Christmas menus, makers’ markets and a light trail

Hello Harpenden, hello St Albans! 👋

The Christmas season is properly here. The big switch-ons are still a week away, but this week the festive menus start, the wreath-making evenings fill up and Hertfordshire’s biggest light trail opens its gates. Here’s what’s on from Thursday 12 to Friday 20 November, with times, prices and where to go.

Photo: AlphaCore, Wikimedia Commons, CC0

☀️ Weather at a glance

A dry, frosty start, a soggy Sunday and Tuesday, then clearing up. This is the St Albans forecast, and it covers Harpenden too. It updates last week’s forecast for Saturday and Sunday.

• Thursday 12 Nov: sunny, 7° / -1°, 5% chance of rain.
• Friday 13 Nov: clear and frosty, 8° / -3°, dry.
• Saturday 14 Nov: cold and bright, 8° / -3°, 10% chance of rain. Gloves for the fair.
• Sunday 15 Nov: rain likely, 11° / 5°, 70% chance of rain. Wellies for the Common.
• Monday 16 Nov: 7° / 3°, 10% chance of rain.
• Tuesday 17 Nov: wet, 7° / 4°, 75% chance of rain. Brolly for the Makers Market.
• Wednesday 18 Nov: 7° / 2°, 5% chance of rain.
• Thursday 19 Nov: dry and cold, 7° / 2°, 0% chance of rain.
• Friday 20 Nov: not in the forecast yet.

🛍️ Still on this weekend

Both are from last week’s issue, and the Sunday one is now the wet one.

• Harpenden Salvation Army Harpenden Christmas Fair, Saturday 14 November, 10am to 2pm, Leyton Green. Free entry.
• Harpenden Harpenden Christmas Sustainability Market, Sunday 15 November, 10am to 3pm, on the Common in front of Park Hall. Free.

🎁 Christmas shopping this week

Christmas Makers Market

St Albans
📅 Tuesday 17 November, 6pm to 8pm
📍 The Hub on Verulam, Verulam Road
💷 Check The Hub for entry details

An evening market with a handpicked selection of makers and artisans selling festive gifts. A good one for a wet Tuesday, since it’s indoors.

Ashridge House Illuminated opens

Harpenden (a short drive from Harpenden)
📅 From Friday 20 November to Saturday 2 January, daily, first entry from 4pm
📍 Ashridge House and gardens, near Berkhamsted
💷 Adults from £24.50, children £15.40, family of four £72, under-4s free

Hertfordshire’s biggest Christmas light trail has a brand-new route and, for the first time, a projection show on the house itself. It starts and ends at a Christmas market with seasonal food, drink and gifts. Parking is free for ticket holders, and Wednesday and Thursday evenings are dog-friendly. Tickets must be booked online in advance.

Photo: Andy Li, Wikimedia Commons, CC0

Father Christmas at Burston Garden Centre

St Albans
📅 Selected dates until 24 December
📍 Burston Garden Centre, North Orbital Road, Chiswell Green
💷 £15

Children meet Father Christmas and his elves and take home a gift. Pick a timed slot on the organiser’s booking calendar.

🍽️ Eating and drinking

Festive menus are starting up, and some have deposits or pre-orders, so book early.

Photo: Malcolmxl5, Wikimedia Commons, CC0

Festive menus starting this week

• Harpenden The Old Bell, Festive Spread from Thursday 12 November to 24 December, three courses for £34.
• Harpenden Losh Bar & Grill, Festive Party Menu from Monday 16 November to 30 December, three courses for £45 per person, with live music.
• Harpenden The Old Cock Inn, festive menu from Wednesday 18 November, three courses for £39.50. It runs to Boxing Day, excluding Christmas Day.
• St Albans Cosy Club, festive menus from Wednesday 18 November to Christmas Eve, three courses from £29.95.
• St Albans The White Lion, festive set menu from Wednesday 18 November, three courses £38 or two courses £33, with a £10-per-person deposit.
• St Albans Bill’s, Early Bird Christmas Set Menu until 30 November, three courses for £29.95. Pre-orders are needed seven days ahead, and from 1 December the menu is £35.95.

Winter Wine Fair

St Albans
📅 Saturday 14 November, 1pm to 3pm or 3pm to 5pm
📍 Verulam Golf Club, London Road
💷 £35

Cellar Door Wines brings its Christmas wine fair, with more than 80 wines to try plus cheese and cured meats. Good for stocking up on Christmas drinks.

Christmas Day tables

If you’d rather not cook, book now. The Old Bell is £86 per person, The Old Cock Inn £98 for adults and £49 for children, and The Ancient Briton in St Albans £74.99 for adults and £37.49 for children. All are three courses.

🎄 Make something

Wreath and craft evenings are selling fast across both towns.

Photo: MarkBuckawicki, Wikimedia Commons, CC0

• St Albans Cocktails & Candles, Wednesday 18 Nov, 7:30pm, The Hub on Verulam. Paint six taper candles over a festive cocktail. £35 (members £30).
• St Albans Christmas Wreath Making, Tuesday 17 Nov, 7pm, Dafs Studio, Pickford Road. Champagne and nibbles included. £80.
• St Albans Bonkers Xmas Wreaths, Thursday 19 Nov, 7pm, Saint & Sinner, St Peter’s Street. A colourful, kitsch wreath. £45.
• St Albans PTA Wreath Making, Friday 20 Nov, 7pm, Cunningham Hill Junior School Hall. Mulled wine and a mince pie included. £50.

👀 Coming up

Sunday 22 November: Christmas kicks off in both towns

You can’t do both lights, so pick your highlights.

Christmas Cracker

St Albans
📅 Noon to 6pm
📍 St Albans city centre
💷 Free

Around 100 stalls, live music and school choirs, Santa’s grotto, fairground rides and street entertainment. The main stage runs from The Big Choir at noon to Swanvesta Social Club at 5:20pm.

Christmas Carnival

Harpenden
📅 Noon to 6pm
📍 Harpenden town centre
💷 Free

Stalls, outdoor bars, fairground rides and a petting farm. The procession leaves Lydekker Park at 3pm, and the lights go on at 5pm.

Plan it: St Albans for lunch and shopping, then Harpenden for the procession and the lights. The 321 bus links the two towns, so check the times.

More markets and shopping nights

• St Albans Sat 21 Nov: St Mary’s Christmas Fair, 10:30am, Marshalswick.
• St Albans Thu 26 Nov: George Street Christmas Shopping Night, 6pm to 10pm, with independent shops, food and drink.
• St Albans Thu 26 Nov: St Michael’s Manor Christmas Artisan Market, 6pm to 9pm, £10 including mulled wine and a mince pie.
• Harpenden Sat 28 Nov: We Are Harpenden Christmas Market, 10am to 4pm, Eric Morecambe Centre. Free.
• Sun 29 Nov: Redbourn Christmas Market, 11am to 5pm, with more than 100 stalls.
• St Albans Sat 5 Dec: Creative Christmas Market, 10am to 4pm, St Albans Museum + Gallery. Free.

See you at the markets! 🎄
The Social Martini team