Christ First Christmas Concert

A one-hour Christmas concert with carols, videos, storytelling and more. It will be a fun and enjoyable morning for the whole family, followed by refreshments including mince pies and mulled wine.

Westfield Academy, Tolpits Lane, Watford, Sunday, December 16, 11am. Details: 07825 329564 x1church.com

Carols on the Hour

Take a break from Christmas shopping and enjoy a very special cathedral event. Each carol service lasts just 30 minutes - enough time to sing some uplifting carols with the cathedral choirs and local visiting choirs, and to get a real taste of Christmas in this beautiful, atmospheric surroundings.

St Albans Cathedral, Sumpter Yard, St Albans, Saturday, December 15, 11am to 4pm. Details: 01727 890290 stalbanscathedral.org

Rudolph Rave

With a DJ on the decks playing Christmas songs and chart tunes, glow sticks, gallons of glitter, giant balloons, a spectacular laser-light display and a licensed bar for the big kids, this family-friendly party afternoon will make Christmas truly unforgettable.

Watford Colosseum, Rickmansworth Road, Watford, Sunday, December 16, 2pm. Details: 01923 571102 watfordcolosseum.co.uk

Santa Claus and the Magical Christmas Journey

It’s Christmas Eve and Santa Claus is flying high above the clouds delivering presents to all the good boys and girls around the world. Hiding in the back are two naughty elves, Charlie and Kara, who have snuck on board for the ride. All is well until suddenly the Sat Nav goes haywire and breaks, leaving Santa stranded. With the clock ticking and morning fast approaching it’s down to Charlie, Kara and Muffin the bear to come up with a clever plan to save Christmas. From the producers of last year’s record-breaking production, the next adventure in the collection is filled with songs, nursery rhymes and magic. A truly unforgettable experience which includes the magical moment when snowflakes fall over the audience – a guaranteed white Christmas at every show!

Watford Colosseum, Rickmansworth Road, Watford, until Monday, December 24, various times. Details: 01923 571102 watfordcolosseum.co.uk

Baby Broadway Christmas

An interactive family Christmas performance suitable for all ages. Enjoy well-known numbers from The Polar Express, The Sound of Music, Elf, White Christmas, The Snowman, Frozen and many more. Plus there will be bubbles, bells and puppetry in an interactive family concert performed by West End singers.

Watford Palace Theatre, 20 Clarendon Road, Watford, Saturday, December 15, 10am and 11.15am. Details: 01923 225671 watfordpalacetheatre.co.uk

Jack and the Beanstalk

The most magical event of the year is back, full of all the ingredients you’ve come to love about the Watford Palace Theatre pantomime. A lavish spectacle with live musicians on stage, stunning sets and costumes, song, dance and slapstick, performed straight from the heart by a talented company of new faces and Palace favourites. For 2018 join Jack, Dame Trott and their traditional pantomime cow on the most giant adventure of all. The ultimate seasonal treat for you, your family and friends.

Watford Palace Theatre, 20 Clarendon Road, Watford, until Saturday, January 5, various times. Details: 01923 225671 watfordpalacetheatre.co.uk

Anthony and Cleopatra

Broadcast from the National Theatre, Ralph Fiennes and Sophie Okonedo play Shakespeare’s famous fated couple in his great tragedy of politics, passion and power. Caesar and his assassins are dead. General Mark Antony now rules alongside his fellow defenders of Rome. But at the fringes of a war-torn empire the Egyptian Queen Cleopatra and Mark Antony have fallen fiercely in love. In a tragic fight between devotion and duty, obsession becomes a catalyst for war.

Watford Palace Theatre, 20 Clarendon Road, Watford, Sunday, December 16, 2pm. Details: 01923 225671 watfordpalacetheatre.co.uk

Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs

Expect a show bursting with all the ingredients of a classic fairy tale pantomime, live music, colourful sets plus plenty of comedy, fun and laughter. Come along on a magical adventure to meet a wicked queen with a jealous streak, a handsome prince who’s searching for love and the fairest of all damsels in distress. Not forgetting a magic mirror, a tempting juicy red apple and seven friendly dwarfs.

