What's On in St Albans: Tim Peake, the Bootleg Beatles and the Fireworks

The next six weeks in St Albans and Harpenden are mostly indoors. The Alban Arena has a stand-up or a big-name talk most nights, from Maisie Adam on Thursday to Tim Peake on Wednesday 7 October and Jeremy Bowen on the 13th. Company of Ten puts on The 39 Steps at the Abbey Theatre from 16 October, half term brings a bubble show to Harpenden, and the diary ends on the biggest night of the autumn: the St Albans Fireworks Spectacular in Verulamium Park on Saturday 7 November, with Harpenden’s Remembrance parade the next morning.

Everything below comes from the organisers’ own listings: the theatres’ box offices, St Albans Museums, the cathedral, the district council, Harpenden Town Council and parkrun. All of it was read on 28 September 2026, and every entry links back to its source so you can check before you set off. For places that are open whatever the month, see our guide to things to do in St Albans. Half-term dates are on our October half term page.

This week

Back in the Day Café. Thursday 1 October, 10.30am to 11.30am. St Albans Museum + Gallery, Town Hall, St Peter’s Street AL1 3DH. Free, drop in. A friendly morning of memories of old St Albans shops, pre-decimal money and wired-in telephones. It runs on the first Thursday of the month until December. (St Albans Museums)

Maisie Adam: Whatsherface. Thursday 1 October, 7.30pm. The Alban Arena, Civic Centre, St Albans AL1 3LD. £28, plus a £3.50 booking fee. The Taskmaster comedian’s new stand-up show. Recommended age 16+. (The Alban Arena)

Stars and the Moon. Thursday 1 to Saturday 3 October, 7.30pm. Abbey Theatre, Westminster Lodge, Holywell Hill, St Albans AL1 2DL. £24, no concessions. Ever After Productions’ concert celebration of the music of Jason Robert Brown, three nights only. (Abbey Theatre)

Princess Proms. Sunday 4 October, 2pm and 5.30pm. The Alban Arena, Civic Centre, St Albans AL1 3LD. From £20, plus a £3.50 booking fee. A family concert of songs from Frozen, Wicked, Moana, The Lion King and other animated films. Anyone 16 or over needs an adult ticket. (The Alban Arena)

All Creatures Great and Small: Pet Blessing Service. Sunday 4 October, 2pm to 3pm. St Albans Cathedral, Sumpter Yard AL1 1BY. A short, informal service at the cathedral where you bring your pets to be blessed. “All are welcome, two legs and four”. (St Albans Cathedral)

Next week

The Bootleg Beatles in Concert. Tuesday 6 October, 7.30pm. The Alban Arena, Civic Centre, St Albans AL1 3LD. From £37.50, plus a £3.50 booking fee. The tribute band’s new show built on the Beatles’ five best-selling albums, from Rubber Soul to the White Album. (The Alban Arena)

Tim Peake’s Astronauts: The Quest To Explore Space Tour. Wednesday 7 October, 7.30pm. The Alban Arena, Civic Centre, St Albans AL1 3LD. £39.50, plus a £3.50 booking fee. The British astronaut’s stage show on the history of human space exploration. (The Alban Arena)

Come From Away, Harpenden Musical Theatre Company. Wednesday 7 to Saturday 10 October, 7.30pm, plus a 2.30pm matinee on Saturday. Eric Morecambe Centre, Rothamsted Park, Harpenden AL5 2FR. Harpenden Musical Theatre Company’s production of the four-time Olivier Award winner, based on a true story. The town council lists it too. (Eric Morecambe Centre)

Jonathan Pie. Thursday 8 October, 7.30pm. The Alban Arena, Civic Centre, St Albans AL1 3LD. From £23, plus a £3.50 booking fee. The “UK’s angriest news reporter” with a new live show. Ages 14+. (The Alban Arena)

