We’re teetering on the edge of festival season and with so many fantastic events lined up for Hertfordshire in 2024, it’s the perfect time to start planning your festival calendar.
Whether you’re looking for the soundtrack to your summer at one Hertfordshire’s many music festivals, or a sprinkling of culture at an arts festival, it’s time to start booking, planning and hunting down those wellies!
Upfest Art House at Ashridge House
August 4th - September 15th
Welcome to Europe's largest live street art festival, this year coming to Herts' very own Ashridge House! Enjoy those warm summer evenings with a stroll through this fantastic display of world class art, with pieces being designed and inspired by the history of the site right in front of your eyes! As you take in the spectacle, with nature, tradition, and contemporary style merging into one, you'll be blown away by talent and creativity. Bring the whole family along for this unforgettable day of fun.
Welwyn Garden City World Food Festival
11th - 12th May
The World Food Festival is back and we're salivating just at the thought of all the sensational food and drink they have planned. Of course you can expect world food, but also drinks and entertainment from around the globe to perfectly complement this culinary celebration. With activities for kids and more than 50 trade stalls ready to serve up the best of the best, this one is perfect for the whole family.
Festival of Ideas
17th - 18th May
Held at the University of Hertfordshire, Festival of Ideas is all about inspiration with over 50 free activities for all ages, including performances, exhibitions, film screenings, and even immersive virtual reality simulations set to wow this year. Book up free sessions and engage with leading experts, groundbreaking exhibitions and discover everything from technology to healthcare, arts and social sciences.
@eddymaynard
Slam Dunk Festival
25th May
Rock lovers, this is the one for you. The Slam Dunk Festival returns this year in Hatfield Park with a jaw-dropping line up. Come along and see the likes of Boys Like Girls, The All-American Rejects, WE The Kings, The Ghost Inside, and many more icons from the world of rock. As it’s suitable for all ages, you’ll want to start teaching the little ones those best air guitar moves…
Ricksmansworth Festival
Date TBC
All aboard, the Ricksmansworth Aqua-themed festival is back! Come and marvel at a wonderful array of over 100 canal boats across the county around the Aquadrome and Batchworth Lock. Get your sailors hat on and seek out boats and traders, or simply enjoy the music and performing arts displays for a truly Herts day on the water.
At Home Farm Live
June - September
We're in for a summer of celebrating At Home Farm Live, with a sensational line-up of events, musicians, chefs and comedians all making an appearance in the gorgeous Hertfordshire countryside this summer. Picture long grass, fairy-lit woodlands, a secret stage and picturesque setting, whether you choose to grab tickets to see top chefs or top musicians.
Stevenage Day
9th June
Stevenage Day is a free day out for everyone. Giving a truly festival vibe there'll be plenty of activities for all ages including a storytelling and craft tent, a carnival, a plethora of food vendors and over 200 stalls that are dedicated to local organisations and charities - and don't miss the Rock in the Park with its twin stages of local bands and performers.
Try Fest
31st May - 1st June
This fun family festival is one feel good weekend of music, with 50 DJs, acts and bands, open air stages and a big top tent. There's even a kids zone with a bouncy castle and plenty more entertainment. Plus kids big and small can enjoy the fairground rides to top off the ultimate weekend of fun.
Ayot St Lawrence Art Show
15th - 16th June
The Ayot St Lawrence Art Show returns to the pretty village this year, with a fantastic range of artists exhibiting in a range of media. With new artists invited to exhibit, plus plenty of art for sale, this is the perfect day for creatives. What's more, the show is held in the Grade I listed Palladian Church for that extra touch of beauty.
Alban Day: Pilgrimage and festival
22nd June
The Alban Pilgrimage and vibrant Alban festival are uniting for the first time ever in one big celebration of the city. See the Alban Pilgrimage procession take to the streets and witness the 12ft puppets as they make their way to the Cathedral. After the procession the fun continues up the High Street with re-enactments, crafts, street food and more!
