What's On

14th December 2022

10 Alternatives to Going ‘Out Out’ this New Year

It’s certainly hard to believe, but the year will soon be coming to an end – yes, really! It seems to me like just yesterday we were saying hello to the summer sun but we’re now saying hello to 2023. Yes, there are the obvious ways to bring in the New Year – heading out to party until the early hours may be the choice for some but, if you’re anything like me, all of the celebrations surrounding Christmastime mean that NY seems like the perfect time for something a little different! Here are some unique ideas you could use..

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5th December 2022

MK’s Cosy Winter Pub Guide – 2022

Brrrrrrrr. It's certainly starting to feel frosty out there! Here is your guide to 10 of the best local pubs that'll be sure to 'warm your cockles' this Winter! Remember: "Winter is not a season - it's a celebration." The Barge Inn and The Traveller’s Rest Part of the Vintage Inns group, The Barge at Woolstone was built in the early 19th Century to slake the thirsts of men working on The Grand Union Canal and has been a firm favourite of narrow boaters ever since. Having recently undergone a really impressive and modern refurbishment whilst keeping it’s country feel..

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25th October 2022

MyMiltonKeynes Set to Light up the City this Christmas

Celebrating the first festive season as an official city, Milton Keynes Christmas lights are set to be switched on in spectacular fashion by MyMiltonKeynes on Saturday 12th November. The stage will be set outside Midsummer Place Shopping Centre from 3pm for an afternoon of free festive fun, before the sky above is illuminated with fireworks, lasers and snow, along with the official Christmas light switch on. MKFM’s DJ Hurley will kick-start the event with music, and from 4pm the crowds will be entertained with a fun-packed schedule of activities, including family competitions, and a parade of the city’s well-loved mascots...

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16th December 2020

Sound choices on new Craufurd CD

Music might have been off the menu at venues for the most part in 2020, but that doesn’t mean that band creativity has ceased. If anything, enforced lockdowns, venue closures and all the associated (often nonsensical) hassles have provided musicians with more time to let their musical juices flow. Now, thanks to The Craufurd Arms in Milton Keynes you can hear some of the most exciting artists from these parts on a new compilation CD. It’s the perfect stocking filler for music fans this Christmas. Sammy Jones listened in... T his new showcase disc has pulled together 16 bands from..

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11th December 2020

Here’s to brighter times! 

Christmas illuminations are an annual tradition in our towns, and bathe our High Streets in a festive glow. The annual switch-on ceremonies can be quite the spectacle too, with everything from food stalls and charity stands to lantern processions and an all-day Dickensian market all featuring locally. These events unite the community and help us to get in a Santa frame of mind. Covid has called a halt to all of the associated fun this year. But as Sammy Jones found out, the pandemic won’t put a stop to the lights themselves. Newport Pagnell’s illuminating display has been an annual..

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10th December 2020

Remembering two decades of fairy tales and fabulous fun!

One of the biggest Christmas traditions for many is a family trip to the annual pantomime. Its cancellation in 2020 has snatched away the seasonal magic, and venues up and down the country have lost out on their biggest cash injection of the year. Milton Keynes Theatre should have been enjoying slapstick shenanigans with Ashley Banjo and the boys from Diversity this December, but Jack and the Beanstalk has been postponed. Luckily the venue has announced a smaller, ‘covid safe’ show this year, but we need more! To raise some festive cheer, self-confessed panto addict Sammy Jones looks back at..

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4th December 2020

Hamleys, the world’s oldest toy shop, launches a pop-up at centre:mk this Christmas 

Hamleys, the world’s oldest toy shop, launches a pop-up at centre:mk this Christmas  World-renowned Hamleys has opened its first ever bricks and mortar pop-up outlet at centre:mk on Wednesday 2 December   The British toy emporium stocks a range of renowned brands as well as creating an immersive experience for shoppers with expert toy demonstrations  This Christmas, centre:mk, one of the UK’s top 10 shopping centres, promises fun for the entire family with the launch of an exclusive Hamleys pop-up shop, which opened on Wednesday 2 December now lockdown restrictions have eased.  The renowned British toy emporium offers shoppers an immersive..

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3rd December 2020

Local woman supports Willen Hospice Christmas campaign

A Milton Keynes woman is urging the public to support Willen Hospice as they launch their 2020 Christmas appeal. Lorraine Jolly has thrown her support behind the charity’s Christmas fundraiser by sharing her story of how the Hospice cared for her husband Mark, who sadly died in June this year at the height of the first wave of the Covid-19 pandemic. A dad of three, Mark was just 49. Lorraine, who says the care Mark and their family received from the Hospice was outstanding, is supporting the charity to help spread the word about the unique care they provide.  Mark..

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30th November 2020

‘MyCinema’ is back to bring Christmas Movie Magic

It’s back, by public demand…the drive-in sensation ‘MyCinema’ is returning this festive season to bring some Christmas movie magic to Milton Keynes all thanks to MyMiltonKeynes and Milton Keynes Council. After the huge success of ‘Spooky Screenings’ across half term, ‘Festive Flix’ will run from Friday 18th December until Wednesday 23rd December and will bring some of the best, classic family Christmas movies to the big screen. Films will include Elf, The Santa Clause, The Grinch, Frozen & Frozen 2, The Muppets Christmas Carol, Die Hard, Love Actually and more. In all there will be 20 showings across the six..

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26th November 2020

The Henry Allen Trust – Carols In The Car

To bring some Henry’s Happiness and Christmas Cheer to everyone in what has been a difficult year, The Henry Allen Trust are hosting a Carols in the Car concert. Team Henry have joined with Thrift Wood to bring some fun, laughter, and to create some magical Christmas memories. On Thursday 3rd December 2020, Thrift Wood will be transformed into a live drive in carol service with some super special surprises too. Due to the pandemic all our events have been cancelled and Henry’s fundraising is beyond difficult. We are struggling to continue to help and support families battling childhood cancers..

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19th November 2020

Sleeping Beauty

Milton Keynes Theatre are delighted to announce that all tickets for the first performance of Sleeping Beauty, produced by Qdos Entertainment, will be gifted to NHS workers and their families.  Thanks to support from The National Lottery, the new socially-distanced pantomime will run from Saturday 19 December 2020 to Sunday 10 January 2021 with tickets available from Wednesday 18 November at 10.00am. Emma Sullivan, Theatre Director of Milton Keynes Theatre said today ‘We are totally overjoyed to be opening our doors again for a fantastic family pantomime! With thanks to Qdos and The National Lottery we will be able to..

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17th November 2020

intu MK launches ‘Thinking of You’ campaign

This week, intu Milton Keynes has launched a community campaign to support older people alone this Christmas by creating ‘festive packages’ – and the centre needs your support. The ‘Thinking of You’ idea is to let people alone this Christmas know that they have not been forgotten by sending a hamper with a letter from someone that cares. intu Milton Keynes is buying over 100 boxes and seasonal goodies to fill them, but is asking people in Milton Keynes to write or type a letter to be sent with this. “We know that many more people will be spending Christmas..

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