Roman and Iron Age Silchester, evening talk. Thursday 8 October, 7pm. Verulamium Museum, St Michael’s, St Albans AL3 4SW. An hour’s talk on the recent excavations at Silchester in Hampshire, then questions. The museum opens from 6.30pm; the car park outside now needs a pay and display ticket in the evening. (Verulamium Museum)

Museum Minis. Friday 9 October, 10.15am. St Albans Museum + Gallery, Town Hall, St Peter’s Street AL1 3DH. £6.50 per child. A story and craft session for the youngest museum visitors and their grown-ups. The next one is Friday 13 November. (St Albans Museums)

St Albans Flips into Wonder. Saturday 10 October, 10.30am to 4pm. St Albans Museum + Gallery, Town Hall, St Peter’s Street AL1 3DH. Free, booking needed. A day of stories and crafts celebrating multicultural children’s authors, for children aged 2 to 12 with an adult. (St Albans Museums)

Bharatanatyam: A Story in Motion. Saturday 10 October, 7pm. Abbey Theatre, Westminster Lodge, Holywell Hill, St Albans AL1 2DL. £18, concessions £13 for ages 12 to 16. The Dhwani Collective’s live performance of the Indian classical dance form, with music by local performers. No children under 12. (Abbey Theatre)

Later in October

Jeremy Bowen: Truth Under Fire. Tuesday 13 October, 7.30pm. The Alban Arena, Civic Centre, St Albans AL1 3LD. From £35.50, plus a £3.50 booking fee. The BBC’s International Editor on 40 years of reporting from more than 20 wars. Guidance 14+. (The Alban Arena)

The History of Mermaids and Women of the Waters, evening talk. Thursday 15 October, 7pm. St Albans Museum + Gallery, Town Hall, St Peter’s Street AL1 3DH. £10 in person, £6 on Zoom. An evening talk on why mermaids fascinate us, in person or on Zoom. (St Albans Museums)

The 39 Steps, Company of Ten. Friday 16 to Saturday 24 October, 8pm, with 2.30pm matinees on Sunday 18 and Saturday 24 October. Abbey Theatre, Westminster Lodge, Holywell Hill, St Albans AL1 2DL. £15, concessions £13. Company of Ten’s production of Patrick Barlow’s comic stage version of the Hitchcock thriller, in the Studio. No performance on Monday 19 October. (Abbey Theatre)

UN Development Goals: How are they actually going?. Saturday 17 October, 10.30am to 12.30pm (doors 10.15am). Salvation Army, Leyton Green, Harpenden AL5 2TG. A public lecture by Mike Pearson of UNA Harpenden. Registration is through the listing. (Harpenden Town Council’s calendar)

World Voices Festival: The Concert. Sunday 18 October, 7.30pm to 9.30pm. St Albans Cathedral, Sumpter Yard AL1 1BY. A night of contemporary choral music with choirs from across the UK and beyond, gospel to musicals, ending in a 200-voice finale. (St Albans Cathedral)

Halloween In Concert. Friday 23 October, 7.30pm. The Alban Arena, Civic Centre, St Albans AL1 3LD. From £31, plus a £3.50 booking fee. A Halloween concert with a live band, and a prize for the best costume. (The Alban Arena)

Opening of the Field of Remembrance, Harpenden. Saturday 24 October, 11am to 12pm. War Memorial, Church Green, Harpenden. The Royal British Legion’s ceremony to open the Field of Remembrance and launch this year’s Poppy Appeal. (Harpenden Town Council)

Harpenden Farmers’ Market. Sunday 25 October, 10am to 2pm. Harpenden High Street. About 70 stalls of local produce, bakery, meat, fish, cheese, flowers and street food on the High Street. It runs on the fourth Sunday of every month. (Harpenden Town Council)

Susan Calman: Tall Tales. Sunday 25 October, 7.30pm. The Alban Arena, Civic Centre, St Albans AL1 3LD. £31.50, plus a £3.50 booking fee. Her first tour in ten years: cruising, driving tanks, cats and getting older. Guidance 14+. (The Alban Arena)

