MK Digest – Padel, Photography and Midsummer Festival

Here’s what’s worth knowing in Milton Keynes this week.

Milton Keynes city centre will once again come alive with music, performances and family-friendly entertainment later this week as the free Midsummer Festival returns.

The festival brings together live music, street performances, creative activities and cultural experiences across Central Milton Keynes, offering residents and visitors a chance to celebrate the start of summer in the heart of the city.

Organisers say this year's programme will feature a mixture of local performers, community groups and family activities, helping showcase the creativity and diversity of Milton Keynes while encouraging people to explore the city centre.

The event forms part of a wider programme of summer activities taking place across Milton Keynes and is expected to attract families, shoppers and visitors throughout the weekend.

With live entertainment, interactive experiences and activities suitable for all ages, the festival aims to create a vibrant atmosphere and encourage people to spend time enjoying the city's public spaces.

Many events will be free to attend, making it one of the largest community celebrations taking place in Milton Keynes this summer.

🕒 Sun 21 Jun, 10 am – 8 pm
📍 Midsummer Boulevard, Central Milton Keynes
🎟 Free

More information →

Willen Lake has announced plans to open six new padel courts later this year, bringing one of the UK's fastest-growing sports to Milton Keynes.

The new facility will be operated in partnership with UK PADEL and will include four covered courts and two open-air courts, allowing play throughout the year. The venue will also feature both doubles and singles courts, making it suitable for experienced players and newcomers alike.

Organisers say the courts will host daily social sessions designed to help players develop their skills and meet others in a relaxed environment. Once open, non-members will be able to book courts up to six days in advance, while annual members will receive extended booking access and discounted rates.

Willen Lake said the addition will strengthen its position as a destination for sport, leisure and outdoor recreation, adding to the range of activities already available around the lakeside park.

📍 Willen Lake

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Teenagers across Milton Keynes are being encouraged to get outdoors, learn practical conservation skills and help care for local green spaces through The Parks Trust's free Youth Rangers programme.

Open to young people aged 14 to 17, the programme gives participants the opportunity to work alongside experienced staff on a variety of environmental projects while gaining confidence, developing new skills and meeting others with an interest in nature.

Monthly sessions take place in parks and green spaces across Milton Keynes, with activities including wildlife surveying, tree planting, pond clearance, wildflower seed collection and tackling invasive plant species.

Laura Beechey, Outdoor Learning Leader at The Parks Trust, said the programme gives young people the chance to play an active role in protecting local landscapes while enjoying hands-on experiences outdoors.

The sessions usually take place on the third Saturday of each month and are free to attend. Parents and carers can find out more and register interest through The Parks Trust website.

📍 Parks across Milton Keynes

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A major new exhibition opening at MK Gallery this month will bring the work of one of France's most celebrated photographers to Milton Keynes.

Jacques Henri Lartigue: Life in Colour opens this Saturday 20 June and explores the pioneering photographer's lifelong experimentation with colour. The exhibition focuses on a rarely seen collection of colour photographs that remained largely unknown to the public for decades.

Lartigue (1894–1986) is best known for capturing the elegance and energy of twentieth-century life, from the glamour of the French Riviera to the excitement of motor racing and aviation. A pioneer of the spontaneous photographic snapshot, he moved within social circles that included figures such as Jean Cocteau, Grace Kelly and Pablo Picasso.

The exhibition will feature more than 150 works, including rare colour photographs, vintage prints, archival material and stereoscopic images that create three-dimensional effects. Visitors will be able to explore Lartigue's creative journey from childhood drawings produced in the early 1900s through to fashion photography and abstract floral images created later in life.

Although colour photographs account for around a third of the 120,000 images in Lartigue's archive, many remained unseen until recent years. The exhibition offers a rare opportunity to experience this lesser-known side of his work.

The exhibition runs from 20 June to 4 October and is expected to attract photography enthusiasts, art lovers and visitors from across the region.

🕒 From Sat 20 Jun
📍 MK Gallery, Central Milton Keynes

More information →

A Milton Keynes-based electric bike manufacturer has been named the UK's Family Business of the Year, recognising its growth and success in an increasingly competitive market.

VOLT Bikes received the national award after judges highlighted the company's commitment to innovation, customer service and sustainable transport. Founded as a family-run business, the company has grown into one of the UK's best-known electric bike brands while continuing to operate from Milton Keynes.

