Friday 1st May - Sunday 17th May
Message from Kathryn Stacey, Fes val Chair 2026
Welcome to the Baldock Fes val, a vibrant community celebra on running from the 1st to the 17th of May. At its heart, this fes val is dedicated to bringing our town together, celebra ng our shared community spirit, and suppor ng the fantas c local groups that make Baldock such a special place to live.
The fes val program is packed with a diverse range of ac vi es designed to offer something for everyone:
* Family Fun: Children and families can get involved with the Scarecrow Compe on, a Teddy Bears' Picnic, Baby Rhyme Time, Lego Club, and the bustling Baldock Street Fair.
Ÿ Local Heritage: Discover the rich history of our town through historic walks around Baldock, history talks by experts, and special tower trips and church tours.
Ÿ Food and Drink: Local businesses are stepping up to host fantas c culinary experiences, including the Mild May Beer Fes val, Thai night at the White Lion, Steak & Malbec at Eight, and specialized Fes val tas ng events for wine, rum, port, German beer and whisky.
Ÿ Entertainment and Events: The community can also gather for the Baldock Classic Car Show, an array of live music performances ranging from jazz to a Fleetwood Mac Candlelight Experience, and engaging evening ac vi es like Bonkers Bingo and fes val quizzes at local pubs.
Join us in suppor ng our local groups and businesses as we come together for over two weeks of fantas c entertainment, connec on, and community pride!
Mild May Beer Fes val
The Orange Tree
Celebra ng CAMRA's Mild Month with 20 Draught and Gravity Milds. Join the Dark Side and May the Fourth be with you!
FREE
Baldock Independent Beer Fes val
Community Centre
01/05/26 4-11pm
02/05/26 12-11pm
03/05/26 1-8pm
Family friendly beer fes val, live music, food and entertainment
£10 weekend, £5 per day, £3 for 25 and under (inc glass)
Baldock Country Market
The Victoria Pub 9 – 11am
Every Friday- homemade cra s, baked goods, preserves & plants. baldockcountrymarket.co.uk
FREE
Over 40s Football - Baldock
Mondays - The Arena – 8pm Fridays – KTS – 7.30pm
Free football session for newcomers! A friendly kickabout for all ages and abili es. Mondays at the Arena, Fridays at KTS. Just turn up or text Alan: 07581375953.
FREE EVENT
Baldock Scarecrow Compe on
Baldock & Surrounding areas
Place your scarecrow where it's visiblethe crazier the be er!!. Submit the form & photo by to the Fes val Stand at the Street Fair. Judging will take place during the Street Fair (9th May). Winners will be chosen by public vote from a display of your photos on the Fes val Stand. Entry forms from the Baldock Fes val Website. FREE to ENTER
Could you pass your driving test again! Around Baldock & Letchworth
Support GHH! If you're 30+ with a car & insurance, take a 30-min mock driving test with a qualified instructor. Faults: minor 25p, serious £1, dangerous £2. Test £5 + faults. Call Sean: 07530532172. £5 + any faults you incur!!
Cinema Live @ BAHC
Baldock Arts & Heritage Centre - 19:30
Join the Baldock Movie Club with a oneoff membership fee for exclusive access to a wide range of films. Monthly screenings Fridays at 7:30pm. Join: h ps://www.bahc.co.uk/movieclubjoin £20 Membership
Social Coffee Morning
United Reform Church - 10am-12pm
A morning where friends can meet & chat over coffee & cake. There will be cakes, preserves and books. All welcome.
FREE ENTRY
Rubbish or treasure?
BAHC - 11am-5pm
Rubbish or Treasure? Bring your unusual finds and have them iden fied by North Herts Museum archaeologist Keith Fitzpatrick Ma hews. Discover the story behind your strange or interes ng objects!
Jazz Spectacular
Knights Templar School - 7-10pm
Enjoy an evening of jazz, swing, big band and blues from talented young performers. The KTS All Stars Big Band, Li le Big Band and a 6th Form jazz group perform under Head of Music Mr Will Byers.
