Free spectacular to celebrate Milton Keynes’ city status

A free festival is being held in the heart of Milton Keynes this October, culminating in a spectacular public event on Saturday 8 October to celebrate Milton Keynes becoming a city.

The City of Codes & Light Festival has been organised by Milton Keynes Islamic Arts and Culture (MKIAC) in partnership with local cultural institutions including Milton Keynes City Council, who has teamed up with MKIAC to present a memorable festival finale from 6pm on Saturday 8 October which will include singer song-writing social media sensation and Eurovision star Sam Ryder as the headline performer.

Everyone is invited to the city centre for a family-friendly evening of free live music, amazing performances, and a brilliant light display to mark Milton Keynes being named a city by Queen Elizabeth II as part of the Platinum Jubilee celebrations earlier this year.

Kicking off on Tuesday 4 October, the wider festival promises to deliver a captivating blend of media, music and movement, with special light shows organised by award-winning visual projection companies at venues across MK including Bletchley Park.

The festival leads up to the grand finale on Saturday 8 October, featuring live music and performances on stage at Station Square – with a laser show providing the backdrop to thrilling music from the Ibiza Orchestra, a quintet of musicians from the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, and some further musical surprises yet to be announced.

You can also see the ‘digital light parade’ combining high-impact drumming with kaleidoscopic lighting design, where artists from two of the UK’s most in-demand street theatre companies, Cirque Bijou and Worldbeaters, will lead spectators on a spellbinding parade starting at Church of Christ the Cornerstone (where people can first enjoy a projection by Limbic Cinema called ‘Radiance’) and ending at the Station Square main stage for the rest of the evening’s entertainment.

Full information for the event on Saturday 8 October:

Timings and Locations

Live Music and Performances
18.00 – 23.00
MK Station Square, 500 Elder Gate, Milton Keynes MK9 1BB
Free and no registration necessary

Digital Light Parade
19.00 – 20.30
Parade Meeting Point: Church of Christ the Cornerstone, 300 Saxon Gate, Milton Keynes, MK9 2ES
The parade will stop for a short performance at The Hub on Midsummer Boulevard
Parade End Point: MK Station Square, 500 Elder Gate, Milton Keynes MK9 1BB
Free and no registration necessary

Light Projection
19.15 – 20.00
Radiance – A large-scale projection-mapped artwork that transforms the Cornerstone Church into a moving and evolving canvas of light, colour and patterns
Church of Christ the Cornerstone, 300 Saxon Gate, Milton Keynes MK9 2ES
Free and no registration necessary

Capacity

Please be aware that Station Square has a limited capacity and once full, it will be closed off.

Parking

Parking in the city centre is free after 6pm.

Toilets

Toilets and accessible toilets will be available at MK Station Square.

Accessibility

There will be accessible viewing areas and dedicated seating areas at MK Station Square. At The Hub, where the parade will stop for a short performance, there will also be accessible viewing areas.

Suitability for Children

Children are very welcome to join us for all the events.

First Aid

There will be a first aid tent and medics on site.

Lost Children

For any lost children or other issues, please make your way to the central INFORMATION POINT.

Food & Drink vendors

Food and drink will be available at Station Square from 6 pm – 11 pm.
Hot drinks, Churros, Egyptian and Indian street food, Greek, Lebanese, South African, burgers, chips, tacos and pizza.This is a dry event and no alcohol will be sold in Station Square.

Dogs

We strongly recommend that dogs are not in attendance at both the parade and in Station Square due to expected crowd numbers and noise levels.