The festive season kicks off in St Albans on Sunday with the Christmas Cracker street party.
This family-friendly event takes place in the City Centre from noon until 6pm on Sunday 17 November with St Peter's Street closed to traffic.
Much of the entertainment will be free and accessible with something to suit people of all ages and abilities. British Sign Language Interpreters and Sighted Guides will be available throughout the event.
Among the attractions will be live music, fairground rides, Santa’s grotto, street entertainers and around 100 market stalls selling hot food, drinks and seasonal gifts. Festive decorations and installations will be illuminated throughout the day.
St Albans Museum + Gallery is hosting the Creative Christmas Market on Saturday 30 November, 11am to 5pm.
The event will offer shoppers the chance to buy seasonal gifts and stocking fillers, many of them hand-made by local artists and crafts people.
Held in the Assembly Room, entry is free.
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St Albans Mayor, Councillor Jamie Day, is hosting a carol service at the Clock Tower on Sunday 8 December.
He will be accompanied by St Peter’s Church Choir, the Allstar Acappella Choir and St Albans City Band with refreshments provided by The Boot pub.
The traditional carol singing runs from 4pm to 4.45pm with everyone welcome and funds raised going to support Rennie Grove Hospice.
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There are lots of exciting events happening around the District in the run-up to Christmas.
Harpenden Christmas Carnival and Lights Switch On, Sunday 24 November, noon to 6pm
Organised by Harpenden Town Council, the Carnival (last year's main stage pictured above) will include the Farmers’ Market, Santa's Grotto, funfair rides, street food, outdoor bars and the procession.
Wheathampstead Lights Up, Thursday 28 November, 5.30pm to 8pm
Wheathampstead Parish Council hosts a magical evening of affordable entertainment and activity in the centre of the village, including Santa’s grotto, music, food and drink stalls, artisan market and funfair rides.
London Colney Lights Switch On, Sunday 1 December, 3.30pm to 6.30pm
A market, carols, food stalls, funfair rides and other attractions at Chester Gibbons Green by the High Street.
Redbourn Christmas Market, Sunday 1 December, 11am to 5pm
More than 100 stalls selling food and drink, crafts and seasonal gifts with family-friendly entertainment. There will be community Christmas tree decorating on Sunday 24 November on the Common, 4pm to 5pm.
Hundreds of people paid their respects to Britain’s war dead at a moving Remembrance Sunday Parade and Service in St Albans.
The Mayor of St Albans City and District, Councillor Jamie Day (pictured left), led the commemoration and was joined by Robert Voss, Lord-Lieutenant of Hertfordshire, and leaders of the major faiths at the City's war memorial.
Representatives of air, sea and army cadets, the Guiding and Scout movements, the Police and other uniformed services were present.
There were also Royal British Legion members, Honorary Aldermen and Councillors from County, District, Town and Parish Councils.
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Tenants have been moving into 33 social rent homes at the new Jubilee Square development in the City Centre.
Councillor Jacqui Taylor, our Lead for Housing, (pictured right) welcomed some of them to their new homes. She met with Sheila Dawson-Papa, one of eight tenants who are moving from ageing Telford Court which is being decommissioned.
The Council created Jubilee Square to regenerate a rundown area of the City, with Watford Community Housing buying all of the 93 new homes.
Of these, 33 are social rent properties which have been allocated to people on St Albans District Council’s housing register. The other 60 are being sold on a shared ownership basis.
Charter Market trader Julie Wixted has named her jewellery stall after the Greek mythical monster, Medusa.
Medusa’s hair was made of live snakes and she had the ability to turn men who looked at her into stone.
Julie can’t claim to possess such powers – but she does turn silver and semi-precious stones into beautiful bracelets, necklaces, earrings, brooches and rings.
She designs and makes her own jewellery which she has been selling at the market for 27 years.
“It is a very nice market, one of the best, and has been quietly evolving. It has been good to see more artisan and grocery traders appearing in recent years,” she said.
We are supporting White Ribbon Day on Monday 25 November – the campaign to end male violence against women.
The Council has achieved White Ribbon status showing that we are committed to never take part in, excuse or remain silent about male violence against women.
This year, we are contacting local businesses about the campaign, providing them with information to display and raise awareness. We are also holding a staff training day.
In addition, we are taking part in the United Nations’ Orange the World initiative which also seeks to end the abuse of women and girls.
We will be planting 100 bulbs of orange tulips at the Rose Garden by the Civic Centre and our Museum + Gallery will be lit up in orange for 16 days starting on Monday 25 November at around 5pm.