£10 Adults, £7 Conc, £5 for KTS students.From sbond@kts.school, school recep on or wisepay Jam Session
Hen & Chickens - 7.30pm
Acous c Jam, all encouraged to join in, in house PA with Ma on the knobs.
FREE
Live Music: Black Squirrels
Hen & Chickens -4-7pm
The Black Squirrels are a Classic Rock Band from Her ordshire. Set ranges from AC / DC to ZZ. FREE
BALDOCK IRISH DAY ☘
Around Baldock -12-9pm
The High St becomes a lively Irish market town with music sessions in the Cock & White Lion. Enjoy top tradi onal musicians & a singalong stage outside Café Luna. Maria Grant School of Dancing from 3:30pm. FREE
Bowls Club Open Day
Avenue Park - 1-5pm
Try your hand at bowls with club coaching available. Please wear flat shoes. Enjoy tea & biscuits in the pavilion, with the bar open. For more informa on, call 01462 892059. FREE EVENT
Historic Walk
Around Baldock @ 2pm
Join a 1.5-mile guided stroll to discover the town's history and architecture. Mostly tarmac, suitable for many mobility scooters. Meet at the Community Centre. Not ideal for small children or dogs. £6 pp
Baldock Arts and Heritage Centre Town Trail
Follow the trail around Baldock's historic streets and uncover surprising details in old familiar places! Forms from BAHC. Prize for winner.
FREE
Archery Sessions with Perfect Aim Archery
Hartsfield JMI - 2-4pm
Perfect Aim Archery offers archery sessions with real bows and arrows. Equipment provided, spaces limited. Ages 8+ (under 18s supervised). Book: info@perfectaimarchery.co.uk
£10
Tuesday 5th May
Cra ea
Baldock Library - 10:30am - 12:30pm
Bring your cra projects. Refreshments provided. FREE EVENT
Teddy Bears' Picnic
Weston Way Nursery - 3.30-4.45pm
For children aged 7 & under (with an adult). Bring a picnic & teddy! Teddy Bear raffle. If wet, event may move to Tue 12 May or cancel—phone 01462 89272 to check
Children & Adults £1, Babies and teddies
FREE. Pay on arrival
Historic walk
Around Baldock @ 6pm
See 04/05 for details
Fes val Quiz
Orange Tree - 8-10.30pm
Team sizes of up to 6 for this moviethemed quiz. Call the Orange Tree on 01462 892341 to book your tables. £5 on the door
Wednesday 6th May
Baby Rhyme Time
Baldock Library - 10:30 – 11am
Every Wednesday morning. Dona ons encouraged. FREE EVENT
Steak & Malbec Night
Eight from 6pm
Enjoy a prime-cut steak dinner perfectly matched with a glass of Malbec,
£35 www.eightbaldock.co.uk
Thai Night at the White Lion
The White Lion from 7pm
Come and try a Thai Curry at The White Lion
£10
Bell Ringing
St Marys Church - 7.30-9pm
Ever fancied bell-ringing? Here's your chance to try! No experience needed. Access is challenging—wear sensible shoes. Meet at the foot of the tower (le of main door). Advance ckets only FREE EVENT
Baldock Folk Club Presents: Kelvin Davies & Chloe Turner
+ Thursday's Band
Orange Tree - 7.30pm
Kelvin & Chloe blend beau fully harmonised voices with intricate guitar work. Kelvin's country blues mastery meets Chloe's rendi ons of Appalachian standards—a perfect musical match
FREE - baldockfolkclub@gmail.com to reserve
Thursday 7th May
Story me
Baldock Library - 10.30-11am
Every Thurs morning. Free, dona ons encouraged FREE EVENT
A Wine Lover's Tour of Spain
BAHC - 7.30-10pm
Buenos Dias! Join Jamie and Rob for this year's fes val wine tas ng taking you for a tour of Spain! Cheese, grapes and crackers provided! £22.50
Meet the Brewer
The Old White Horse.- 7:30 PM
Join us for a lively evening with Tim from BrewPoint Brewery! Kick things off with a complimentary pint on arrival, then dive into a delicious pizza buffet. Tim will take you on a guided tas ng of six unique beers, sharing the stories and rich history behind each one.
