Our St Albans Christmas Cracker – the action-packed event that launches the District’s festive season – attracted thousands of people to the City Centre.
Entertainment included live music, fairground rides, a Santa’s grotto, street performers and around 100 market stalls selling hot food, drinks and seasonal gifts.
Stunning festive decorations and installations, provided by St Albans BID, were illuminated throughout the event.
There was also a guest appearance from CBeebies star Maddie Moate (pictured left) who stars as Tinkerbell in this year’s Alban Arena pantomime, The All New Adventures of Peter Pan – The Pantomime Sequel. You can buy tickets for the show here.
* You can also buy tickets here for Beauty and the Beast, the enchanting pantomime being held this year at the Eric Morecambe Centre in Harpenden.
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Emergency accommodation is available for rough sleepers to ensure they can all be offered a bed during the cold winter months.
The Winter Beds Project is making available three self-contained cabins with a total of four beds at the site managed by the charity Emmaus Hertfordshire.
This is an annual volunteer-run initiative, managed by the Open Door charity and funded jointly by them and the Council.
A further two emergency beds are available at the Open Door homeless shelter in Bricket Road, St Albans. This is managed by Hightown Housing Association and can accommodate 12 people a night throughout the year.
Two outreach workers are active in the District to make rough sleepers aware of the support.
Historic Batchwood Hall is to be given a new lease of life as an upmarket restaurant, bar and hotel.
The building, surrounded by woodland and the Batchwood golf course, has lain empty since the pandemic.
We have now agreed a long-term lease for its redevelopment with hospitality firm The Oakman Group.
The company is to make a multi-million pound investment to refurbish the building which was used as a nightclub for some 40 years.
We are now posting important news and information about our activities on the social media channel Threads.
To find out what is happening in your neighbourhood, follow us here or by using the handle @stalbanscouncil.
We will continue to post, of course, as @stalbanscouncil on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and X, formerly known as Twitter.
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Say hello to Asli Akkoyunoglu - one of the growing number of entrepreneurs who are selling their produce at St Albans Charter Market.
Asli sells a vast array of accessories, which she makes herself, at her CreArtive Design stall and began trading at the Market a year ago.
Her product range, crafted mainly from cotton and wool blends, includes Christmas decorations, dog coats, hats, bags, children’s toys and novely gifts. In the summer months, she also sells beach wear.
Asli, who also has a stall at Covent Garden’s famous Jubilee Market, worked in education for 15 years before launching her business.
She said: “Part of me always wanted to strike out by myself and do something creative. I have no regrets and the Charter Market has become like a home to me.”
The Market takes place every Thursday and Friday in the fortnight leading up to Christmas Day as well as the usual Wednesdays and Saturdays.
There will be an extra day’s trading, too, on Sunday 24 December from 9am to 2pm – a perfect time to pick up a last-minute gift.
The remaining extra days are Friday 15, Thursday 21 and Friday 22 December from 9am to 4pm.
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Our popular Sunday market – held on the second Sunday of every month – is no longer soley for food and drink traders.
We are now allowing other traders to set up a stall and are including a dedicated arts and crafts section centred on Market Place.
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We employ hundreds of people to help us run local and national elections and are looking for new recruits to work with us.
To be eligible, you must be 18 or over, have a national insurance number, the right to work in the UK and be prepared to work for 16 hours on polling day.
You cannot have campaigned on behalf of a candidate or party, nominated a candidate or have a personal relationship with an elected representative or candidate.
You can find out more about the job roles here and contact our elections team here if you want to apply.
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Simon Johns (Liberal Democrats) was elected to the Sandridge & Wheathampstead ward on Thursday 7 December.
On the same day, Allison Wren (Liberal Democrats) was elected to Hertfordshire County Council's Harpenden Rural division.
You can find the full results here.
Christmas trees will be collected from garden waste subscribers on their first two scheduled green waste collection days from Tuesday 9 January.
Trees should be put in the green bin with the lid fully closed and all decorations removed.
If you don’t have a garden waste subscription, residents in parts of St Albans and Harpenden can register for a charity Christmas tree collection service.
This limited service is being run by the Hospice of St Francis on a first come, first served basis. Those who use it are asked to make a donation.
You can register here if you are within the AL1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 postcodes.
