To mark Purple Tuesday on 4 November, centre:mk is set to encourage its retailers, as well as its guest shoppers, to ‘Think Accessibility’.

Purple Tuesday is a global movement, with participation from thousands of businesses and organisations in over 30 countries. The huge initiative highlights the challenges disabled people face in navigating public spaces and services, shining a spotlight on their needs and supporting the implementation of ways to improve their visitor experience.

This year’s initiatives follow the success of 2024, when centre:mk was at the heart of city-wide efforts to make Milton Keynes the UK’s first accessible ‘Purple City’.

For 2025, centre:mk has announced it is the first UK shopping centre to deliver Unseen Aware Training to 100% of its staff and retailers. Between 70-80% of disabilities are unseen, so the news marks an important moment for improving accessibility for all.

Unseen Aware helps to normalise the conversation by giving those with unseen disabilities the confidence to speak up, and giving those who don’t have an unseen disability the confidence to reply. It gives individuals access to an online training portal, with a series of training videos to complete to become an Unseen Disabilities Ally.

The course equips the trainee with the skills and principles to interact with people with unseen disabilities, covers the range of unseen disabilities and the support that individuals may need. The training also provides a weekly newsletter covering new topics that further enhance the training platform. By providing the stores that have taken part in the training with a decal for their window, and staff with an unseen aware badge, shoppers with unseen disabilities can be confident that the staff in that retailer will be able to give them the customer service that they need, for the best possible experience.

Commenting on the milestone, Social Entrepreneur and Founder of Unseen Aware, Simon Houghton, said: “As someone with hearing loss, I know the day-to-day challenges of a hidden disability all too well. Unseen Aware aims to give staff the confidence to approach and interact with others who have a hidden disability, so it’s hugely encouraging to see centre:mk delivering this vital training across its entire staff and retailers.”

Unseen Aware enhances centre:mk’s existing unseen disabilities training, including dementia awareness and basic sign language. The fully-flat centre now also has 17 Mental Health First Aiders and operates a sunflower lanyard scheme.

The centre launched its first sensory room in November 2024, offering a quiet and calming space for families and individuals to take a break from the busy shops and public spaces environment. Since its launch, the sensory room has proved a valuable addition to centre:mk’s accessibility efforts, having been used 128 times over the past 12 months. centre:mk also offers mobility scooter and wheelchair hire free of charge, has a Changing places toilet and a hearling loop in the guest services lounge.

The centre is also a proud partner of an audit of public spaces across Milton Keynes, alongside MyMiltonKeynes (MyMK) BID and accessibility organisation AccessAble. The results, in the form of online summaries of destinations and spaces, mean that disabled people can plan their visits and understand the facilities available to them in advance.

For Purple Tuesday this year, MyMK will be conducting a questionnaire to gain feedback and ideas into how accessibility can be further improved in Milton Keynes city centre and what modifications and enhancements people would like to see. The questionnaire will be available online and via a QR code in centre:mk’s Guest Services lounge – decorated in honour of Purple Tuesday alongside the centre’s purple-lit cark park.

Ahead of Purple Tuesday 2025, Kim Priest, Head of Marketing at centre:mk, said:
“centre:mk is already an incredibly accessible centre, all on one level with excellent facilities. Our “Open to All” commitment is the delivery of an inclusive, welcoming environment to everyone, all year round and that is at the heart of the training we have delivered with Unseen Aware. We are the first shopping centre to have 100% completion by our retailers and staff, bringing us another step closer to achieving our vision of creating the first “Purple City” in collaboration with MyMK and other businesses across the city centre.”

“It’s Milton Keynes at its best – innovative, collaborative, unique.” – IF:MK 2025 audience member

The eighth edition of IF: Milton Keynes International Festival took place from 18 to 27 July – and the Festival has created a highlights film to celebrate its successes and impact on the city.

243 event and exhibition days – including two world premieres and four UK premieres – were presented in 12 different locations, among them centre:mk, the Festival’s Headline Partner; The Fred Roche Gardens; The Open University’s Walton Hall campus; Campbell Park; The MK Rose; Midsummer Place; The Church of Christ The Cornerstone; Xscape; and locations across Wolverton. There were 15,367 tickets sold and 63,000 attendances with visitors from as far afield as Aberdeen, Brighton, Newcastle, Liverpool, Southampton and St Ives. A further 210,000 people are estimated to have experienced the Festival as they encountered events taking place in the public realm. 72% of the events were free to attend.

