Hot jazz, history walks and haikus – the Abbots Langley Festival of the Arts has all these and much, much more.

Kicking off on Sunday, June 8 and running until Sunday, July 13, the 12th festival, which has been held every two years since 1991 with just one exception, gathers together many of the village’s clubs and societies to give residents and visitors just a little taste of what’s on offer throughout the year.

Information about the festival is available from Abbots Langley Library, on the high street, and there you can learn what the Abbots Langley Art Group are up to at Tanners Wood Hall in School Mead, attend the Open Garden at Abbots House, hear local children singing at St Saviour’s Church, meander along on a local history walk, listen to others’ or read your own poetry at St Saviour’s Parish Hall, tap your toes along to the Hot 5 Jazz Band at St Lawrence Church, and sing along with the Abbots Langley Gilbert and Sullivan Society at Henderson Hall.

As well as all this, there’s also a social evening at Abbots House with the Abbots Langley Gardening Society, a drama festival by primary schools in the area at Henderson Hall, a flower festival at St Paul’s Church in Langleybury, a traditional music session at Abbots Langley Cricket Club, a craft fair at St Lawrence Church Hall, and Tea with Mrs Pankhurst, a play by Flatpacktheatre taking place in Henderson Hall.

Other organisations taking part include the Abbots Langley Flower Arrangement Society, Watford School of Music, Abbots Langley Players, Abbots Langley Local History Society and Abbots Langley Orchestra.