Tickets: £20
Friday 8th May
History in the A ernoon
BAHC - 2.30pm
The passionate, tragic life of 19thcentury composers Clara and Robert Schumann, with live music by soprano Laura Valen ne and accompanist
Margaret Johnson £8 on the door
Colour Run
Hartsfield JMI - 3.30-4.30pm
A er school Fri 9 May, Hartsfield playing field becomes a mini obstacle course with colour sta ons showering runners in eco-friendly powder. Tickets available from the school.
Ready to roll? Beetle Drive
United Reform Church - 6pm
Fun-filled Beetle Drive for the whole family, with plenty of laughter! Includes refreshments & an exci ng raffle. Come support Baldock URC for a great evening £6 on the door
Unicorn Ceilidh with Cock & Bull Band and Barry Goodman
St Marys Church - 7.30-10.30pm
Unicorn Ceilidh provides high-energy ceilidhs for discerning dancers of all ages. Clear instruc ons from the caller before and during the set, allow anyone to join in and enjoy the dancing. Tickets £7 to £13 from website www. cketsource.co.uk/unicornceilidhs
Fes val Rum Tas ng Orange Tree - 7.30pm
Rum tas ng: sample six unique rums with expert insights into rum's history. Bring friends & snacks for a fun night. 18+ only—don't drive, use machinery or start karaoke a er!
£25
Bonkers Bingo
Pixies - 7.30-9.30pm
Join us for Bonkers Bingo! Enjoy laughs, games & 2hrs of bo omless Prosecco, wine or lager. Teams of up to 5. Book early—this event sold out fast last me! £35.00 from Pixies
Saturday 9th May
Baldock Street Fair
High Street - 11am – 5pm
Baldock Street Fair fills the High Street with cra & charity stalls, medieval combat displays, Punch & Judy shows and circus skills workshops. Enjoy fairground rides, lively entertainment and performances from local schools.
FREE EVENT
Solar Viewing
High Street - 11am – 5pm
Ever safely looked at the Sun? It's too bright without the right equipment—but LDAS can help! Try safe solar viewing at the Street Fair using specialist telescopes, with experts on hand to guide you.
FREE EVENT
Tower Trips
St Marys Church - 11am- 4pm
See Baldock from a different perspec ve! Refreshments available. No under 8s. Sensible footwear required. £5 adult / £1 child (8-16) on the day.
Tours of the Church
St Marys Church - 11am – 3pm
Come and find out more about our historic building. Tours at 11am, 1pm & 3pm. Refreshments available.
FREE EVENT (dona ons welcome)
Thy Kingdom Come
St Marys Church- 11am- 4pm
During the day there will be a number of prayer sta ons throughout the church to give people a moment of reflec on
FREE Event
Baldock Museum - refurbishment
BAHC - 11am – 3pm
Baldock Museum will be open for visitors to see the progress of the refurbishment so far.
Gregynog Ensemble
St Marys Church - 5pm
Featuring local clarine st Alison Eales & her String Ensemble, playing music by Piazzolla (Tango Ballet) Somervell & Na el. Interval tea with cakes included.
£13
Community Lunches
Community Centre from 12pm
Lunch will be served in the community centre during the street fair. Great homecooked food at reasonable prices
Amateur Darts Championship
Hen & Chickens - 5pm
Ever wondered what it's like to play darts like on TV? Join our Quarter 2 tournament! Entry £10. The champion wins £100 and the chance to li the Rose King Champions Cup.
£10, pay on door
Fes val Fun Quiz
St Marys Church - 7pm
The popular Fes val Fun Quiz returns with a light-hearted quiz for all abili es. Entry by form only, max 16 teams of 6. No entries on the night. Bar with table service. Prizes for winners & losers.
7:30pm start
£30 per team
Sunday 10th May
Live Music: Skelton Nashville Band
Hen & Chickens - 4pm
6-piece band of professional musicians and singers playing modern Country, altCountry and Americana tunes with a few Country classics sprinkled in. Inspired by the Honky Tonks of Nashville.