Artists came from Australia, Belgium, Canada, Catalonia, France, Germany, the Netherlands and Spain as well as the UK. In total, 391 professional artists and crew were employed. 744 hotel rooms and apartments were booked and 2638 meals were served to them over the ten days!

6,160 community participants were involved in this year’s Festival. They took part in events including Michael Pendry’s art-for-peace multi-media installation Les Colombes and Milton Keynes poet Maureen Onwunali’s commissioned poem Utopia in Verse.  Les Colombes saw over 2,000 white paper doves suspended from the roof of Middleton Hall in centre:mk. Local people made doves for the installation and for their homes, shops, offices and community spaces creating a second City-wide installation. Young people and members of the community contributed their thoughts on what utopia looked like for them during workshops with Maureen.

The Festival would like to thank its many partners and supporters this year including: Arts Council England, Milton Keynes City Council, Headline Partner centre:mk; Inclusion Partner Milton Keynes Community Foundation; Pop-up Events Partner MyMiltonKeynes; Knowledge Partner The Open University; Green Spaces Partner The Parks Trust; VIP Green Room Partner Howden; Spiegeltent Family Event Partner Neves Solicitors; Community Event Partner Unity Place and Event Partners David Lock Associates, MHA, Midsummer Place and Xscape; Producing Partners The Church of Christ The Cornerstone, The Kindom of The Netherlands, Milton Keynes Development Partnership, MK Gallery, The MK Rose, Milton Keynes Theatre, MK College Group, NiftyLift and The Poetry Society; Festival Supporters Brewpoint, Brioche Pasquier, Click Arts Foundation + Specsavers, Collaborate MK, Europcar, Glenbrook and Urban Splash, John Lewis Partnership, MK Business Leaders, M&M Supplies, Stratstone Milton Keynes BMW and the YMCA Milton Keynes; Media Partners MKFM and Pulse Group Media; Wolverton Location Partners Electrolux Group, Elite Carpet & Furniture, HCGB, MK Christian Foundation, The Old Bath House, The Secret Garden, The Shop on The Square, Unity MK, Wolverton Benefice, Wolverton Supermarket and Wolverton & Greenleys Town Council.

The Festival is also extremely grateful to all of the artists, staff, local experts and contributors and the 216 volunteers who worked on the Festival.

Monica Ferguson, Festival Director and Chief Executive of The Stables which founded and produces IF: Milton Keynes International Festival said: “We want to thank all of the artists, audiences and supporters who made the 2025 Festival so special.  The excitement builds in the run up to and during the Festival as artists from around the world embed themselves in Milton Keynes and the positive impact felt across the City is a testament to everyone who helped us plan and deliver 10 amazing days ”

Hazel Edwards, South East Area Director, Arts Council England said: “The Festival provides a moment to really see the impact of investing in arts and culture with partners from the public, private and charitable sectors working together to showcase thought-provoking and joyous events and installations.”

Kevin Duffy, Centre Director of centre:mk, the Festival’s Headline Partner said: “We always look forward to the vibrant animation of centre:mk which the International Festival provides.  Using the City as a stage, it provides an energy for visitors that captures the imagination in a unique way.”

Cllr Shankika Mahendran, Cabinet Member for Planning & Placemaking, said: ““It was an exceptional Festival once again, bringing world-class cultural experiences to Milton Keynes.”

Watch the IF:MK 2025 highlights film:
https://ifmiltonkeynes.org/look-back-at-if-2025

Main photo above top left – credit Carys Underwood

To Improvise A Mountain: Lynette Yiadom-Boakye Curates

An exhibition of international artists working across painting, photography, drawing, film, installation, and sculpture from the 19th century to today.

Featuring: Bas Jan Ader, Pierre Bonnard, Lisa Brice, Barbara Chase-Riboud, Samuel Fosso, Peter Hujar, Kahlil Joseph, Zoe Leonard, Glenn Ligon, Toyin Ojih Odutola, The Otolith Group, Jennifer Packer, Paul Mpagi Sepuya, Walter Sickert, Édouard Vuillard, David Wojnarowicz, and Lynette Yiadom-Boakye.

