What’s On in December

1 DECEMBER Pic-n-Mix Social Group

10.30am-12noon. Letchworth Library Meets the first Wednesday of every month. Each session has a theme or activity, and suggestions are made attendees. Drop in for a cuppa, a chat and make some new friends!

1, 8 & 15 DECEMBER BookTrust Storytime

2.15-2.45pm. Letchworth Library Free - donations welcome Explore and share a BookTrust Storytime book with your little one. Suitable for children under 5. Web: www.hertfordshire.gov.uk

2 DECEMBER The Arts Society North Herts

11am-12.15pm Broadway Cinema and Theatre, Eastcheap, Letchworth ‘The Christmas Story in Renaissance Art’ by Paula Nuttal. Visitors welcome. Lift access. Web: theartssocietynorthherts. org.uk

2, 9, 16 & 23 DECEMBER Baby Rhyme Time

10.15-10.45am and 11.15-11.45am Hitchin Library Free - donations welcome Fun, half hour sessions of songs and rhymes are perfect for helping your child to learn language skills and are an opportunity for you to meet other families too. Booking essential. www.hertfordshire.gov.uk

2, 9, 16, & 30 DECEMBER Sapphire Social Singles Club

8pm. The Orange Tree, Hitchin Meet every Thursday. A friendly social group for single people to meet and make new friends - generally 50+ age group. Tel/text: Ian 07900 890583 for info www.sapphiresocialsinglesclub.co.uk

3 DECEMBER Bedfordshire Family History Society

7pm on Zoom. Members free, Visitors £1. ‘A plague upon all your houses: Epidemic disease and our ancestors’ by Dr Janet Few. Web: www.bfhs.org.uk

3, 10, 17 & 24 DECEMBER Baby Rhyme Time

10.15-10.45am & 11.30-12.00 noon Stevenage Library Free - donations welcome Fun, half hour sessions of songs and rhymes are perfect for helping your child to learn language skills and are an opportunity for you to meet other families too. Booking essential. www.hertfordshire.gov.uk

3, 10 & 17 DECEMBER Bridge Club

1.30-4.30pm. Springfield House, Old Stevenage Community Centre Play social cut-in Chicago Bridge. Play is informal and friendly. Tel: Richard Bean 01438 221517

4 DECEMBER Cambridgeshire and Bedfordshire Hardy Plant Society

2pm. Weatherley Centre, Eagle Farm Road, Biggleswade Talk by Timothy Walker, retired Head of Oxford Botanic Gardens and well-known speaker. Visitors welcome – small charge. Web: www.hpscambsandbeds.co.uk

5 DECEMBER Warden Abbey Vineyard Christmas Wine Sale

11am-4pm. The Garden Suite, Shuttleworth House, Old Warden Free entry. Local food and crafts. Free tasting, mince pies (while stocks last) and parking. Tel: 07981 113714 Web: www.wardenvineyard.org.uk

6 & 13 DECEMBER Stevenage Choral Society

7.45pm. Stevenage Music Centre, Mobbsbury, Stevenage Meets every Monday during term time. No audition necessary. Meet like-minded people of all ages and abilities. Try out a wide range of music, from the classics to show songs. Tel: 01438 365769 Email: info@stevenagechoral.org.uk Web: www.stevenagechoral.org.uk

6, 13, 20 & 27 DECEMBER Branch Out Social Club for Single People

8.30-10.30pm. Cromwell Bar, The Sun Hotel, Hitchin Medium-sized social club for single people aged 40 upwards. Meets every Monday night. Tel: Lorna 01438 233657 Web: www.branch-out.org.uk

8 DECEMBER Walking Reading Event

10.30-11.30am. Letchworth Library Free event. Join us for a walk, read and talk, discussing ‘Christmas at the beach hut’ by Veronica Henry. Copies available from the library. Walk takes approximately one hour. Booking essential. Web: www.eventbrite.co.uk

10 & 31 DECEMBER Unicorn Ceilidh

Doors open 7.30pm St Mary’s Church Hall, Church Street, Baldock 10 Dec - Junction 24, caller Andy Rouse and Riseley Roughshod in the interval spot. 31 Dec - Oxford NAGS and caller Barry Goodman. Ceilidh dances are great fun, easy to learn - and addictive! Book online. Tel: Alan Creamer 07946 439095 or 01582 724261 Web: www.unicornceilidhs.org.uk

WHAT'S ON IN DECEMBER

11 & 12 DECEMBER Herts Winter Wonderland Christmas Market

11am-4pm. The Crown, 56 Long Lane, Aston End, Stevenage Adults £2, Under 18s free A great family day out, including a Santa’s grotto, a live singer and visits from some Disney characters. Instagram: @hertswinterwonderland

14 DECEMBER Caroline Taylor and Julian Perkins

8pm. Benslow Music, Benslow Lane, Hitchin Tickets £20, free entry for under 27s, livestream tickets £10, free virtual tickets for under 27s An evening with Caroline Taylor (soprano) and Julian Perkins (harpsichord). Web: https://benslowmusic.org

18 DECEMBER Offley Christmas Market

2pm-8pm. Offley Village Hall Free entry. Santa’s Grotto, face painting and raffle.

21 DECEMBER Christmas at Benslow

6.30pm. Benslow Music, Benslow Lane, Hitchin Experience a unique and elegant Christmas with friends and colleagues in true Benslow Music style set in our beautiful Victorian house within four-acre garden. Tel: 01462 459446 Web: https://benslowmusic.org

UNTIL 23 JANUARY Aladdin

Gordon Craig Theatre, Stevenage It’s a magic carpet ride worth waiting for! Widow Twankey wants a husband, evil Abanazaar wants the lamp, Aladdin wants adventure and Wishee Washee wants some Spiderman Pants! - can the Genie grant their wishes? Web: www.gordon-craig.co.uk

EVERY WEEKDAY Clifton Walking Group

Meets on weekdays at 8.30am and in the afternoon for an hour. A friendly bunch of people of various ages and abilities. Monthly weekend walk of 6-8 miles. No pressure to walk, just turn up as often or as seldom as you prefer. The group also meets for a coffee once a month and holds other social events. Tel: Suzanne I’ons 07933 709006 for more info Email: ionssuzanne@gmail.com

Letchworth Arts & Leisure Group

Annual membership £10 per household Many groups and activities including wine appreciation, film, gardening, theatre, art design, books, discussions, games, sports, outings, walking and much, much more. New groups are starting all the time. Online talks every month. Nonmembers can try activities before joining. Web: LALG.org.uk