Tourism

St Albans is covered in a pretty thick blanket of snow. It happens to be one of the busiest weekends of the year with people buying last minute gifts and preparing for parties. Yet the state of the roads make this extremely difficult.

St Albans Heritage Open Days, September 10th – 13th. Its one thing to read about the history of this city but to do a historic walking tour brings it so alive and will make you proud to be a resident here.

A few years ago, I asked Imogen de la Bere what she would consider to be the essence of life. 'Truth' was her answer. Interestingly, the OVO philosophy of theatre is that the 'emotional truthfulness of the acting should supply everything.'

Alban is a two act community opera involving over 150 performers which has been commissioned by the St. Albans Cathedral Music Trust. It will be given five performances (including a matinee) in St. Albans Cathedral between May 20-24 2009, bringing together a wealth of local talent. Singers, actors, dancers and musicians of all ages drawn principally, though not exclusively, from parish and school choirs across Hertfordshire and Bedfordshire will join a core of experienced professional performers.

Romantic Russian music comes to St Albans Abbey on Saturday June 25th with performances of some of the most colourful and passionate scores ever composed for orchestra (7.30pm).

If you were at the St Albans' Market last saturday, you may have found yourself seduced by the tunes of one of the top musicians of the West End.

1st August sees the formal launch of an exciting new website celebrating the ‘living history’ of the Sopwell area of St Albans. Funded by the National Lottery the website, www.sopwellmemories.org.uk, contains stories and photographs contributed by local people, as well as an extensive and increasing archive of oral history interviews with both recent and long-standing residents. It aims to capture memories of living in Sopwell as it changed from a rural farming community to a culturally diverse suburb of St Albans.

St Albans is bracing itself for its 14th Beer and Cider Festival, held by CAMRA (Campaign for Real Ale). This will take place between Wednesday 30th September and Saturday 3rd October 2009 at the St Albans Arena.

There is no doubt that St Albans commuters have had their patience tested by First Capital Connect in recent months. But for those who would like a day out in London and don’t desire the delays of FCC to be part of it, is there an alternative?

Just when parents thought that life was getting back to normal in this first week of the New Year, heavy snowfalls have turned St Albans into a winter wonderland once again. The children of St Albans have just returned to school after their Christmas break but today most of the local schools are closed. It is predicted that they may be shut for a few more days.