“I’ve selected things that I love by dint of their poetry, their beauty, their refusal, their internal logic and, above all, their power. Each artist here invents the language they need, and there is magic in it.” — Lynette Yiadom-Boakye

Curated by figurative painter Lynette Yiadom-Boakye, To Improvise a Mountain combines an eclectic range of historical and contemporary artists—including Yiadom-Boakye herself—illuminating her creative process. Coming to prominence in the early 2010s, Yiadom-Boakye is both an artist and a writer, renowned for her oil paintings of imagined subjects.

Works have been selected based on their personal impact on the artist. The exhibition invites audiences on her journey across different geographies and generations of artists.

To Improvise a Mountain interweaves artworks that explore themes of intensity, intimacy, refusal, identity, activism, and beauty, ranging from the visceral Post-Impressionism of Walter Sickert to the radical video essays of The Otolith Group.

This project is inspired by a phrase from Miles Davis’s song Inamorata (1971), which asks: “Who is this music that which description may never justify? / Can the ocean be described?” For Yiadom-Boakye, poetry is similar to painting in its ability to translate the intangible into images and to think through rhythm and feeling.

Yiadom-Boakye expands:
“My deployment of words in writing is not always so different from my use of brush marks in painting. The logic, patterns, relationships, repetitions, and decisions are guided by intuition—the rightness and wrongness, the blatancies and subtleties—and that’s how I want to approach this show.”

Brian Cass, Senior Curator of Hayward Gallery Touring, says:
“Lynette Yiadom-Boakye brings us on an imaginative journey of encounters with artworks that – like her remarkable paintings—conjure different moods, personalities, colours, and emotions. Her curation celebrates the imaginative spirit of the contributing artists, and the endless potential of art to bring new thinking and feeling into existence, continuing Hayward Gallery Touring’s long-standing history of partnering with artists on ambitious exhibitions that invite audiences inside their worlds.”

To Improvise a Mountain: Curated by Lynette Yiadom-Boakye is a Hayward Gallery Touring exhibition. The exhibition is developed in partnership with Leeds Art Gallery, MK Gallery, and Nottingham Castle, supporting the Southbank Centre’s ongoing mission to create experiences for the nation’s enjoyment.

Anthony Spira, Director, MK Gallery, says:
“We are thrilled to present this remarkable exhibition, with such a varied and rich group of artists. It provides rare insight into the world of Lynette Yiadom-Boakye, one of the most exciting artists working today, sharing her thoughts, conversations, and inspirations in a display that is captivating, challenging, and powerful.”

This exhibition is on show at MK Gallery 25 October 2025 – 25 January 2026

More and book tickets:
https://mkgallery.org/event/to-improvise-a-mountain-lynette-yiadom-boakye-curates/

iFLY Indoor Skydiving UK is celebrating 20 years of flight with a high-adrenaline twist.

On 6 November 2025 at 11am, the iFLY Milton Keynes tunnel will host a spectacular Guinness World Record attempt as part of the anniversary celebrations.

Renowned magician and escapologist Martin Rees, who set the current record of eight magic tricks performed in a wind tunnel in three minutes nearly ten years ago, will return to attempt to break his record from 2016, while flying in wind speeds of up to 150mph.

Since opening in 2005, iFLY has welcomed over 3 million flyers through its doors, offering the thrill of freefall to everyone from first-time flyers to elite athletes. Over the past two decades, iFLY has played a pivotal role in developing world-class skydivers, with five state-of-the-art tunnels across the UK providing a safe and exhilarating way to experience human flight.

“This milestone is a celebration not just of 20 years of iFLY UK, but of the millions of people who have discovered the joy of flight with us,” said Trevor Haines, General Manager at iFLY UK. “Martin’s record attempt will showcase the extraordinary possibilities of our wind tunnels and the magic of pushing boundaries.”

Dan Murphy, Centre Director at Xscape Milton Keynes, commented: “We’re thrilled to see iFLY celebrate two decades of flight right here at Xscape Milton Keynes – it’s been an incredible journey watching people of all ages take flight and experience the thrill of the wind tunnel. Hosting a Guinness World Record attempt adds an exciting twist to the celebrations and perfectly captures the spirit of adventure and innovation that makes Xscape such a unique leisure destination.”

The record-breaking event will take place at iFLY Milton Keynes on 6th November, with media and spectators invited to witness history in the making.

The region’s premier shopping destination, centre:mk, welcomes new Peter Rabbit and Friends™- themed Grotto for festive celebrations in Milton Keynes this festive season.

