FIVE parks across St Albans are preparing to host a day of jam-packed family fun with a Mad Hatter’s tea party on Sunday.

As part of the St Albans Festival, Larks in the Parks will be taking place between midday and 5pm at Morris Playing Field in London Colney, Roestock Park in Colney Heath, Fleetville Recreation Ground in Hatfield Road, Trestle Arts Base in Russet Drive and the Victoria Playing Field in Folly Lane.

The Mad Hatter and the Queen of Hearts will be roaming the sites throughout the day, during which visitors can try their hand at making and designing hats of all shapes and sizes among the many activities.

Students from Townsend and Francis Bacon Schools will be hosting giant art activity and music workshops, while live music will come in the form of The Push and The Papersnakes who will play at three of the events. There will also be some outlandish displays from the M.A.S stunt bike and Kinetix parkour teams.

London Colney is promising to put on it’s biggest Lark in the Parks party to date and the parish council wants to see as many residents as possible at the park for a family picnic from 12.30pm onwards.

Entertainment includes West End star Nadine Cox of Billy Elliot and Wicked and West End and TV star Steven Houghton who will be there with his dance school Excel, which includes children from the village, to kick off the show.

The line-up also includes Elvis Presley impersonator Leigh Casling, local singer songwriter Chris Flegg, The Push, close-up magician Mark Bilsby, Bowmansgreen School’s winning cheer-leading routine, as well as North London cabaret star Dave Anthony singing with Alison Gabriel.

BBC News 24 presenters and other local celebrities will also be making appearances.

Local organisations will be displaying the work they do in the community and other activities have been organised by the local Scouts and churches. There will even be an inflatable church.

For more information visit www.londoncolney.com

All of the events across the district are free and more information about the St Albans Festival can be found at www.stalbansfestival.com