Watersmeet Theatre, High Street, Rickmansworth, until Monday, December 31. Details: 01923 711063 watersmeet.co.uk

A Christmas Carol

The Chameleons and KAOS proudly present their version of A Christmas Carol. With more than a healthy dollop of Dickens, this modern day tale is fun for all the family.

Bushey & Oxhey Methodist Church, King Edward Road, Chalk Hill, Watford, until Sunday, December 16. Details: 020 8123 6443 thechameleons.co.uk

Aladdin

Upstage Productions return with a fantastic traditional pantomime for all the family. Bursting with fabulous music, hilarious comedy, dazzling sets and costumes as well as loads of audience participation. Join in the fun this Christmas with songs and laughter and follow Aladdin’s exciting adventures involving colourful pantomime characters, a scheming sorcerer, a golden lamp, a beautiful princess, a cave full of treasure and just a touch of friendly genie magic.

The Radlett Centre, 1 Aldenham Avenue, Radlett, until Thursday, January 3. Details: 01923859291 radlettcentre.co.uk

Home Alone (PG)

After the McCallisters head off on a trip to Paris and mistakenly leave their young son Kevin behind, Kevin awakens to an empty house and assumes his wish to have no family has come true. But his excitement sours when he realizes that two con men plan to rob the McCallister residence, and that he alone must protect the family home.

The Henderson Hub, High Street, Abbots Langley, Sunday, December 16, 3.45pm. Details: 01923 601280 henderson-hub.com

Game Plan: Board Games Rediscovered

Originally displayed at the V&A’s Museum of Childhood, this exhibition celebrates the joy, excitement and occasional frustration of playing board games. Come and see some of the most iconic, enthralling and visually striking games from the V&A’s outstanding national collection of board games. Alongside current family favourites such as Cluedo and Trivial Pursuit, and traditional games like chess, the exhibition will look at historical board games including The Game of the Goose and other beautifully designed games from the 18th and 19th centuries. Game Plan: Board Games Rediscovered features games from around the world, and explores the important role of design. There are hands-on interactives throughout and the opportunity to discover if you are a gloating winner, a cheater or a sore loser at the end. More than 100 objects will be displayed as part of the exhibition, with further St Albans specific games artefacts from the museum collection being displayed in other galleries.

St Albans Museum, St Peter’s Street, St Albans, until Sunday, March 3. Details: 01727 864 511 stalbansmuseums.org.uk

Christmas Fair and Santa’s Grotto

Whether it’s handmade Christmas gifts, decorations, a sweet treat or something to keep the little ones entertained there's something for the whole family. After such a successful and festive first Christmas fair last year, Meriden are back for more fun for all of the family this year. Come along for a bigger and more eventful fair this year with a range of stalls to get your Christmas gifts, decorations, keepsakes, tables for arts and crafts, face painting, glitter tattoos and sand art to keep the kids entertained, refreshments for all and last but not least the magical Santa's grotto.

Meriden Community Centre, Garsmouth Way, Watford, Saturday, December 15, 12.30pm to 3.30pm. Details: 07771 798233

Tropicana at Christmas

It’s time to go back to the 80s as Tropicana Nights returns for another evening of classic hits and killer dance moves, except this time it’s Christmas-themed.

Watford Colosseum, Rickmansworth Road, Watford, Saturday, December 15, 8pm. Details: 01923 571102 watfordcolosseum.co.uk

How to Plot a Novel

Join science fiction author Jane O'Reilly and learn the building bricks of story and how they fit together.

Croxley Green Library, Barton Way, Croxley Green, Saturday, December 15, 11am. Details: 0300 123 4049

Baby and Children’s Market

Hundreds of quality pre-loved goods, with everything from designer clothes to pushchairs.

Westfield Academy, Tolpits Lane, Watford, Saturday, December 15, 12pm to 2pm. Details: 07878 218820 cheekimonkeys.co.uk

Christmas Fun

Enjoy some festive fun at the museum, including Christmas ornament workshop, face painting and trip to Santa’s grotto.

Watford Museum, 194 High Street, Watford, Saturday, December 15, 11am to 4pm. Details: 01923 232297 watfordmuseum.org.uk