Best Activity Class or Group for Under 5's:  Funnybones  (Joint Runners-up:  ARTventurers Harpenden & St Albans and Water Babies (Hertfordshire))

Best Activity Class or Group for School-Age Children:  Menace Sports  (Runner-up:  Hurst Children's Theatre Group)

Best Holiday Club or Class:   Menace Sports  (Runner-up:  The Little Gym Harpenden)

Best Pre/Post Natal Support Service:  Body Mechanix (Runner-up:  Zing Wellness) 

Best Lifestyle Service for Parents:   Jump n Juice (Runner-up:   Nicole Rose Yoga)

Best Party and Celebrations Provider:  Feeding Time  (Runner-up:  The Little Gym Harpenden)

Most Family-Friendly Café/Restaurant:  The Oval Café  (Runner-up:  Wesley's Coffee Shop)

Best Local Shop:  Threads  (Joint Runners-up:   Harpenden Books and Harpenden Cycles)

Best Local Event:  Harpenden Carnival  (Runner-up:  Classics on the Common) 

Well done to all our winners, runners-up and finalists.  Harpenden would not be the same without you all!

                                                                  

• The Summer Reading Challenge this year has a Space theme. It blasted off on Saturday 13th July and is free to take part. Children can pop into Harpenden Library any time to register to take part. They have to try to read 6 books over the summer (they don’t have to be about space), return to the library to tell them about what they’ve read and collect stickers to add to their Space Chart. Collect all the stickers to complete the challenge and be entered into a prize draw to meet author Steve Cole!
• Stockwood Discovery Centre's Interactive Science Exhibition is taking place from now until 8th September and tickets cost just £3.50. Described as fully interactive, innovative, fun, educational and entertaining, suiting adults, students, children and families of any age, it's definitely on our to do list this summer. 
• Classics on the Common is back on Wednesday 24th July.  Always a great afternoon and evening out for the whole family!
• A few days later, don't forget Harpenden's Emergency Services Open Day. The event on Saturday, July 27th is being organised by the St Albans and Harpenden Volunteer Police Cadets and Harpenden Fire Station. A host of other organisations will be present on the day including ambulance services and emergency responders, Neighbourhood Watch and officers from the local police Safer Neighbourhood Team and Road Policing Unit. Throughout the day, visitors of all ages can watch safety demonstrations, get advice on a range of topics and look inside emergency service vehicles. A raffle will be held and a barbecue and refreshments will be on offer.    
• If the kids need to run off some steam Play in the Parks are free play activities aimed at children aged 3 - 12 years old and take part in Parks across the district. (Children under the age of 8 can take part in the session but must be supervised by a parent/guardian at all times.)  Each week there will be lots of fun activities and workshops. No need to book, just turn up and register on the day!
• For a little bit of Under 5's fun, come down and say hello to us at the annual Town Council Teddy Bear's Picnic in Lydekker Park on 7th August from 11am-2pm.  The park will be alive with Teddy Bears and their small owners, as they make the most of the sun and the free entertainment on offer. As part of the picnic Imajica Theatre Company will be performing their Hartley Bear's Picnic Adventure Show. Don't forget your teddy!
• Finally, If you fancy trying a new sport head over to Dunstable Downs for their Summer of Sport 2019.  Running from 22nd July until 30th August you can see how many sports you can take part in. There will be football, cricket, archery, badminton and a 'Borrow Box' full of games - take your pick!