What's On

Willen Hospice’s new chief executive Peta Wilkinson is throwing her support behind this year’s Santa Dash, the charity’s annual festive fundraiser. The popular event starts from outside the Hospice on Sunday 17th December at 10.30am and will see hundreds of people dressed as Father Christmas lap 1.2 miles of Willen Lake North in support of Willen Hospice. Peta said “I love that the whole family can join in this event. This will be my first Santa Dash so I’m really looking forward to seeing hundreds of Santa’s gathering at Willen Lake to run, jog or stroll together, all with the..

Shoppers are being invited to help support homeless people in Milton Keynes this Christmas. Back for a second year, the intu Milton Keynes Giving Tree will return to the centre from Friday 1 December to help bring help to the homeless this Christmas. After a successful first year in 2016 with the Milton Keynes Hospital Charity, this year, the centre is supporting several local charities who offer support to the homeless people of Milton Keynes. With a record number of homeless people and families in Milton Keynes, the charities who will be supported by the Giving Tree this year include..

Xscape MK is spreading the festive cheer far and wide this year as Santa will arrive in his grotto on Saturday 9th December and you can visit him for FREE right up until Christmas Eve.  The big man will be in his grotto, located in the main mall, every day between 11am and 5pm ready to discover what children want for Christmas and to give out presents. Families can visit for FREE with online booking* opening mid/late November.  However, Xscape will be collecting for their partner charity Barnardos, so maybe bring some spare change! Limited walk-up slots will also be..

Dr Philip Smith MBE, Chair of Milton Keynes Business Leaders Partnership (MKBLP) promoters of The Milton Keynes Business Achievement Awards (MKBAA), looks back on the success of last year, discusses the changes to be implemented at MKBAA2018 and urges more entries from businesses and individuals in MK.  MKBAA2017 was our best awards yet, and MKBLP, Interdirect and Evolution are proud to have organised another fantastic event. Now in its fifth year, the glittering awards ceremony hosts more than 600 attendees at the DoubleTree by Hilton at stadiummk. The evening is an opportunity for businesses across MK to showcase the amazing..

Action4Youth, an energetic youth charity that provides positive, often transformational experiences and activities, works to enable young people of all abilities and disabilities to learn to challenge themselves - learning what they can achieve rather than what they can’t.  Confidence, self-belief, and people skills are not traits that come naturally to young people with learning disabilities and Special Educational Needs (SEN), so it’s easy to see how they can become self-conscious, isolated and afraid to try new things. One youth charity is working with SEN students, taking them out of their comfort zone and opening their eyes to the possibilities and opportunities that life has..

This year’s City Centre Christmas Light Switch On will be on Saturday 18th November and promises to be the most spectacular that Milton Keynes has ever seen.  The free event will take place at the front of intu Milton Keynes from 3:30pm with the switch on happening at approx 4.50pm. Heart FM will be hosting the stage in the build up to the big countdown with live entertainment, competition choirs and the traditional Salvation Army band.  We’re promised Father Christmas will make a quick stop in MK from his busy pre-Christmas schedule to do the honours along with the Mayor..

The Parks Trust is saddened to report that a sheep has been killed in a brutal and deliberate knife attack. The attack is believed to have taken place during the afternoon or night-time of Sunday 5th November 2017. An independent vet has examined the sheep’s remains and confirmed that the death was caused by a human rather than another animal. The vet also believes the attack was carried out using a knife. The sheep was found in Ouzel Valley Park, Woughton on the Green, on land belonging to The Parks Trust, the self-financing charity that manages and maintains over 6,000..

Decorating and building supplies company Kent Blaxill opened their new 3,500 sq ft store on Erica Road, Stacey Bushes Trading Centre in Milton Keynes last week. This prestigious family firm has over 175 years' experience in working with both professional and DIY home markets and provides a wide range of quality decorating products. Mayor of Milton Keynes, David Hopkins, joined the Kent Blaxill team to officially cut the opening ribbon. The new branch continues the Kent Blaxill tradition of supplying some of the industry's finest names.  This includes an extensive range of paints and related products, with a strong focus on designer paints including..