Santa’s grotto opeed on 21 November and brings a brand-new festive adventure to share with visitors at centre:mk, in partnership with Penguin Books.

Up until 24 December, when Santa must fly off for a busy night on his sleigh, families visiting the Grotto will first meet Mrs Rabbit, who will tell the children about Peter’s lost Christmas presents. Children will use clues to help Mrs Rabbit search for the missing presents, before adventuring out into the snowy forest through Peter’s secret tunnel. They’ll also decorate gingerbread biscuits for the Christmas feast, before meeting Santa himself to complete their festive journey. Each child will receive their decorated biscuit and a lovely gift from Santa.

Kevin Duffy, Director of centre:mk, commented: “Christmas is always a special time for us, and this year we’re especially pleased to welcome Peter Rabbit and Friends™ to Santa’s Grotto with a brand-new adventure. centre:mk is here to make the festive season unforgettable for families and visitors from across the country, with our enchanting events, huge range of shops and variety of cafés and restaurants on offer. At the heart of it all is the joy of creating magical memories for children and giving families a truly special day out.”

Starlight Square’s magic continues beyond the Grotto with a series of magical rides and attractions, including a Christmas Virtual Reality sleigh ride, a train ride, an old-school full-size Helter Skelter, a double-decker Victorian Carousel and a Christmas Market featuring independent local businesses and festive food & drink.

Along with thousands of twinkling lights, decorations throughout the centre and free selfie points to capture the perfect Family photo, centre:mk is a destination where you can really find that festive feeling in a wonderful day out.

centre:mk is one of the top 10 shopping destinations in the UK, located 30 minutes from London in Milton Keynes.

Tickets for Santa’s Grotto are now on sale, priced at £14.50 for children, £6 for adults and £4.50 for babies under the age of one from November 21^st to 24^th. During December, tickets are priced at £16 for children, £6.50 for adults and £5 for babies under one (prices exclude booking fee).

For more information and to book your tickets, visit:
https://www.centremk.com/whats-on/events/santas-grotto-with-peter-rabbit-friends/

Unity Place is shining a spotlight on local musicians, giving emerging talent from Milton Keynes, and the surrounding area, a stage to share their sound, grow their skills, and connect with the community.

In collaboration with National Sound, a local music company supporting emerging talent from across the region, Unity Place is hosting regular live music nights covering different genres of music including jazz, folk, blues and soft rock. Together, they’re making sure local voices are heard, offering musicians opportunities to rehearse, perform, and collaborate.

National Sound was founded in 2020 by musicians, for musicians. Their aim is to be a pillar of creativity, laying down the foundations to help support musicians across Milton Keynes, giving them spaces to rehearse, chances to play and helping them to learn from each other and create together.

“Unity Place has given us the perfect stage to connect artists with their community,” says Dan from National Sound. “It’s all about giving local voices a platform.”

Through regular live music nights, which celebrates the region’s diverse soundscape, Unity Place is giving new performers the chance to shine while helping them craft their own on-stage skills. Alongside scheduled performances, Open Mic Nights offer a platform for new voices to step up, gain confidence, and connect with local audiences.

The live music nights take place in the Unity Sky Lounge, a rooftop bar with city views that set the stage for local talent to shine. These events are about swapping solo streaming for shared experiences – stepping out to hear real music, played live, by musicians from the community.  With a relaxed atmosphere and a signature cocktail or two, these nights bring people together to support homegrown artists and enjoy the energy that only a live performance can create.

Adam Holbrook, Head of Placemaking for Unity Place commented, “We always wanted Unity Place to be more than just a building, we strongly believe in nurturing a community – it’s about growing, taking care of one another, and creating opportunities for all to thrive. We’re proud to work with local organisations, charities, and businesses to make that happen.”

One local artist, Manny, who has performed at Unity Place, said, “Being a local musician in Milton Keynes, it’s not always easy to find intimate venues where people truly come for the music. Playing at Unity Place has given me a safe and uplifting space where my songs can really thrive. It’s helped me grow as a musician, but more importantly, seeing the way it touches the audience has had such a positive impact on me. And having the chance to be paid for doing what I love means the world – it’s something every musician hopes for.”