FREE
Pizza and Cocktail Masterclass
The Old White Horse 5pm
An unforge able experience with Josh & Ash! Dive into the art of crea ng fresh, delicious pizzas from scratch while learning the secrets behind cra ing banging cocktails.
Tickets: £27
Friends Of Baldock Green Spaces Conserva on Event 10am
Join Friends of Baldock Green Spaces to help care for local wildlife areas—path clearance, li er picking & more. Tools & hot drinks provided.
Check loca on: h ps://www.facebook.com/fobgs/ Children with adults.
FREE EVENT
Ashwell at Home 2611am – 5pm
Ashwell at Home welcomes visitors from far & wide. Explore open gardens of all sizes, free workshops, plant sales, live music, talks, displays & guided walks, plus refreshments, lunches and more
£10 adults (under 18s free with paying adult) on the day, or £9 in advance from www.ashwellathome.org.uk.
Baldock Classic Car Show
High Street- 11am – 4pm
The Baldock Classic Car Show welcomes vehicles over 20 years old & selected newer models. Prizes for best in class. BBQ, bar & refreshments available. Classic bikes & commercial vehicles welcome. Enter online or download forms at www.baldockfes val.org.uk
£5 to park a vehicle
Monday 11th May
Mah Jong Club
Baldock Library - 1.30-3pm
Open to all skills levels, free, refreshments provided FREE EVENT
A taste of India: Tradi onal Home
Cooked Indian Buffet Night
Bombay Bistro - 1st si ng 6–7:45pm/2nd si ng 8–10pm. Enjoy home-cooked Indian hotpot dishes, slow-simmered to blend rich flavours. Try a variety of dishes, including veggie op ons.
£20 pp
History Talk by Keith FitzpatrickMa hews
BAHC - 7.30pm
History talk by Keith FitzpatrickMa hews. Free glass of wine or juice. £7 from www.bahc.co.uk/event
Tuesday 12th May
Cra ea
Baldock Library - 10.30am-12.30pm
Bring your cra projects. Refreshments provided.
FREE EVENT
Lego Club
Baldock Library - 3.30-4.30pm
Sign up at the library
£4.40 from Baldock Library
Taste of Thai
The White Lion - 7pm
This is a mix of starters and mains on one plate to give your taste buds a treat of the cuisine of Thailand.
£12.50
Fes val Music Quiz
Orange Tree - 8pm
The Annual Baldock Fes val Music Quiz at The Orange Tree. Please call 01462 892341 to book your tables! £5 per head,. Profits to Baldock Fes val. £5 pp on the door
Wednesday 13th May
Port and Cheese Pairing Event
The Cock - 6.30pm
5 unique cheeses paired with 5 specialty selected ports. Supported by Caravin and The Cheese Plate. £25
Baby Rhyme Time
Baldock Library - 10.30-11am
Every Wednesday morning. Free, dona ons encouraged.
FREE EVENT (Dona ons encouraged)
James Bond Cocktail Night
Eight - 6pm-10.30pm
An evening of Bond-inspired cocktails and live music. Explore our exclusive 007 cocktail menu while enjoying live music throughout the night. Mar nis shaken or s rred—there's something for every secret agent. Full bar and main menu available. Bond-themed a re encouraged, Tickets www.eightbaldock.co.uk
Thursday 14th May
Fes val Whisky Tas ng - A walk along the Spey
Orange Tree - 8pm
Sample 6 whiskies on a tas ng journey along the Spey, with surprises and a fine bo le raffled. Eat beforehand and please don't drive a er the event.
£30
Story me
Baldock Library - 10.30-11am
Every Thursday morning. Dona ons encouraged FREE EVENT
Fabric Sculp ng
Baldock Library - 7-9pm
Unleash your crea vity, learning fabric sculpture techniques to make your own plaque to take home or gi . £15 inc all materials on the day
Friday 15th May
Lumos - A Fleetwood Mac Candlelight Experience
St Marys Church - 7pm
Lumos presents an enchan ng concert paying homage to Fleetwood Mac, set in spectacular surroundings, promising a truly magical live music experience £20 - £45 + fees - link on the fes val website
Whose Wine Is It Anyway?
