Things to Do

Formed in 2022, Striking Events may still be relatively new to the Comic Con scene, but at its very heart is a collective wealth of comic con experience going back 25 years. Add to that, the family run company has its very roots embedded deep into the area, having resided in Milton Keynes all of their lives. On May 19th the MILTON KEYNES MEGA COMIC CON will open its doors for the first time at THE MARSHALL ARENA and will signal the next stage in Striking Events ambitions. Already succeeding with an impressive forty plus events that are lined up for this year alone – the MEGA COMIC CON in Milton Keynes will be their biggest event yet! The Mega Comic Con will have a strong community minded focus, a fun friendly environment for families to enjoy. A fully inclusive event for all which sets us apart from other comic..

National Walking Day (today, 3rd April) is the perfect time to announce the annual Walking Festival returning to city parks in May, packed full of outdoor activities! Organised by The Parks Trust, the charity caring for the MK’s green spaces, this year’s four-day festival provides more variety than ever - from forest bathing to barefoot running. Here’s a round-up of special events to enjoy: Introduction to Forest Bathing. Thursday 9 May, 1.30pm at Shenley Wood. Connect with the natural world on a relaxing walk through the ancient woodland, engaging Forest Bathing techniques. Developed in 1980’s Japan, these have been found to lower blood pressure, reduce stress, and improve memory and concentration - nature is a powerful healer! Booking essential, suitable for ages 12+. Introduction to Singletrack with Trek. Thursday 9 May, 6pm at Campbell Park. A great way to explore the city on Redways, bridle paths, and leisure routes –..

It’s the news that thrill-seekers wanted to hear – Aqua Parcs is bringing its giant ‘Mammoth’ obstacle back for the 2024 season, which starts on Saturday 4 May. Introduced to the 450-metre-long inflatable water park last year, the ‘Mammoth’ stands at 30ft tall and features a daring 20ft ‘cliff jump’ – making it ones of the biggest attractions in Milton Keynes. Awarded MK’s Top Attraction 2023 at the MK Food & Leisure Awards, Aqua Parcs enters its 7th year at Willen Lake and will bring new features to the park for 2024. Split over three unique sections: Union, Aqua Glide and Airspace, visitors get a different experience at each area – all included in the one-hour session. Aqua Parcs has also taken over the Open Water Swimming operations at Willen Lake that invites people to join a community of swimmers that take to the lake on Saturday mornings with Sunday..

The springtime vision of woodland floors transformed by a sea of bluebells is truly stunning. The chink of early year sun dancing through the treetops and onto their delicate petals reminds us that better (and warmer!) days are ahead. A leisurely stroll through the woods at any time of the year is good for the soul, but particularly when the bluebells are awake to welcome us – and they usually provide a display from late March to early May. But how much do you really know about these charming little flowers? You probably don’t realise just how fortunate we are in the UK – almost half the world’s bluebells are found here, and these dainty delights take their time to establish themselves; from seed to flower takes a colony between five and seven years. If you take a trip out to see them in the next few weeks, enjoy them,..

One of my most favourite albums ever is The Day The Country Died, writes Sammy Jones... I was a little too young to be exposed to it when it first came out, but when I discovered it during the late 1980s, the influence of this gnarly punk produce was colossal. In 2024 it is still played here as frequently as it ever was. It’s a masterpiece on so many levels, and there were others; From The Cradle to the Grave was every bit as brilliant. The band responsible, anarcho-punks Subhumans are right up there when it comes to my most influential. Subhumans shaped my childhood, and were the antithesis of the sanitised pop my peers were listening to. Heck, I even centred one of my school drama projects around one of their songs! Culture Shock followed from the ashes of Subhumans, and their gigs at the still-missed Countapoint Club in..

Dino’s and spooky shows, and a magic lamp and the Godfather of Punk Poetry. You want variety? Sammy Jones talks you through lots of it with a peek behind the curtain at April’s theatre opportunities... You’ll get chills, and they’ll probably start multiplying at Milton Keynes Theatre this month, but it won’t have anything to do with the students of Rydell High. In fact, April’s first play to devour is thrilling, exciting and fear inducing all rolled into a package known as The Woman in Black (April 2-6). Susan Hill’s chilling ghost story is horrifyingly good – and more than seven million ticket sales prove the point. Arthur Kipps is obsessed with a curse he believes has been cast over him and his family by the spectre of a Woman in Black, so he engages a sceptical young actor to help him tell his terrifying story and exorcise the fear..

It promises one lamp, three wishes and infinite possibilities, and this April, Milton Keynes Theatre invites everyone to revel in the wonder of Disney’s breathtaking spectacle, Aladdin. The magic carpet will touch down for a month-long stay in the new city from April 24. The exuberant production features iconic music by Alan Menken, Howard Ashman, and Tim Rice, truly making it a ‘sound’ proposition as much as a visual spectacular! Superstar composer Alan has accrued a terrific number of accolades for his work on Beauty and the Beast, The Little Mermaid and the film version of Aladdin. “It’s always been a dream of mine to somehow restore the telling of Aladdin the way Howard Ashman and I first envisioned it, and how we wrote it,” Alan said, “The Disney film version is a dazzling action-adventure tale with great animation effects and a handful of songs, some with lyrics by Howard..

