We’re teetering on the edge of festival season and with so many fantastic events lined up for Hertfordshire in 2025, 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.
@eddymaynard
Slam Dunk Festival
Sunday 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…
At Home Farm Live
June - September
We're in for a summer of celebrating At Home Farm Live, as they return for their 5th year, 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
Sunday 8th June
The largest free event in Hertfordshire is back! Giving a truly festival vibe there'll be plenty of activities for all ages. This year, get ready to innovate, explore, and inspire as we celebrate the exciting world of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM).
With live music at Rock in the Park featuring an incredible mix of local talent, a plethora of food vendors and over 200 stalls that are dedicated to local organisations and charities.
Try Fest
6th - 7th 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
21st - 22nd June
It's the big 50! The Ayot St Lawrence Art Show returns for its 50th 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
Saturday 21st June
The Alban Pilgrimage and vibrant Alban festival are back for it's second year for a 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
20th - 29th 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 is one to put in the diary!
Watford Fringe
1st - 31st July
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.
Sign of the Times Festival
20th - 22nd June
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
19th - 20th 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
19th 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
27th 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...
Benington Chilli Festival
23rd - 25th August
Hot heads, this is the festival for you. Over 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
7th - 8th June
Prepare for one paw-some event as Knebworth House 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 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.
Magic Meadows Festival
Saturday 26th July
Head over to Home Farm Glamping this July for their one day family festival! Step into the magical meadows and woodlands, just a stone’s throw from London, and get ready for an unforgettable experience packed with theatre, live music, dance, arts and crafts, creative writing, storytelling, bushcraft, and more!
Toby Shepheard
St Albans International Organ Festival
7th - 19th July
St Albans International Organ Festival returns for the 33rd year! With something for everyone, including the return of Three Choirs, Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony, and London Handel Players. Expect exceptional festival guest artists and of course the competitions which will bring organists from around the world. Sounds like music to our ears.
St Albans Foodies Festival
30th May - 1st June
Live music, food, drinks, entertainment - what more could you want! With music from Blue, Example and Symphonic Ibiza, amazing chefs and bakers ready to mix it up, and plenty of kids entertainment, Foodies Festivals is not one to be missed!