Xscape Milton Keynes has today announced that the famous Coca-Cola Christmas Truck will be making a stop at Xscape on Friday 15 December as part of its UK-wide tour.  Last year, over 9,000 people headed down to see the star of ‘that advert’, taking selfies, enjoying giveaways and listening to festive music. The truck will be at Xscape from 11am to 7pm, so giving everyone a chance to make the trip to see it.  Xscape General Manager, Carl Meale, commented on the announcement, “We are thrilled that the famous truck is stopping at Xscape for the second year in a..

Father & Son Goldsmiths and Watchmakers, The Goldsmithy raised over £1,694.50 for Willen Hospice at its Silent Auction and Demonstration evening held last week.  The Stony Stratford based workshop put on an evening to showcase a selection of bespoke, handmade pieces and swan inspired silver jewellery to raise money for Willen Hospice. Glenn Chapman, who was trained by Cartier London in 1972 and son, Paul Chapman, demonstrated the jewellery making process and invited members of the audience to take part.   Guests took part in a silent auction where they bid to win specially created limited edition pieces - which included..

Milton Keynes will have a new festive offering from 10th November this year in the shape of THOR’S tipi bar – a Christmas pop-up bar with a difference.  Located in Oak Court at intu Milton Keynes shopping centre, THOR’S tipi bar will be a novel experience for Christmas shoppers and revellers alike.  A giant Scandinavian tipi will form the bar, festooned with lighting and decked out with wooden tables and benches, cosy furs and a fire pit.   Serving local draft ales, mulled wine and hot cider, the fully licensed bar will have something to warm everyone's cockles.  A hot chocolate..

In addition to the parade's usual promise of giant school lanterns, hundreds of homemade lanterns, circus performances and samba beats, for this year only there are special junk percussion workshops to make instruments, learn the rhythms and join the parade band. Percussion and lantern-making workshops are every Sunday at The Old Bath House Community Centre between 2-5pm.  Thanks to funding from Tesco Bags for Help, MK Community Foundation, Wolverton Science and Arts Institute, Avenues and Mrs B's Emporium, the team has commissioned nationally renowned artist 'The Junk Orchestra' to deliver a day of DIY junk music fun at Slated Row..

Get ready to jingle all the way to Christmas Day and get Christmassing with intu Milton Keynes! With everything shoppers need to fill their stockings, sparkle at the office party and ‘wow’ on Christmas Day, the festive season at intu Milton Keynes starts and ends with surprise and delight. Here’s a roundup of Christmas this year at intu. The festive season kicks off in true ‘spirit’ – literally – as THOR’S tipi bar comes to the centre on Friday 10 November. The giant 30ft high tipi with pop up bar will open in Oak Court, complete with an atmospheric fire..

Aerial Extreme, the popular high ropes course at Willen Lake, is rebranding to Treetop Extreme from today 1st November 2017. Throughout the autumn and winter, Treetop Extreme will run morning and afternoon sessions every weekend until February half term, when weekday sessions will also be available. There are three difficulty levels to choose from at Treetop Extreme, with four zip-wires and over 50 obstacles. The highlight of the course for many is the 13m freefall simulation. Customers can turn up on the day but booking in advance is advised; this is available through www.willenlake.org.uk Aerial Extreme has been rebranded to..

Ana Pearson, a 12-year-old from Buckingham has been announced the winner in the girls’ nett category of an annual golfing competition run by The Daily Telegraph in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. Ana, a Year 8 student from Akeley Wood School, took up golf just two years ago, following in the footsteps of her older brothers and now plays for the County. One of the youngest competitors, Ana has won a coaching trip to the Quinta do Lago course in Portugal as well as a golf kit Ana’s win has been the results of a great deal of dedication and hard..