24 Oct 2023
There’s just over a month to go before Harpenden Christmas Carnival, which promises a wide mix of of entertainment, activities, food and drink, outdoor bars and music as well as the Christmas Farmers’ Market, funfair and lights switch on.
The event, which takes place on November 26, welcomes around 20,000 people every year and is seen as a traditional start to Christmas celebrations for residents and visitors alike.
The procession will begin at 3pm from Lydekker Park, before travelling along the High Street up to Vaughan Road. This year’s theme is the ‘Homemade Magic of Christmas’, and the Harpenden Pipe Band will lead the parade, closely followed by Santa and his elves. Joining them will be stilt walkers and entertainers, Brownies and Scout groups, schools, entertainers, musicians and other community groups.
The Christmas Lights will be switched on at 5pm by Town Mayor, Cllr Fiona Gaskell together with the winner of the Mayor’s Christmas Card Competition, a design competition open to children in Harpenden.
Mayor Cllr Fiona Gaskell said: “The Christmas Carnival is a wonderful highlight of the town council’s events calendar. So many exciting things are planned and I look forward to enjoying the lively, festive atmosphere. It is always a pleasure to see residents and visitors of all ages enjoying the entertainment, food and
drinks, as well as doing a spot of Christmas shopping. We would like to thank SA Law for supporting the 2023 Carnival as our principal sponsor and helping to make this year’s event such a success!”
Free parking for the event will be available at the Station car park all day; because of expected high attendance the town council encourages people to walk where possible. For families attending with young children, there will be free lost child wristbands available at the Town Council Information Tent.
