Last updated: 11 November 2024
Discover the magic of the holidays in Hemel Hempstead with our comprehensive guide. Whether you're rediscovering Hemel Hempstead or experiencing it for the first time, our guide is your festive season companion.
Explore the enchanting "Magic at Hatfield House," where the historic estate transforms into a winter wonderland with twinkling lights and festive decorations. With its stunning backdrop, "Christmas at Knebworth House" invites visitors to enjoy seasonal festivities in a beautiful garden setting filled with unique attractions. And the "'Tis the Season at St Albans Cathedral" is something you definitely don't want to miss, featuring a series of beautiful carol services and festive activities. See more details on these and other fun events and activities below!
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Hemel Hempstead Holiday Markets and Shopping
Christmas at Knebworth House
- What to Expect
- Unique shopping experience with over 250 stalls.
- Description
- Knebworth House hosts a three-day Christmas Fair featuring local artisans, boutique vendors, and a wide range of Christmas gifts, decorations, and festive food.
- Where
- Knebworth | More Info : Christmas at Knebworth House
Tring Together Festival
- What to Expect
- Large-scale community event with diverse local vendors and entertainment.
- Description
- Tring Together's Christmas Festival is a vibrant community event featuring local traders, charities, and community groups. Enjoy a festive light installation, Santa's Grotto, open churches, and a large entertainment stage with fun fair activities.
- Where
- Tring | More Info : Tring Together Festival
Christmas at Hertford Castle
- What to Expect
- Live entertainment and fairground rides amidst Christmas market stalls.
- Description
- Hertford Castle Christmas Market features an array of Christmas market stalls offering homeware, crafts, and jewellery. The event includes food and drink stalls, fairground rides, and live entertainment.
- Where
- Hertford | More Info : Christmas at Hertford Castle
Christmas Fair at Knebworth House
- What to Expect
- Unique shopping experience with new outdoor shopping marquees and wider aisles.
- Description
- The Knebworth Christmas Fair at Knebworth House features over 250 stalls offering a wide range of Christmas gifts, including jewelry and children’s items, along with delicious festive food and drink. The event is a premier shopping destination for all ages, providing a comprehensive selection of holiday treats and entertainment.
- Where
- Knebworth | More Info : Christmas Fair at Knebworth House
Hemel Hempstead Holiday Shows and Entertainment
Magic at Hatfield House
- What to Expect
- Celebrating musical time travel with a diverse lineup of chamber music performances.
- Description
- The Hatfield House Music Festival is a long weekend of concerts curated by Artistic Director Guy Johnston, featuring a diverse lineup of musicians performing chamber music masterworks from various eras, including works by Dowland, Handel, and contemporary composers. The festival celebrates significant anniversaries and explores the theme of Musical Time Travel, showcasing the timeless nature of music.
- Where
- Hatfield | More Info : Magic at Hatfield House
Tis the Season at St Albans Cathedral
- What to Expect
- Holiday celebration with diverse cultural and artistic activities.
- Description
- St Albans Cathedral presents 'Tis the Season with a variety of holiday-themed events, including concerts, film screenings, and special exhibitions that celebrate the festive season with a blend of music, art, and community spirit.
- Where
- St Albans | More Info : Tis the Season at St Albans Cathedral
Jingle all the way in Stevenage
- What to Expect
- Classic comedy with Schwarzenegger's signature humor.
- Description
- Jingle All the Way is a classic comedy starring Arnold Schwarzenegger as a desperate father competing with another parent to get his son the hottest toy of the season, Turbo Man. The film showcases Schwarzenegger's comedic prowess in a family-friendly, slapstick-filled adventure.
- Where
- Stevenage | More Info : Jingle all the way in Stevenage
The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe at Abbey Theatre
- What to Expect
- Classic adaptation of C.S. Lewis's tale with intricate sets and characters.
- Description
- The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe at Abbey Theatre is an adaptation of C.S. Lewis's timeless tale, following Peter, Susan, Edmund, and Lucy Pevensie as they discover a mysterious wardrobe leading to the magical land of Narnia. They embark on a fantastic adventure to save Narnia from everlasting winter, meeting Mr. Tumnus, Mr. and Mrs. Beaver, and Father Christmas along the way. This production is recommended for all ages but contains scenes that some younger children may find upsetting.
- Where
- St Albans | More Info : The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe at Abbey Theatre
Christmas Joiner Party
- What to Expect
- Exclusive holiday celebration with a 3-course dinner and live DJ.
- Description
- Join us at the Aubrey Park Hotel for a Christmas Joiner Party in the Oak Suite. Enjoy a welcome drink, a 3-course festive dinner, and glass of wine, along with novelties and a DJ. Tables may be mixed, and the event promises a memorable evening.
- Where
- Hemel Hempstead | More Info : Christmas Joiner Party
Fantastical Christmas Revels at Hatfield Park
- What to Expect
- Tudor-themed Christmas celebration with bespoke installations and historical reenactments.
- Description
- Step into the realm of Tudor festivities at Hatfield Park, where Queen Elizabeth I hosts a journey through time and tradition. Wander through the West Garden, Knot Garden, and Victorian Kitchen, encountering imposing Tudor bespoke installations, a majestic carriage, and merry mummers performing festive plays. Gaze upon the Christmas Kissing Bough and immerse yourself in the melodies of the era. Capture your journey with an awe-inspiring figure of Queen Elizabeth I. Transport yourself to a regal past and create cherished memories amidst the sparkle of the season.
- Where
- Hatfield | More Info : Fantastical Christmas Revels at Hatfield Park
Hemel Hempstead Other Holiday Activities
Hemel Hempstead Christmas Present Trail
- What to Expect
- Giant presents with letter clues for a word puzzle.
- Description
- Explore Hemel Hempstead's Christmas Present Trail, where 8 giant presents are located throughout the Marlowes and Old Town. Each present displays a letter for people to collect and decipher a word. The correct entries will be entered into a prize draw for a chance to win a £200 gift voucher.
- Where
- Hemel Hempstead | More Info : Hemel Hempstead Christmas Present Trail
Christmas Car Fair
- What to Expect
- Charity passenger rides with donations to Pixies Hill Primary School.
- Description
- The Christmas Car Fair at Drift Limits offers thrilling passenger rides, a variety of traders' stalls for last-minute Christmas gifts, delicious food and drink, and photo opportunities on an iconic circuit. It's a perfect family day out.
- Where
- Hemel Hempstead | More Info : Christmas Car Fair
Pokemania - Hemel Hempstead
- What to Expect
- Immersive Pokémon trading card marketplace with tournaments and cosplay opportunities.
- Description
- Pokemania in Hemel Hempstead is an immersive event featuring a vibrant marketplace with thousands of Pokémon trading cards, a trading zone, and exciting Pokémon GO tournaments. The event also includes adorable plushies and opportunities for cosplay, making it a fun experience for all Pokémon fans.
- Where
- Hemel Hempstead | More Info : Pokemania - Hemel Hempstead