Unity Live Lounge Presents: Soulful Tunes
What: Acoustic live music by Heidi Browne
When: Thursday 30 October, 7pm
Where: Unity Sky Lounge

To find out about the next live music nights at Unity Place got to:
https://www.unityplace.co.uk/whats-on-milton-keynes/

Ready to make this half-term one to remember? Xscape Milton Keynes got your back. From hair-raising activities and epic adventures to their favourite food picks to suit every taste, Xscape is serving up the ultimate half-term line up. So, put those school shoes in the cupboard, dust off your freshest kicks, and let the action begin…

BRING THE ENERGY

If you and your crew have energy to burn, you’ve come to the right place. You can work up a sweat at Gravity’s open jump, reach new heights at a Gravity Rocks climbing session, or get your skiing gear on and hit the slopes at Snozone. Got little ones in need of entertainment? Head to Funstation, where Hungry Hippos, soft-toy-packed claw machines, and a glow-up whack-a-mole await!

CHALLENGE ACCEPTED

There’s nothing wrong with a little bit of healthy competition and at Xscape they’ve got tons of options when it comes to choosing your battleground! Step into a neon-lit arena and fight for a top score at Hollywood Bowl, get stuck into arcade games at Funstation, or make tracks for Volcano Falls for a golf adventure with a competitive twist. Alternatively, if you’re feeling friendly, you can unite as a team and race against the clock at Escape Hunt.

TIME TO FEAST

After a day of non-stop fun, you’re going to want to refuel and replenish your energy levels. Luckily, their outlets have you covered, offering everything from quick grab-and-go bites to sit-down, celebration-style meals. Tuck into Italian classics at PizzaExpress, fresh-off-the-grill burgers and hotdogs at Five Guys, or grab a McDonald’s Happy Meal to go. Or, if you’re feeling fancy, settle down for a cosy meal at Namji or Sumac Room.

WANT MORE?

They’ve got loads more activities and fun things to do at Xscape. Take a look at what’s on and start planning your mega day out today…

https://www.xscapemiltonkeynes.co.uk/en

Santa is bringing his sleigh to Gulliver’s Land Milton Keynes during the festive season, with a glittering array of treats lined up to entertain all the family.

The theme park resort in Milton Keynes will be transformed into a winter wonderland, with a dazzling variety of special Christmas packages to choose from on select dates from November 29 through to December 23.

And making a return this year is Santa’s Enchanted Elevator, an immersive experience to enter Santa’s Grotto. After entering the ‘elevator’, families will get a magical view through its windows of the North Pole and when the doors open, they are right outside Santa’s Grotto to meet the man himself!

The packages start at £27 per person with the ‘Smasher’, which includes selected Christmas rides, entry to Santa’s Grotto, and the chance to choose your own gift from the Elf Workshop.

You can enjoy a ‘Festive Breakfast’ package for £33 per person, which includes the opportunity to explore the Winter Wonderland and see Santa in his grotto, a visit to the Elf Workshop to choose your own gift and, of course, breakfast, with festive entertainment while you dine!

There is also the ‘Cracker’ package, at £34 per person which comes with a light meal.

Sue Conway, resort director at Gulliver’s Land, said: “We have a wonderful Christmas time lined up for everyone, with our Enchanted Elevator, Santa bringing his grotto and those hard-working elves making lots of fantastic presents, while the Winter Wonderland is always a huge favourite with our festive visitors. Christmas is, of course, an expensive time for families, so we have once again tried to ensure our prices are kept as low as possible.”

You can make your festive visit to Gulliver’s Land even more special with a Santa Sleepover in the superb range of accommodation on offer, including Princess Suites, Dinosaur and Unicorn themed lodges, and Woodland Lodges.

What’s more, Gulliver’s Land has a special Christmas 2025 sale, offering a saving of 25% on all Christmas packages on November 29 and 30, and December 6, 7, and 22. And there are discounted festive sleepovers on selected dates too between November 28 and December 14.

To get the online discount code, just visit www.gulliverslandresort.co.uk/christmas-at-gullivers

Milton Keynes’ entertainment scene is set for a major boost this autumn as MERKUR Casino will unveil its newest flagship venue, opening inside Xscape Milton Keynes on Saturday 1st November, bringing high-energy gaming, live entertainment and over 100 new jobs to the city.

Spanning 22,000 sq ft, the new flagship venue houses a 1,367 m² gaming floor featuring 72 slot machines, 26 electronic roulette terminals and 15 live gaming tables, complemented by a 4,700 sq ft bar and event space designed for live acts, community events and private functions.