This Easter holiday, prepare for a double dose of cartoon character cuteness at Midsummer Place as the centre welcomes kids’ favourites Bluey and Chase! On Friday 5 April, the lovable character Bluey will be visiting the centre for some fantastic  personal appearances at intervals starting at 11.30am. This FREE event is a chance to meet everyone’s favourite Blue Heeler in person, give Bluey a high five and there will be lots of opportunities to take photos. Then, on Thursday 11 April, PAW Patrol’s Chase is on the scene and ready to meet his paw-some fans. Children can catch up with the heroic pup at Midsummer Place at intervals between 11.30am and 4pm. This event is again free for all to attend and provides families with a fun, budget-friendly day out, where children can pose for photos with their favourite police canine. The time slots for both appearances are below and..

Milton Keynes Brick Festival is rolling into town on Monday 6th May, and it's gearing up to be a brick-tastic celebration for LEGO lovers of all ages! Immerse yourself in a world of creativity and fun as families, collectors, adult builders, and every LEGO-fanatic imaginable come together for a day of brick-filled bliss! Over 40 years ago Milton Keynes Shopping Centre, as Centre:MK was known back then, hosted the first ever LEGO themed event “LEGO World”. This was the first time the UK had ever seen an incredible collection of LEGO models, alongside fun-filled brick based activities which included a World Record breaking Tallest Tower at over 13m, with plenty of LEGO items available to buy and take home too. Over 4 decades later, the Milton Keynes Brick Festival is bringing all of that nostalgic fun back home to Centre:MK. This event will bring MILLIONS of LEGO bricks into the..

Visitors to centre:mk will be in for a real treat this Easter school holiday as the Easter Fair - complete with giant inflatable maze, appearances from the Easter Bunny, balloon modelling, face painting, Easter Egg Hunt, and Circus Club - all make their way to the heart of the Milton Keynes based shopping and leisure destination. The Easter Fair, which will be held in Middleton Hall – outside John Lewis from 29th March to 11th April, has many free areas for families to enjoy – with an 8ft high, huge inflatable maze! Further free activities for the children include arts & crafts, meeting the Easter Bunny, balloon modelling, and face painting*. There will also be ticketed rides to enjoy - including the teacups, an inflatable train, trampoline bungees and crazy mini-golf. (*please see below times). The very popular free Circus Club is also back for the holidays; hosted by performing..

Loved by canines and their families for over a decade, the Big Doggie Do is paws-itively the city’s favourite annual celebration of all-things dog. The free event organised by The Parks Trust, the charity caring for MK’s parks, returns to Willen Lake on Saturday 18th and Sunday 19th May - midday ‘til 5pm on both days. This year’s two-day event promises to have more fun than you can throw (and fetch) a stick at, including: Doggie displays Showing classes Flyball Pet supplies Delicious treats (for pooches and people!) Local charities And new for 2024, a Talks Tent programme of tutorials & demonstrations Julie Dawes, Events & Community Engagement Manager at The Parks Trust says “We’re so thrilled to provide local dog owners with a chance to come together with their pets and have fun, whilst picking up tips about how to care for them responsibly”. Big Doggie Do is one..

Are you searching for the perfect way to keep the kids entertained during the Easter holiday? Look no further! We’ve got you covered with everything from Easter egg hunts, game days, events from The Parks Trust, and lots more. Milton Keynes Museum The hunt will soon be on at Milton Keynes Museum (March 29-April 1) with the return of its annual Easter egg hunt, where successful searches lead to yummy chocolate rewards! The popular search is an egg-cellent way to celebrate the festive period, and this hunt ensures everyone wins something. And while you search for those egg tokens, you get a wonderful tour of the history hub, too. Elsewhere, do a spot of window shopping in the Street of Shops, take a seat for a Victorian school lesson, and discover parlour games – the entertainment of choice in an era long before the small screen and smart phones ruled..

Following record-breaking runs on Broadway and in the West End, as well as on a US tour and in cities around the world, Pretty Woman is now on the road in the UK – and will be at Milton Keynes Theatre this March. According to his wife Barbara and daughter Kathleen, director of the film and co-writer of the musical Garry Marshall would have been thrilled to learn of its ongoing success. He passed away in 2016 after working on the production with the movie’s writer J. F. Lawton for many years and dreaming that it might open in New York some day. “Had someone told him it would be such a hit around the world he wouldn’t have believed it,” Barbara said, “Not only did it make it to Broadway, it’s bringing joy to so many people in so many other places.” Kathleen agreed: “As well as being a..

A feel-good month of upbeat musicals and comedy awaits on our local stages – just what the doctor ordered to banish any dull moods. Pulse’s Sammy Jones talks you through what’s on, where... Shrek the Musical is the perfect pick-me-up for this dreary time of year, and it’s a show the whole family will be wowed by. Join Shrek – the most famous green star of stage and screen since Kermit – and his trusty sidekick Donkey as they set out on a quest to defeat the fearsome dragon and rescue Princess Fiona, in the hugely popular tale. Antony Lawrence has previously brought the goods to leading roles in The Lion King, We Will Rock You and Matilda the Musical, and now he’s Shrek, while Strictly star Joanne Clifton (now a seasoned stage star herself) is Princess Fiona. We asked Donkey why people should take in a performance and he..

Looking for somewhere in central Milton Keynes where you can grab a quick coffee, enjoy a lazy lunch with friends, throw a birthday party or simply catch up with your mates? The time is right to check out the Holiday Inn Milton Keynes – Central, which is just a short walk from the railway station. While out-of-towners and event organisers have already discovered just what is on offer at the 173-bedroom hotel there are many more ‘locals’ missing out on the venue’s facilities. There is no need to check in to one of the hotel’s 173 bedrooms. This is a hotel with an open-door policy to casual visitors or those looking to plan an event from a christening, family party or funeral wake. The Open Lobby, serving Starbucks, is open all day and through to the evening for visitors who may just want a coffee, or a meal chosen from..