St Marys Church - 7.30pm
A wine tas ng with a difference. Listen as our “experts” present a series of wines, but can you decide who is telling the truth and who is bluffing? Tickets include tas ngs of 6 wines plus cheeses.
£25
41stBaldockFestival
Friday1stMay-Sunday17thMay
1st May - 31st May
Saturday 16th May
Book Fair in aid of The Garden House Hospice
Community Centre - 10am-4pm
Each year 1000s of pre-loved books find new homes at our Book Fair, raising over £800 for Letchworth Garden House Hospice. Discover great bargains and donate your spare books FREE History detec ves - Find Baldock's Missing Pieces
BAHC - 10.30am – 12.30pm
Discover Baldock's hidden heritage in this workshop on Historic England's Missing Pieces project. Share photos & stories of local sites and help preserve history. Bring a device and wear outdoor clothing. Suitable for adults & Y5+
Bubbles Tas ng
Cavavin - Sessions: 1–3pm, 4–6pm & 7–9pm
Enjoy an elegant sparkling wine tas ng featuring five selec ons: Cava, Crémant, English Sparkling, a Cavavin exclusive Champagne and even a sparkling red! Crackers served as palate cleansers.
£25
Silent Disco
Orange Tree - 7.30pm
Deten on A er Dark! A naughty silent school disco with 3 music channels to suit every taste., plus background disco for those who want to socialise! Fancy dress encouraged, bad behaviour necessary. Free to a end. Ditch the homework and hit the dancefloor. FREE
Jam Session
Hen & Chickens- 7.30pm
Acous c Jam, all encouraged to join in, in house PA with Ma on the knobs. FREE Event
Ramen & Sake Sunday
Eight - 6-10pm
Choose from three ramen op ons, including a vegan choice—all gluten-free. This special event is led by Junior Chef Milly, following the success of her recent Academy Wine Dinner. POA
Wednesday 1st May
Wednesday 1st May 20th May Sunday 17th May
Open
Gardens
Around Baldock - 1-5pm
Explore Baldock's hidden gardens with this deligh ul garden trail. Ticket includes a map & details. Refreshments 2–4pm at the Community Centre Youth Wing. Minibus available on request. Proceeds support Rotary chari es. £7.00 (accompanied under 16sfree)
The Fox Hat Band
Hen & Chickens - 4pm
The Fox Hat Band are a five piece ensemble, covering a very broad range of music including rock, soul, blues and disco. FREE
Baldock Hor cultural Society
Talk and plant sale
Brandles School - 7pm
Dr Twigs Way will speak on “Unexpected History - the Garden Gnome”. This is the intriguing story of garden gnomes and how they have come to reside in the flowerbeds of gardens across Britain. £5 on the door / Members £0
Baldock Folk Club Presents: Joe Topping Orange Tree - 7.30pm
Described by Sir Tom Jones as “a Weaver of Dreams”, Joe Topping is a folk singer and mul instrumentalist from Liverpool. FREE Seats can be reserved by emailing: baldockfolkclub@gmail.com
Sunday 24th May
The German Beer Experience
Mal ngs - 5 – 7.30pm
Embark on an unforge able journey through the heart of Belgium, where you'll indulge in the rich flavors and vibrant culture that this charming country has to offer. Inc 6 beers, fries and hot dog! £25
Thursday 28th May
Talk on Her ordshire Almshouses
BAHC - 8-9pm
An illustrated talk about local almshouses by Kate Thompson, former County Archivist. £3, Pay on door
Saturday 30th May
Country Boots, Baldock Roots Hartsfield JMI - 1-11pm
Cowboy boots on, it's me for country! Returning for its 3rd year - join us for a day of live country music, line dancing, a bar, food, rodeo bull, axe throwing, bouncy castle & more. Fun for all ages! £30 adults, £20 Teens, £15 Kids (2-12). Under 2s £0h ps://www. cke ailor.com/events/k mevents/2005203
Monday 21st Dec
Carols round the Tree
Market Place - 6.30 – 7.30pm Join us for Carols around the Baldock Christmas Tree, accompanied by Musicians, song sheets provided and a complimentary glass of something mulled (or juice) and a mince pie.