The venue represents a major investment for the brand and a defining moment for the city’s leisure economy by bringing together cutting-edge gaming, live entertainment and a premium late-night offering under one spectacular roof.

The grand launch event on Saturday 1st November is expected to welcome hundreds of guests including local dignitaries, influencers, journalists, celebrities, and headline performers. The evening will feature live tribute acts, roving performers, and a £10,000 giveaway, setting the tone for the high-calibre programme of events the casino will continue to host.

Mark Schertle, Chief Operating Officer at MERKUR Casino UK Ltd “Our head office is based here in Milton Keynes, so this opening means a great deal to us. We’ve worked with local suppliers, created over 100 new roles and built a venue that reflects everything this city stands for – energy, innovation and community spirit. We’re proud to create these opportunities in our home city”

The opening underscores MERKUR’s long-term growth strategy in the UK, strengthening its position as a leading operator in the adult gaming and entertainment sector. The Milton Keynes venue reflects the brand’s continued investment in quality, innovation and guest experience, with an ambition to be recognised among one of the best casino destinations outside London.

Mark continued: “We wanted to create something that genuinely stands out and a venue that feels exciting and welcoming, where guests can enjoy premium gaming, live entertainment and a vibrant atmosphere. Our goal is to offer an experience that sets a new standard for regional entertainment. We’re proud to create a venue that enhances Milton Keynes’ already vibrant nightlife and offers something new for the city’s leisure scene.”

Dan Murphy, centre director at Xscape Milton Keynes, said: “We’re thrilled to welcome MERKUR Casino to Xscape Milton Keynes. The casino has always been a landmark part of Xscape’s entertainment offering, and we’re delighted to see it returning under new ownership. MERKUR’s significant investment has transformed the venue into a modern and dynamic destination, strengthening the mix of leisure experiences we offer our visitors. We’re very much looking forward to welcoming guests into the new casino when the doors open on 1^st November.”

MERKUR Casino UK Ltd is part of the MERKUR Group (formally the Gauselmann Group), one of Europe’s leading gaming and entertainment companies. Headquartered in Germany, the group operates Internationally, with a strong presence in Germany alongside numerous other countries including the UK, Spain, the Netherlands, Czech Republic and Serbia.

For further details visit https://merkurcasinouk.com/casino/

Midsummer Place in Milton Keynes is brewing up a spook-tacular week of fang-tastic fun this October half term — and you’re invited to join the ghoulish goings-on!

From potion-making to petrifying performances, there’s something for every little monster to enjoy – and all the activities are FREE and no need to book.

A purr-fect Halloween Hunt

Find the Black Cats – 25–31 October

Our mischievous black cats have escaped! Hunt them down around the centre between 25 and 31 October for a chance to win a prize – we have seven lucky £25 vouchers up for grabs – that’ll make you purr with delight. Keep your eyes peeled — they’re fur-tunately good at hiding!

Witchy Wednesday Potion Making – Wednesday 29 October 11am-4pm

Double, double, toil and bubble! Budding witches and wizards can mix up their very own magical brews during our Potion Making workshop. Expect sparkles, spells, and spine-tingling surprises — no prior witchcraft experience required! Find us by the bandstand.

Halloween fun fest: Friday 31 October

Face Painters 11am–4pm

Transform into your creepiest or cutest Halloween alter-ego with our frightfully talented face painter. Whether you fancy being a sparkly skeleton, a ghostly ghoul, or a batty vampire, we’ve got you covered (in paint, that is).

Disco Dracula 11am–4pm

Fangs for the memories! Horizon Radio’s very own Dracula will be swooping into Midsummer Place for a day of dancing, disco, and devilish fun. Join the Count himself for sweet treats and blood-curdling beats that’ll get your heart racing.

And beware the wandering ghouls! Our spooky walkabout characters will be haunting the centre throughout the week — perfect for eerie encounters and boo-tiful photo ops.

Kirsty McGiff, Marketing and Commercialisation Manager at Midsummer Place, said: “Halloween is one of our favourite times of the year and we can’t wait to welcome families for a week filled with fun, frights, and plenty of treats! Whether it’s mixing up a magical potion, spotting our hidden black cats, or joining Dracula on the dancefloor, there’s something for everyone to enjoy. We’re encouraging everyone to come along in costume and make it a Halloween to remember.”

