The Museum of Watford team is taking local history out of the museum and into the heart of the community this August with a series of interactive Museum on Tour stalls at two major local events.
Made possible by funding from The National Lottery Heritage Fund, Museum on Tour brings collections, stories and activities directly to residents across Watford.
Residents and visitors will be invited to explore Watford's rich heritage through hands-on craft activities, object handling sessions and opportunities to share their own stories.
- Watford Community Family Fun Day| 15 August 2026 | King George V Playing Fields - Visitors can learn about the town's historic printing industry through a range of creative activities inspired by the collections of the Museum of Watford. Families can try their hand at screen printing, creating their own printed tea towels or tote bags, and make personalised postcards using stamps, inks and geometric printing techniques. The team will also be showcasing fascinating objects connected to Watford's printing heritage, including the Odhams trophy, historic printing blocks and an engraved printing roll, giving visitors the opportunity to get up close to items that tell the story of one of the town's most significant industries.
- Herts Pride | 22 August 2026 | Cassiobury Park The Museum of Watford will also be joining the celebrations at Herts Pride, supporting the event's message of inclusion, community and belonging. Visitors will be invited to take part in a creative activity inspired by Proud Watford's tagline, "A Place Without Prejudice", using collage materials to express their thoughts, feelings and interpretations of what an inclusive community looks like. A second activity, "The Museum of Me", encourages participants to create a model representing a significant moment, place or object from their own life, or from Watford's history and write a museum-style label explaining its importance.Alongside these activities, visitors can explore a display highlighting LGBTQ+ story in Watford, helping uncover and celebrate the diverse experiences that have shaped the town's history.
Elected Mayor of Watford, Peter Taylor, said: “Museum on Tour offers something for everyone this summer.
“At the Watford Community Family Fun Day, people can get creative with screen printing, design their own postcards and discover how Watford's historic printing industry helped shape the town through fascinating objects from the museum collection. At Herts Pride, visitors can explore Watford's LGBTQ+ stories and take part in activities that celebrate inclusion, community and personal stories.
“Thanks to the support of The National Lottery Heritage Fund, and National Lottery players, we're able to bring local history directly into the community. We hope as many people as possible will come along, get involved and enjoy everything the stalls have to offer.”
Museum on Tour is part of the Museum of Watford's ongoing commitment to making local history accessible, engaging and relevant to people of all ages.
Through interactive activities and collection objects, the team hopes to inspire curiosity about Watford's heritage, encourage creativity and create opportunities for residents to connect with their town's stories, and with one another.