The Amazing Bubbleman. Monday 26 October, 2pm. Eric Morecambe Centre, Rothamsted Park, Harpenden AL5 2FR. £18, plus a £3.50 booking fee. Louis Pearl’s half-term bubble show of comedy, tricks and audience participation. (Eric Morecambe Centre)

Ruby Wax: Absolutely Famous. Tuesday 27 October, 7.30pm. Eric Morecambe Centre, Rothamsted Park, Harpenden AL5 2FR. Ruby Wax’s new touring show with her long-time collaborator Clive Tulloh. Ages 14+. (Eric Morecambe Centre)

November

Dom Joly: Trigger Happy TV, the 25th Anniversary Tour. Wednesday 4 November, 7.30pm. Eric Morecambe Centre, Rothamsted Park, Harpenden AL5 2FR. From £31, plus a £3.50 booking fee. The hidden-camera characters and sketches on stage for the show’s 25th anniversary. Recommended 14+. (Eric Morecambe Centre)

Phil Wang: Uh Oh. Thursday 5 November, 7.30pm. The Alban Arena, Civic Centre, St Albans AL1 3LD. From £28, plus a £3.50 booking fee. A new stand-up show from the comedian. Guidance 14+. (The Alban Arena)

St Albans Fireworks Spectacular. Saturday 7 November, gates 6pm, fireworks 7.30pm. Verulamium Park, St Albans. Early bird adult £10, child £6, family £28.50. The cathedral’s fundraising display for Isabel Hospice and the Herts Domestic Abuse Helpline. Early bird prices end at midnight on Friday 16 October; full detail is on our fireworks page. (St Albans Cathedral)

Company of Ten Quiz Night. Saturday 7 November, 7.30pm. Abbey Theatre, Westminster Lodge, Holywell Hill, St Albans AL1 2DL. £15 including supper. The theatre company’s quiz in the foyer, supper included. Tables are booked by email through the listing. (Abbey Theatre)

Harpenden Remembrance Parade and Service. Sunday 8 November, parade moves off 10.35am, service 10.50am. War Memorial, Church Green, Harpenden. The parade leaves Rothamsted Park for the service at the War Memorial on Church Green. St Albans has not yet published its 2026 arrangements; see our Remembrance page. (Harpenden Town Council)

Regular events

St Albans Charter Market. Every Wednesday and Saturday, 9am to 4.30pm. St Peter’s Street, St Albans AL1 3ED. The general market and international street food along St Peter’s Street. The council’s published market calendar currently runs to the end of September. Next: Wednesday 30 September. (St Albans City and District Council)

St Albans parkrun. Every Saturday, 9am. Verulamium Park, St Albans. Free. A free, timed 5k in Verulamium Park. Walk, jog, run or volunteer; register once before your first visit. Next: Saturday 3 October. (parkrun)

Family weekends at Verulamium Museum. Every Saturday and Sunday to 12 December, 10am to 3.30pm. Verulamium Museum, St Michael’s, St Albans AL3 4SW. Free craft sessions on Roman life, a different make each week. Included with museum admission. Next: Saturday 3 October. (St Albans Museums)

Sunday Crafternoon. Every Sunday to 20 December, 1.30pm to 3.45pm (last admission 3.15pm). St Albans Museum + Gallery, Town Hall, St Peter’s Street AL1 3DH. £6.50 per child. Family craft afternoon for children aged 5 to 11, with a different activity each week. Next: Sunday 4 October. (St Albans Museums)

Messy Monday Mornings. Every Monday to 14 December, 10.15am to 11.45am. St Albans Museum + Gallery, Town Hall, St Peter’s Street AL1 3DH. £6.50 per child. Messy play for young children and their grown-ups. Limited places, so book ahead. Next: Monday 5 October. (St Albans Museums)

Send us your event

Running something in St Albans, Harpenden or the villages? Email hello@stalbansdaily.co.uk with the date, start time, venue, price and a photo, and a link to your own page if you have one. Listings are free of charge. We add them to this page and to the diary on our What’s On page.