortford officially opens its cellar door on 5 Sept. Tickets also available for vineyard tours and tastings every Fri and Sat throughout September. Cheers!

FESTIVALS

The Nationwide campaign Heritage Open Days is back from 12-21 September with the opportunity to see behind the closed doors of an wide range of cultural sites, usually closed to the public. Check out my guide here.

Grab your walking boots for Bedfordshire’s Festival of Autumn Walks, which takes place from 6-14 September with a programme of group walking routes of different lengths, themes (historical to bird watching), and some with pub pit stops. Similarly, the Chilterns Heritage Festival offers a programme of walks, talks and tours between 21 Sept – 9 Oct to showcase the local Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

See out summer with a bang with the Firework Championships at Hatfield House on Sept 13. Watch four fiery ten-minute displays, and a fab finale then help choose the winner by texting in with your favourite.

MUSIC & DANCE

If you like a bit of Spanish flair, check out fiesty, flamenco extravaganza, Art of Andalucia at Watford Palace Theatre on 11 Sept. It’ll be hot, hot, hot! While for traditionalists, Crown Ballet® presents The Nutcracker at BEAM Hertford on 15 Sept.

Ready for a musical journey? The Story of Swing, presented by world-class trumpet player, Gareth John is at The Spotlight, Hoddesdon on Sept 17.

And it’s friendship bracelets at the ready as Taylormania lands at the Grove Theatre, Dunstable on 26 Sept.

COMEDY

Remember Trigger Happy TV? Then you’ll want to catch Dom Joly at The Quarry Theatre as he brings his most iconic characters and sketches to life with his Work In Progress show on 12 Sept.

Simon Brodkin, Vittorio Angelone, Esther Manito and Josh Weller are Live at The Radlett on 12 Sept while top comic magician, Pete Firman, will be serving up an evening of Tricks & Giggles at The Quarry Theatre on Sept 19.

Meanwhile, The Scummy Mummies are bringing their Hot Mess collection of songs, sketches and stand-up to South Mill Arts on 26 Sept.

FITNESS

Feeling sporty? Bedford Run Fest is returning to Russell Park from 6-7 September. Sign up to the Raring2Go, Mini-mile, Bedford 5k, Twilight 10K, Bedford Half Marathon or 20 mile race. Or you could just sit back and soak up the atmosphere in the festival village, where there’ll be live entertainment, a street food market, health and wellbeing area, funfair and open air cinema. What’s more, entry to the festival (for non-runners) is FREE!

Discover more Herts and Beds races to sign up for now here.

FAMILY & KIDS

Discover the dark Arts at Harry Potter Studio

Discover the Dark Arts at Warner Brothers’ Harry Potter Studio Tour from 12 September – 9 November where the sets will get a spookier makeover ahead of Halloween. Learn wand combat skills, search for the dark mark but beware of the death eaters.

Got a gamer in the family? Then be sure to log in to WiFi Wars at Watford Palace Theatre on Sep 7.

Meet a Roman soldier, try some Roman delicacies, take part in an artefact dig and learn all about life in Roman Verulamium at the Roman Festival at St Albans Cathedral from 15-19 Sept – this is a KS2 school event so speak to teachers about signing up!

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