Herts &amp; Beds


<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-theatre">THEATRE</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="1000" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/herts/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/04/MindrEADER-1000x1000.jpg" alt="alex McAleer" class="wp-image-94787" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/herts/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/04/MindrEADER-1000x1000.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/herts/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/04/MindrEADER-800x800.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/herts/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/04/MindrEADER-400x400.jpg 400w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/herts/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/04/MindrEADER-500x500.jpg 500w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/herts/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/04/MindrEADER-1100x1100.jpg 1100w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/herts/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/04/MindrEADER.jpg 1500w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></figure>



<p>If you like a bit of psychological trickery, catch <a href="https://oldtownhall.co.uk/events/alex-mcaleer-mind-reader" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Mind Reader, Alex McAleer</a> at The Old Town Hall on <strong>May 22</strong>. Having stunned audiences at the&nbsp;Edinburgh Fringe, expect an unforgettable live show that will leave your mind blown. Alternatively, try <a href="https://watfordpalacetheatre.co.uk/events/the-complete-works-of-shakespeare-abridged/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The Complete Works of Shakespeare (Abridged)</a> over at Watford Palace Theatre (<strong>May 25-27</strong>). A new version of the West End classic, it&#8217;s joyous, funny and packed with lightning-fast costume changes, sword fights and outrageous improvisation. </p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-music">MUSIC </h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="667" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/herts/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/04/Slamdunk1500x1000-1000x667.jpg" alt="Slam Dunk festival" class="wp-image-94782" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/herts/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/04/Slamdunk1500x1000-1000x667.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/herts/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/04/Slamdunk1500x1000-800x533.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/herts/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/04/Slamdunk1500x1000.jpg 1500w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Slam Dunk Festival</figcaption></figure>



<p>Can&#8217;t make it to the Eurovision finals in Bangkok? No worries. Instead rally the troops, dress up to the nines and book at table at Southern Maltings, Ware for <a href="https://southernmaltings.co.uk/events/eurovision-2026-live/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Eurovision 2026 Live</a> on <strong>16 May</strong>. Hosted by fabulous drag queen, Electric Blue, the event will be shown on the big screen plus there’ll be Eurovision bingo, country sweepstakes plus snacks and drinks available from the pop-up bar to keep you singing and dancing until midnight. Prefer pop-punk, ska punk, metal, emo and alternative rock? Then don&#8217;t miss <a href="https://hatfield-house.co.uk/event/slam-dunk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Slam Dunk Festival </a>(South), the UK’s biggest independent Rock Festival at Hatfield Park on <strong>May 23</strong>. A one-day event, this year&#8217;s line-up including Good Charlotte, Knocked Loose and Sublime. Expect high-octane riffs, mosh pits and high-octane energy.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-comedy">COMEDY</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="667" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/herts/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/04/Kane-bROWN1500X1000-1000x667.jpg" alt="Kane Brown" class="wp-image-94803" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/herts/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/04/Kane-bROWN1500X1000-1000x667.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/herts/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/04/Kane-bROWN1500X1000-800x533.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/herts/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/04/Kane-bROWN1500X1000.jpg 1500w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Kane Brown</figcaption></figure>



<p>Check out award-winning comedians, <a href="https://www.culturetrust.com/whats-on/edinburgh-fringe-comedy-preview-glenn-moore-and-garrett-millerick" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Glenn Moore and Garrett Millerick</a>, before they take their comedy gold to the Edinburgh Fringe. Catch them at the Hat Factory Arts Centre, Luton on <strong>May 7</strong>.</p>



<p>Meanwhile, <a href="https://watfordpalacetheatre.co.uk/events/kane-brown-crowd-work/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Kane Brown</a> brings you his brand-new show&nbsp;<em>Crowd Work King</em>, an unscripted, unplanned comedy with plenty of audience participation. It&#8217;s at the Watford Palace Theatre on <strong>May 21</strong>.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-festivals">FESTIVALS</h2>



<p>Catch <a href="https://www.livingcrafts.co.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Living Crafts</a>, the four day festival of art, craft and design, at<strong> </strong>Hatfield Park (<strong>May 7-10</strong>). Enjoy hands-on activities (from jewellery making to stone carving) watch skilled artisans at work and browse the stalls for ceramics, jewellery, textiles, furniture and more. And <a href="https://baldockfestival.org.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The Baldock Festival</a> is back for the 41th time this year, celebrating arts and culture in North Herts. There&#8217;ll be a programme of live music, food and drink, family activities and local history events from <strong>May 1 &#8211; 17</strong>. </p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="667" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/herts/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/04/Hertfordbkfestival-1000x667.jpg" alt="Hertford Book festival" class="wp-image-94788" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/herts/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/04/Hertfordbkfestival-1000x667.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/herts/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/04/Hertfordbkfestival-800x533.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/herts/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/04/Hertfordbkfestival.jpg 1500w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Herts Book Festival</figcaption></figure>



