News from Playing Out St Albans

Events and dates from Playing Out St Albans District

To see an overview of the Playing Out St Albans District project visit our main Playing Out St Albans District page. For our how-to guide to starting your own Playing Out scheme in St Albans District, please visit our How to apply page.

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Upcoming Events from Playing Out St Albans District

The 2023 events series is now complete but you can contact us any time to discuss road closures on your street. Simply email us today and tell us what you want to organise and we can help.

And why not sign up to our mailing list to be alerted to future events. 

The 2024 events are as follows:

• Monday 22nd January 8pm – Free online information session about how to start Playing Out on your street. Book via Eventbrite for link.
• Tuesday 13th February 7pm – Free in-person information session about how to organise a street party, with our sister organisation, Our Street Party. At the Beech House, St Peter’s Street, St Albans. Booking via Eventbrite recommended.
• Tuesday 13th February 8pm – Free in-person information session about how to start Playing Out on your street. At the Beech House, St Peter’s Street, St Albans. Booking via Eventbrite recommended.
• Friday 1st March 10am – Free in-person information session about how to organise a street party, with our sister organisation, Our Street Party. At the Bennetts Cafe, The British Legion, Leyton Road, Harpenden. Booking via Eventbrite recommended.
• Friday 1st March 11am – Free in-person information session about how to start Playing Out on your street. At the Bennetts Cafe, The British Legion, Leyton Road, Harpenden. Booking via Eventbrite recommended
• Wednesday 6th March 7pm –  Free online information session about how to organise a street party, with our sister organisation, Our Street Party. Book via Eventbrite for link.
• Wednesday 6th March 8pm –  Free online information session about how to start Playing Out on your street. Book via Eventbrite for link.
• Sunday 17th March 10am-12 noon – drop in at the Sustainability Market, Harpenden and chat with the team
• Tuesday 30th April 8pm – Free online information session about how to start Playing Out on your street. Book via Eventbrite for link.
• Sunday 19th May 10am-12noon – drop in at the Sustainability Market, Harpenden and chat with the team
• Tuesday 21st May 8pm – Free in-person information session about how to start Playing Out on your street. At the Beech House, St Peter’s Street, St Albans. Booking via Eventbrite recommended.
• Monday 10th June 8pm – Free online information session about how to start Playing Out on your street. Book via Eventbrite for link.

Application Deadlines

The District Council has four application rounds per year for residents to apply for short road closures using the “Playing Out” scheme. Each round has an application deadline. [Street party applications are a separate scheme run by the County Council. Visit Our Street Party to find out more.]

2023 applications are now closed. The deadlines for 2024 will be: 

Round 1: 

• Application deadline: Friday 9th February
• Close your road on dates from : Saturday 23rd March onwards

Round 2:

• Application deadline: Friday 22nd March
• Close your road on dates from : Saturday 4th May onwards

Round 3:

• Application deadline: Friday 17th May
• Close your road on dates from : Saturday 29th June onwards

Round 4:

• Application deadline: Friday 12th July
• Close your road on dates from : Saturday 31st August onwards

All the information you need to apply, including the link to the form, is on our How to Apply page. We recommend you contact us for a bit of guidance if you plan to “self-serve” of this information before applying if you cannot attend an information session.

Remember you must consult the other residents (and businesses) on your street – before you can apply so please give yourself plenty of time to do that before an application deadline.  

Click here for the full rules on how often and when you may hold Playing Out sessions in St Albans District . 

News

2023 was another great year, taking us to 37 streets in the district that we have now supported to apply and kitted out.

• We’re so excited to say that we’ve been awarded funding from the The National Lottery Community Fund! This grant will enable us to keep supporting residents of St Albans District to close their own streets for Playing Out and street gatherings through 2023-2024. Hundreds of residents across the district have already enjoyed getting together regularly with their neighbours and we can’t wait to support more to start their own schemes. Huge thanks #NationalLottery!
• Keep up-to–date with us on social media. Find us on our own Playing Out St Albans Facebook page and Playing Out St Albans Twitter page. Find us on the Sustainable St Albans Instagram page. Join our Playing Out St Albans Facebook Group.

Playing Out St Albans District in the Media

• Interview with Environment Matters on Mix92.6 (Podcast) June 2023
• St Albans News June 2023
• The Parents’ Show on Mix92.6 (formerly Radio Verulam) April 2023
• Herts Ad Article about World Car Free Day, September 2021
• Herts Ad Article about Festive Streets, December 2020
• Sustainability News from St Albans District Council March 2020
• Herts Ad Article about Playing Out, February 2020
• Radio Verulam November 2019 (also available as a podcast)
• St Albans & Harpenden Review, November 2019
• Herts Ad Article, November 2019
• BBC Three Counties Radio, Nick Coffer Show September 2019 (You Tube Audio)
• BBC Three Counties Radio, Justin Dealey Show September 2019 (You Tube Audio)
• BBC Three Counties Radio, Andy Collins Show September 2019 (You Tube Audio)
• Radio Verulam February 2019 (also available as a podcast)
• Herts Ad Article, September 2019

Next

Return to the main Playing Out page
or
Click here for the How to Apply to Playing Out page – everything you need to know to start your St Albans District street Playing Out.
or
Find out about Festive Streets.