AGENDA

The AgendaDECEMBER'S HOTTEST HAPPENINGS

EVENT

Herts Winter Wonderland

3 DECEMBER, ESSENDON GOLF & COUNTRY CLUB

Still need gift buying inspiration? This fair has 40+ small businesses who are working tirelessly to create an array of products for you all to enjoy. You can also take advantage of Mini Christmas photoshoots this year, and there is endless family fun with face-painting, bouncy castle, a craft workshop, and an opportunity to meet Santa himself.

FAMILY Santa's Flight School

3-23 December ATRIA WATFORD Enjoy the magic and spirit of Christmas at Atria Watford this festive season as Santa’s Flight School comes to town. Free to all, join in this magical experience and help Rudolph take fl ight in Atria’s enchanting Christmas adventure. Upon arrival, children will enter Santa’s stables and be greeted by the Big Man himself, and his Sky Flight Elves who will teach them the secrets of reindeer fl ight. atriawatford.com

MUSIC

Carols on the Hour

17 December ST ALBANS CATHEDRAL A visit to St Albans Cathedral is a must at Christmas. Experience the true meaning of the festive season at the Cathedral’s wonderful Carols on the Hour and family-fun Live Nativity Trail on Saturday 17 December. Warm up in the café with delicious homemade mince pies and a hot chocolate, and browse the shop full of nativities and seasonal gifts. stalbanscathedral.org

EVENT

ILLUMINATED

Until 2 January ASHRIDGE HOUSE Illuminated is the spectacular new winter gardens festive light experience at Ashridge House in Berkhamsted. This year Ashridge House has worked with Luminism - who’ve designed illuminations trails for 15 years - to bring the historic gardens of the former Royal palace to life for the festive season. You’ll gaze at ‘fi elds of fi re’, walk through tunnels of light and be mesmerised by dazzling displays of colour and sound everywhere you turn during the trail. ashridgehouse.org.uk

THEATRE

The Snowsmith

10 December-1 January WARE DRILL HALL Hertford Theatre are bringing Half a String back to Ware this Christmas, with their signature style of breath-taking puppetry, striking set, atmospheric folk music, and captivating storytelling. The story follows Eira, the experimental meteorologist as she rediscovers the joy of the most magical of weather in this fast-paced, actionpacked original adventure, all to bring joy back to the miserable town of Thawmor, where’s it’s freezing but never snowing. hertfordtheatre.com

This Month’s Must See

NUTCRACKER CHRISTMAS TRAIL

19-22 DECEMBER, ST ALBANS

The Enjoy St Albans famous Nutcracker Christmas Trail is a magical event that’s fantastic fun for all the family. Find all the nutcrackers hidden around the beautiful city and be in with a chance of winning a £20 St Albans Gift Card. Free trail maps are available from the town centre. enjoystalbans.com

Three

TO SEE

Cinematic releases to look forward to at Odeon Hatfield

MATILDA THE MUSICAL

Roald Dahl’s classic 1988 tale of a bookworm’s quiet rebellion was already a hit stage show – now the creatives behind the West End smash bring Matilda to the big screen with more jokes, new songs, added naughtiness and an extra helping of A-list stars. Newcomer Alisha Weir plays the lead.

AVATAR: THE WAY OF WATER

Set more than a decade after the events of the fi rst fi lm, Avatar: The Way Of Water begins to tell the story of the Sully family (Jake, Neytiri, and their children), the trouble that follows them, the lengths they go to keep each other safe, the battles they fi ght to stay alive and the tragedies they endure.

I WANNA DANCE WITH SOMEBODY

The joyous, emotional and heartbreaking celebration of the life and music of Whitney Houston, the greatest female R&B pop vocalist of all time. Tracking her journey from obscurity to musical super stardom, this is a must see for any Whitney fan. odeon.co.uk