The Orange the World campaign in the District is being led by the St Albans branch of Soroptimists International with more information available here. Anyone who would like a white ribbon to show their support should contact neil.kieran@stalbans.gov.uk.
We have updated our Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Strategy with residents, businesses and community groups helping to shape the document by giving their views in a public consultation and focus groups.
Among those who contributed to the research were the police, schools, faith leaders and community diversity champions.
The strategy will influence the Council’s major policies and decisions for the years to 2029. You can view the strategy, which will go before Full Council next month for final approval, here.
More than 300 people attended a series of pop-up events in St Albans District to celebrate Older Persons’ Day.
We organised the drop-in events, called Flourishing Lives, along with partner organisations to highlight the contribution older people make to our community.
Hertfordshire Police, Citizens Advice, Communities 1st, Age UK and other groups which work with older people were present.
Information on issues such as crime prevention and benefits was given out.
There were also opportunities to socialise over a cup of tea, provided by St Albans Old People’s Trust, at the four events in St Albans, Wheathampstead, London Colney and Redbourn.
If you are of pensionable age and have a disability or a long-term medical condition and need help caring for yourself, you may be entitled to Attendance Allowance.
The benefit is worth up to £108 a week and is not means tested, so you can claim it even if you have other income or savings in excess of £16,000.
If you are awarded Attendance Allowance, you might find you also qualify for other financial help such as Pension Credit, Housing Benefit or Council Tax Support.
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We are organising a tidy up of our Hatfield Road Cemetery in St Albans to mark Interfaith Week 2024.
Together with St Albans Masorti Synagogue, we are looking to gather a mixed-faith group of volunteers to help with the work.
There will be two shifts of two hours each, beginning at 10am and 2pm, on Sunday 24 November, with volunteers asked to bring gardening gloves and secateurs.
You can find out more information by emailing Nick Grant here or simply turn up on the day.
Revised proposals for car parking charges at some limited waiting bays in Harpenden and St Albans City Centre have been published.
The changes are a response to the views of residents, businesses and other organisations, including Harpenden Town Council, that were aired in a public consultation.
You can look at the revisions and give your views in a consultation here.
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A compelling comedy drama exploring the UK's justice system through the eyes of performers with lived experience of disability. Created and performed by Trestle Theatre Company.
The History of Christmas Carols, Tuesday 10 December, 7pm, Museum + Gallery, £10
Everyone loves the carols that accompany us through the Christmas season - but how did we get that magic? This talk unravels our seasonal soundtrack and tells the stories of everyone's favourites from Good King Wenceslas and Away in a Manger to Ding Dong Merrily on High and The Twelve Days of Christmas. More information here.
Oomph Theatre, The Emperor’s New Clothes, Wednesday 18 to Monday 23 December, Museum + Gallery Assembly Room, £12.50
Wonderful characters and original music are included in this gripping retelling ot Hans Christian Andersen’s classic tale. When the Emperor is seeking a new outfit for the Winter Parade, a little white lie lands Casey the opportunity of a lifetime. But lies tend to grow in the telling, and soon Casey must navigate suspicious nobles and clothing catastrophes to deliver the impossible! Suitable for all ages, see website for times and to buy tickets.
 St Albans Healthy Hub is your free centre for health and wellbeing information, advice and support.
You can get help on many issues including how to lose weight, quit smoking, cut down on alcohol, become more active and manage money.
The organisations involved include Citizens Advice, Communities 1st, Mind in Mid Herts and many more. You can find more information here.
Hertfordshire Health Walks are free, sociable walks led by a team of friendly volunteers.
This is a brilliant way to explore the countryside, get fitter and meet other people who enjoy the great outdoors.
Walking strengthens your heart, bones and muscles, lowers blood pressure and reduces the risk of many health conditions.
Health Walks are graded from gentle ‘First Steps’ to brisk ‘Grade 4’ walks, so you will be sure to find a walk that meets your needs.
The walks are coordinated and funded by Hertfordshire County Council and you can find a timetable here.
Taxpayers are being urged to download HM Revenue and Custom’s app to make it easier to manage their money and tax.
More than 1.7 million people are already using the app every month.
It enables users to access services such as making a Child Benefit claim, finding your National Insurance number and estimating your take-home pay by a tax calculator. More information is available here.
Our partners at Healthwatch Hertfordshire want people to complete a short survey so that decision makers understand your needs.
They want to know your health priorities and concerns so local helath services can be adapted to better support people’s wellbeing.
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