Welwyn Festival
22nd - 30th June
Welwyn will be throwing a week long celebration in June, with plenty of fun to kickstart the summer. Peruse the street market for local and independent goods, enjoy family fun with the Street Parade, dog show, Raffle and more, or sip and sample in the beer tent and indulge your inner petrol head at the classic car exhibit. With so many events going on through the week, this one to put in the diary!
Bushey Festival
28th June - 7th July
Bushey Festival is back! With a packed schedule including live music, quizzes and trails, art exhibitions, open studios, not to mention a packed schedule of kids activities, including free Lego clubs, we can't wait for this week-long celebration! With a big finale in the park, with plenty of free entertainment and live music for the whole family, this is set to impress!
Watford Fringe
1st July - 3rd August
This is your chance to see fantastic talent right on your doorstep! With a month of performances to catch at different venues throughout Watford, you're in for a real treat with this one. From comedy to music performances all on the cards, it's the perfect chance to see talented acts and rising stars.
Alfie Bruce, Neil Ferry & Coast to Coast Photography
Sign of the Times Festival
5th - 7th July
Get the full festival experience, without having to travel far and wide, at the Sign of the Times Festival. Enjoy a range of amazing artists spanning all genres, from rock and blues to folk-punk and new wave. Set across an indoor and outdoor stage, you can spend the weekend dancing between the two, taking in the fantastic atmosphere and even staying the night in their picturesque campsite.
Knebworth Great British Food Festival
20th - 21st July
One for those who need a celebration of all things food. Staged at the great Knebworth House, the Great British Food Festival is ready to bring you a full palette of street food, chef and baking demonstrations. If you're there to simply eat the stunning array of food on offer, there'll be plenty of street food, bars and artisan markets for you to enjoy and sample and to top it all off, the festival vibe to Hertfordshire will be provided by plenty of live music. Equally, don't have any worries about bringing the little ones as there's kids cookery courses, and of course your four-legged friends are free to come along!
Hatfield Park Battle Proms
20th July
While it might only be one day, the Hatfield House Battle Proms is a festival for those looking to royally honour the summertime. Taking place in the Queen Elizabeth Oak Field, the evening will be full of celebration - kicking off with a cavalry display, followed up by a gun salute and a spitfire fly past, there'll be a full musical programme for no less than three hours! Be sure to also pre-order your delicious picnic hamper!
Big JiveSwing Festival
28th July
Get your saxophones at the ready because we're swinging it way back this summer. Watford's JiveSwing Festival is returning once again to Cassiobury Park. With performances taking place at the Band Stand from many internationally reclaimed jazz musicians, bands and dancers, you’d be mad to miss out. This afternoon extravaganza will also put on family dance classes so the little ones can stay smiling and shimmying throughout the day. Get your toes tapping in the sunshine and boogie on down to the Big JiveSwing festival...
This is OUR House Festival
3rd August
A beautiful setting in the heart of Hitchin, this is THE most exclusive house music festival around. From 2pm to 1am, this fab boutique fest will be welcoming some of house music's fine selectors and party animals to the decks. Dance into the night and soak up the beats.
Up Fest Art House
The beautiful Ashridge House is putting on one heck of a festival this summer with Up Fest Art House, a chance to enjoy warm summer days in their glorious gardens and enjoy vibrant urban art in this wonderfully regal setting. With 20 larger than life installations, art workshops, world-class art and even street food all on offer, it's the perfect summer day out.
Benington Chilli Festival
Date TBC
Hot heads, this is the festival for you. 60 stalls of independent chilli traders, sensationally spiced food and cocktails, chilli plants and plenty of entertainment is all set for this year’s festival, perfect for the spice aficionados. For the real heat-seekers, it’s time to test your mettle in the infamous chilli eating competition, but get in there quick, because only a select few will have the honour of burning their taste buds...
DogFest
21st - 22nd September
Prepare for one paw-some event as Knebworth throws upon the doors to your friends with four paws. This ultimate dog's day out, offers the chance to win Best in Show, take a group dog walk with many, many other furry friends around the grounds of Knebworth, and even see some sensational displays from some lead-ing dogs. What's more, there's even the chance to speak to the experts, and tuck into some delicious festival food and drink.
Summer can't come quick enough!