So, grab your broomsticks, dust off your capes, and prepare for a monster mash like no other. Midsummer Place is the place to creep it real this Halloween!

For more information, visit www.midsummerplace.co.uk

On Saturday 22nd November, head to Milton Keynes City Centre for the annual Christmas lights switch-on event – a festive celebration of music, comedy, and community. The free outdoor event, taking place in The Point car park, features local performers and culminates in a spectacular fireworks display as the Christmas lights across central MK are switched on.

The celebrations kick off at 4pm with a performance from the children of Christ the Sower Primary School. Joining them on stage is the 65-strong Milton Keynes Rock Choir, directed by pianist and singer Rob Baker. With over a decade of history in the community, the choir has become a staple at local festivals and events, bringing energy and passion wherever they go. Also lined up to perform is local jazz and swing singer Ollie Corbett, known internationally for performing with the swing-pop group Jack Pack.

Returning to compere the event for a second year is comedian and internationally recognised magician David Allen.  Father Christmas will make a special appearance to push the plunger and illuminate the Christmas decorations along Midsummer Boulevard, at Midsummer Place Shopping Centre and 12th Street, and the brand-new Christmas tree outside Milton Keynes Theatre and MK Gallery.

From 2:00 PM, visitors can enjoy fairground rides and watch comedy elves entertain the crowd, adding to the festive atmosphere.

The evening will culminate at around 5:15 PM with a dazzling fireworks display, lighting up the Milton Keynes sky.

Don’t miss the awesome autumnal colours of Milton Keynes’ parks this half term, head outdoors before cosy season sets in!

Milton Keynes’ beautiful parkland is host to a heap of activities perfect for keeping the family entertained over half term, including free and low-cost fun for all ages. On your doorstep are more than 40 different parks with a huge choice of free play areas, leisure routes, amazing outdoor artworks, and lots of exciting events:

Make A Difference Day: Hedgerow Heroes
Sat 25 Oct in Ouzel Valley Park

Take part in a community project that’ll create a thriving natural habitat, by building a dead hedge. There’s no experience necessary, just a great opportunity to spend a few hours outdoors, learn a traditional skill, meet like-minded people, and make a lasting contribution to our local Wildlife.

Flavour Fest
Sat 25 & Sun 26 Oct at Willen Lake

A feast of fun for the whole family, from tasty treats to face painting and live entertainment. Vendors include Lime Face, The Rub, Black Box nachos, Wolverton Gin, and Patisserie Sheree amongst others. There’ll even be something special for four-legged friends, as Chiltern Pet Products joins the line-up. Tuck into more info on willenlake.org.uk/flavourfest

Halloween Trail
Sat 25 Oct – Sun 2 Nov at Willen Lake

The ever-popular FREE trail returns for half term, an ideal way for families to stretch their legs in the school break. It’s most suited to children under 8 years, but everyone’s welcome. No tricks here, just collect an answer sheet from the Watersports Centre then complete the trail to win a little treat.

Parks & Ride
Sun 26 Oct at Lodge Lake

Swap screens for scenes and explore MK’s parks by pedal power. The final Parks & Ride for 2025 takes a brand-new route through Loughton Valley. These events are perfect for families, taking a steady pace with no road riding or substantial hills and lasting about an hour. No booking required, just turn up and enjoy the ride!

Family Litter Pick
Tue 28 Oct in Broughton Brook Park

A great way to get the whole family outdoors and help your local environment, with all equipment for a safe litter collection provided (including special pickers for children). This 1-hour session is led by Parks Trust staff, who also take the rubbish away for disposal.

Howe Park Wood Open Mornings
Tue 28 – Thu 30 Oct, 9.30am – 12.30pm

Open Mornings are completely free for everyone. There’s an autumnal theme this half term, so simply drop-in to learn all about bats, spiders and fungi. Enjoy nature-themed challenges, take a self-guided trail through the woodland, or book tickets for a Nature Craft session.

Howe Park Wood provides a safe home to many endangered animal and plant species and has been designated a Site of Special Scientific Interest for its wildlife value by Natural England.

Julie Dawes, Events and Community Engagement Manager at The Parks Trust says “Autumn is a magical time in the parks, and half term is the perfect excuse to get outside and enjoy it. Whether you’re joining a community project, exploring routes by bike or foot, or simply soaking up the seasonal colours, there’s something for everyone to discover and enjoy.”

To find out more about park events, visit theparkstrust.com/events