Electric bikes have become increasingly popular in recent years, helping more people travel longer distances, tackle hills with greater ease and choose alternatives to car journeys. The sector has also benefited from growing interest in active travel, cycling infrastructure and environmentally friendly transport options.

VOLT says the award reflects the efforts of its team and the support of customers across the UK. The company offers a range of electric bicycles designed for commuting, leisure riding and everyday transport.

The recognition also highlights Milton Keynes' growing reputation as a centre for innovation and business, with local companies continuing to gain national attention across a variety of industries.

For cycling enthusiasts and those considering making the switch to electric bikes, the award serves as another reminder of a successful local business making an impact beyond the city.

📍 Milton Keynes

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Football fans will be able to watch England's World Cup campaign on what Unity Place says is the largest live sports viewing screen in Milton Keynes this summer.

The city centre venue will show all three of England's group-stage matches in its Urban Food Market, giving supporters the chance to follow the tournament alongside fellow fans in a dedicated viewing space just minutes from Milton Keynes Central station.

Screenings begin with England's opening group match against Croatia on Wednesday 17 June, followed by games against Ghana on Tuesday 23 June and Panama on Saturday 27 June. Doors will open from 4pm ahead of each fixture.

Unity Place says the screenings are designed to create a family-friendly matchday atmosphere, with hundreds of supporters expected to gather to watch the games on the giant screen.

Visitors will also be able to purchase food and drinks throughout the evening, with a special World Cup menu featuring hot dogs, pies and nachos, alongside beer, cocktails, spirits and soft drinks.

Nathan Kennard, Centre Experience Manager at Unity Place, said: "Major sporting events have a unique ability to bring people together and we wanted to create somewhere special for football fans to experience the World Cup this summer.”

"Our giant screen is the biggest for live sports viewing in Milton Keynes, making Unity Place one of the best places in the city to watch England."

The screenings are free to attend, although advance booking is required to guarantee a seat. Supporters can reserve places for individual matches through the Unity Place website.

📍 Unity Place, Central Milton Keynes

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Looking for something to do locally? Here are a few ideas for the week ahead:

🕒 Fri 19 Jun:

Northern Soul Live at The Stables
A full live band brings classic Northern Soul favourites to The Stables for an evening celebrating one of Britain's most enduring music scenes.
📍 The Stables, Wavendon
More information →

🕒 Sun 21 Jun:

LP Swing Orchestra – Luck Be A Lady!
A lively evening of swing, jazz and big-band favourites performed by one of the region's popular swing orchestras.
📍 The Stables, Wavendon
More information →

🕒 From Mon 22 Jun:

Lord of the Dance 30th Anniversary arrives at Milton Keynes Theatre
Michael Flatley's internationally acclaimed dance spectacular begins its Milton Keynes run, featuring Irish dance, music and theatrical storytelling.
📍 Milton Keynes Theatre
More information →

🕒 Throughout the week:

Aqua Parcs sessions continue at Willen Lake
The inflatable water park continues its summer season with obstacle courses, slides and family-friendly sessions running throughout the week.
📍 Willen Lake
More information →

🕒 Sat 20 Jun:

Make-Up Masterclass: SFX Make-Up (16+)
Learn how special-effects make-up is created for stage and screen during a practical workshop at Milton Keynes Theatre. Participants will explore techniques used to create scars, wounds and other theatrical effects, guided by industry professionals.
📍 Milton Keynes Theatre
🎟 £35
More information →

🕒 Sat 20 – Sun 21 Jun:

1940s Weekend at Bletchley Park
Step back in time with vintage vehicles, living-history displays, music, costumed performers and family-friendly activities celebrating wartime Britain.
📍 Bletchley Park
More information →

🕒 Throughout the week:

Linford Wood sculptures remain hidden among the trees
Visitors can still search for surviving woodland sculptures hidden among the trees at Linford Wood while plans continue for a revived trail.
📍 Linford Wood
More information →

Free family activities at MK libraries
Lego and Duplo clubs, Stories & Songs sessions, Code Club and other free activities continue across Milton Keynes libraries for children and families.
📍 Various libraries
More information →

Explore more local events on Eventbrite and Destination Milton Keynes.

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See you next issue.

Toby
MK Digest
[email protected]