<p>Attention booklovers! <a href="http://hertsbookfestival.org/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The Herts Book Festival</a> is takes place at BEAM Hertford on <strong>May 16</strong> and Southern Maltings, Ware on <strong>May</strong> <strong>1</strong>7. The festival welcomes over 40 authors including bestselling novelist Freya North (catch her at BEAM on the Saturday) and Alice Hemming (take part in her writing workshop at the Southern Maltings on the Sunday). Plus expect plenty of storytelling, a book exchange, kids&#8217; crafts and stacks of literary delights. also back for another year is <a href="https://hertsshow.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The Hertfordshire County Show</a>. Located at The Showground in Redbourn, it’s a fun family event packed with entertainment, food, show jumping, farm animals and more. <strong>May 23-2</strong>4. And round off the month with the <a href="https://foodiesfestival.com/events/st-albans/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Foodies Festival in St Albans </a>from <strong>May 29 &#8211; May</strong> <strong>31</strong>. There&#8217;ll be music from Boyzlife and Symphonic Ibiza, demos on the chefs stage from big name TV chefs, cookbook authors and local restaurateurs plus there&#8217;ll be street food, kids&#8217; activities, a cake and bake theatre and more. Phew! </p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-events-amp-workshops">EVENTS &amp; WORKSHOPS</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="667" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/herts/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/04/WeddingstMichaelmanor-1000x667.jpg" alt="Wedding st michael's Manor hotel" class="wp-image-94794" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/herts/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/04/WeddingstMichaelmanor-1000x667.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/herts/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/04/WeddingstMichaelmanor-800x533.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/herts/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/04/WeddingstMichaelmanor.jpg 1500w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></figure>



<p>Looking for a special place to tie-the-knot? Head to St Michael’s Manor Hotel, St Albans for a special <a href="https://www.stmichaelsmanor.com/event/wedding-open-day-10th-may-st-michaels-manor-hotel/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Wedding Open Day</a> on <strong>May 10</strong>. Their team of experts will be on hand with advice and you can nose around the ceremony and reception spaces, gardens, bedrooms and more. Feeling creative? Tewinbury is running a <a href="https://www.tewinbury.co.uk/event/10582-2/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">candle-making workshop</a> on <strong>May 23</strong>. Learn to hand pour your own scented candles and then take your creations home. Or why not unleash your inner artist with a <a href="https://brothershipstudio.com/products/paint-and-pour" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Cocktails and Chaos</a> workshop at the Brothership art studio in Hertford on <strong>May 30</strong>. Guided by artist Matt Collinson you’ll create your own masterpiece while enjoying snacks, beverages and an art gallery vibe. All materials supplied. £75pp.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-kids-amp-family">KIDS &amp; FAMILY</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="667" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/herts/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/05/Rudescience1500-x-1000-px-1500-x-1000-px-1000x667.jpg" alt="Rude Science" class="wp-image-90650" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/herts/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/05/Rudescience1500-x-1000-px-1500-x-1000-px-1000x667.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/herts/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/05/Rudescience1500-x-1000-px-1500-x-1000-px-800x533.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/herts/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/05/Rudescience1500-x-1000-px-1500-x-1000-px.jpg 1500w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Rude Science</figcaption></figure>



<p>This May bank holiday (<strong>May 4</strong>), meet Star Wars cosplayers at&nbsp;<a href="https://hertfordshirezoo.com/events/star-wars-cosplay-at-hertfordshire-zoo/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Hertfordshire Zoo</a>. Get up close to Star Wars characters, transform yourself into your favourite hero or villian using costumes and props then take a pic in your gear with a Stormtrooper, Jedi or Darth Vader. Meanwhile, Little artists can enjoy a <a href="https://henry-moore.org/whats-on/soft-sculpt-2026/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">soft sculpting workshop </a>at&nbsp;Henry Moore Studio &amp; Gardens in Much Hadham&nbsp;on Saturday and Sunday in <strong>May</strong>. Using a variety of materials kids can create a Henry Moore-inspired sculpture at this drop-in creative making session. Head to <a href="https://www.culturetrust.com/venues/wardown-house-museum-gallery" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Wardown House, Museum &amp; Gallery in Luton</a> on <strong>May 17</strong> for the launch of The Wonder Houses, six colourful houses that allow you to delve deeper into the world of Wardown’s treasured collection. And here’s a helping of science! <a href="https://everyonetheatres.com/whats-on/ministry-of-science/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The Ministry of Science</a> is at the Grove Theatre on <strong>May 28</strong>. Featuring hydrogen bottle rockets, fire tornadoes, and liquid nitrogen clouds it proves that learning science really can be explosive, entertaining and fun. Enormous bottoms, fart machines, snot cocktails – yes it’s <a href="https://everyonetheatres.com/whats-on/rude-science/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Rude Science</a>, the best and most revolting science show in the world! It’s on at The Alban Arena on <strong>May 29</strong>. Funny and educational, it’s a must-see. Finally, calling all gamers! <a href="https://southmillarts.co.uk/shows/wifi-wars/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">WiFi Wars</a> is at South Mills Arts on <strong>May 29</strong>. Log in with your smartphone or tablet and compete in live games and quizzes. Win the show and you’ll receive a prize. Suitable for 6 years+. </p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-in-the-mood-for-more-try-these">IN THE MOOD FOR MORE? TRY THESE:</h2>



<ul>
<li><a href="http://Little movers: 6 brilliant sports classes for active tots in Herts &amp; Beds">Little movers: 6 brilliant sports classes for active tots in Herts &amp; Beds</a></li>



<li><a href="https://herts.muddystilettos.co.uk/things-to-do/for-kids/adventure-playgrounds-hertfordshire-bedfordshire/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">6 epic adventure playgrounds in Herts &amp; Beds</a></li>



<li><a href="https://herts.muddystilettos.co.uk/travel/uk/glamping-camping/wild-canvas-turvey-house-bedfordshire-camping-festival/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">5 reasons to book Wild Canvas, a one-of-a-kind camping escape in Beds</a></li>
</ul>


May days! 20+ things to do near you this month

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