* The garden waste collection service will be suspended for two weeks (to allow for greater focus on the extra Christmas waste) from Monday 25 December, recommencing on Tuesday 9 January. Extra garden waste can be left beside garden waste bins on collections days during the weeks starting Tuesday 9 and Monday 15 January.
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The Phoenix Group for Deaf Children and Young Adults is one of the many good causes that is raising funds from the St Albans District Community Lottery.
They help young people develop skills for their successful integration into the hearing world.
Delivering Deaf Awareness and British Sign Language courses are some of the many services they offer. They also give deaf young people the chance to take part in the Duke of Edinburgh Award scheme.
You can support the Phoenix Group’s work to give deaf children and young adults a brighter future by playing the online lottery with tickets available here.
There is a weekly draw, a top prize of £25,000 and 50p of each £1 ticket goes to good cause of your choosing with another 10p supporting community grants.
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Her Honour Judge Lana Wood has been appointed the District's Honorary Recorder to foster good relations between the Council and the local judiciary.
She is the Resident Judge at St Albans Crown Court.
The unpaid, ceremonial role of Honorary Recorder is also intended to encourage a better understanding of the judicial system among the community and confirm St Albans District as a major centre for the legal profession.
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We are pleased to announce an exciting development at our Batchwood Golf Centre – the appointment of PGA professional James Blake as the new coach.
The centre’s membership has been growing since leisure contractor Everyone Active started managing the facility on the Council’s behalf a year ago.
James is particularly keen to increase junior numbers as he has a long track record of inspiring young players.
He is the coach of St Albans protégé Sophia Fullbrook, 18, a current England international and tournament winner.
James is available for private lessons for individuals of all ages and abilities and also plans to run group sessions for women, seniors and beginners throughout the year. He can be contacted here.
Photo: James Blake and Sophia Fullbrook.
Nominations have opened for next year’s St Albans Mayor’s Pride Awards - including one for an individual or organisation that has brought the generations together.
The awards celebrate extraordinary people and outstanding community groups that make a positive contribution to St Albans District.
The Mayor, Councillor Anthony Rowlands, has made All Generations Together the theme of his year in office. In view of that, there will be a special award to recognise a major contribution towards “intergenerational activities.”
You are invited to nominate your community heroes for the other eight award categories from now until Sunday 21 January.
A judging panel will then decide on the winners who will be presented with their awards at a special ceremony at the Civic Centre on Tuesday 5 March.
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Saturnalia Wreath Making: Crafts in the Colonnade, Saturday 16 December to Tuesday 2 January, Verulamium Museum, £2 plus admission charge
Make a Saturnalia wreath out of paper to decorate your home and find out more about the ancient Roman festival of Saturnalia which influenced how and when we celebrate Christmas today. Verulamium Museum is open throughout the Christmas period, Monday to Saturday, with the exceptions of Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year's Day.
Twelve Days of Christmas, Verulamium Museum, Saturday 16 December to Tuesday 2 January, free with admission
Discover Verulamium Museum's hidden treasures with our spectacular Twelve Days of Christmas trail.
Further information about what’s on, including details of exhibitions at the Museum + Gallery, is available here.
 St Albans Healthy Hub is your free one-stop-shop for health and wellbeing information, advice and support.
You can get advice on how to lose weight, quit smoking, cut down on alcohol, become more active, manage money and much else.
The organisations involved include Citizens Advice, Communities 1st, Mind in Mid Herts and many more. You can find more information here.
Follow @HealthInHerts Facebook page for the latest health and wellbeing updates from across your county
Across Hertfordshire there are lots of free and affordable ways to help you adopt a healthier lifestyle.
There is support to reduce drinking, quit smoking, find a job, learn a new skill, get fitter, put your finances in order and much more.
By following the Facebook page, you may find something that works for you.
Step2Skills are now offering the Road to Employment project after receiving a grant from the Government's Shared Prosperity Fund,
To be eligible, you need to be aged 19 or over, live in the District and be unemployed or economically inactive.
Mentors will work with you to explore ways to reach your potential by increasing your skills. improving your confidence and helping you with CV writing and interview techniques.
You can apply here for and take a step on the road to employment.
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Hertfordshire Libraries have decided to brighten up your winter with a wonderful reading challenge for all ages.
Goals have been decided, events have been planned and prizes are waiting to be won.
The fun event runs until Saturday 24 February next year. To take part, you just need to visit your local library and collect your free challenge card.
More information is available here.
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