Six weeks is a long time to fill and potentially a lot of money to spend entertaining the children, and whilst we are all for letting them get bored and making their own free fun at home, it's good to have some days out up your sleeve that won't cost the earth.  So we've looked through our What's On page and pulled out all the activities and events that are FREE this summer.  There's a mixture of things here to suit different ages and interests, but we hope you find it useful...

Classics on the Common on Wednesday 24th July is a great way to while away an afternoon, especially if the weather is pleasant.  Wander down to the Common and take in the spectacle, then why not pop over to Rothamsted Park to use the play area, or visit the ducks at Southdown Ponds.

Activities at Harpenden Library continue during the summer, including Bilingual Storytime on 25th July, as well as Baby Rhyme Time on Thursday mornings and Storytime on Tuesday afternoons.  They are also holding a free Comic Makers Workshop on 9th August, and a Writing Workshop with local author Camilla Chester on 16th August - but please note  booking is required for these.

Every Friday during August, High Street Methodist Church are running a free Stay & Play session for Under 5s (with Lego for older siblings to enjoy). 

There are a couple of free community events, organised by Harpenden Town Council, running over the summer. Having outgrown it's previous location due to its popularity, the annual Teddy Bear's Picnic now takes place in Rothamsted Park on Wednesday 7th August. And all the family can enjoy Music in Lydekker on Saturday 24th August.

In St Albans, the Museum and Gallery has a Poetry Workshop for Young People aged 8+ on Sunday 28th July.  Although this is free, booking is required as places are limited.  Also at the Museum and Gallery on 10th August, drop in to celebrate South Asian Heritage Month in their Mini Mela, with craft activities and demonstrations.

St Albans Cathedral will once again be running their free, drop-in Family Discovery Mornings  on 8th and 29th August, 10am -12.30pm.  And on 22nd August there is a drop-in Storytime Session: Mummers Plays where children can colour in masks and pictures of saints whilst listening to the artist in residence perform mummers' plays.

On Sundays 28th July, 11th August and 25th August, St Albans South Signal Box will be holding free Open Days.  Pop in and see largest preserved Midland Railway signal box in the UK.

Enjoy an evening in Heartwood Forest on a guided walk and Moth-catching demo on Saturday 27th July - booking is essential.

On the weekend of 6-8th August, Stockwood Discovery Centre are holding a free Garden Party for all the family to drop-in and enjoy, with puppetry, nature art, suitcase theatre, and garden games.

Pets At Home are once again running their free Pet Pals Workshops for the summer at both their Luton and St Albans stores. Children will learn all about Syrian Hamsters.

There's plenty of free fun on offer at Dunstable Downs throughout the summer. Drop-in any time to their Sports Village and enjoy several different activities including football, cricket, hockey, tennis, athletics, volleyball, soft archery (Wednesdays only), and frisbee golf (Fridays only). Or on 21th and 28th August you can enjoy their special after-hours openings, 5-7pm. And this year, the Kite Festival is back on 17th & 18th August.  Enjoy the spectacle of the kite display from professionals and amateurs and have fund flying your own. 

Kids aged 7-14 can also get active at Cottonmill Community and Cycling Centre with a free Cycling Session to learn BMX, road and track skills on 27th August. 

And finally, at the Natural History Museum at Tring, every Wednesday and Thursday children can drop into drop-in to the handling and craft workshop and discover Walter's Cabinet of Curiosities.

**LATE ADDITION - The Guy on the Luggage Rack at Stockwood  Discovery Centre on 22nd August is now free, and there is no need to book.**

These are just the free activities we've found this summer, but you can find lots more low-cost events and activities, as well as some of the bigger days out all listed on our What's On page.