MK FEST
Milton Keynes is is a busy thriving place, with plenty to see and do such as museums, exhibitions, bars and restaurants, and if that wasn't enough, each year the area also attracts some brilliant festivals.
You don't have to bring us a pint, but if you feel obliged... Or share your local tips & tricks?
There are some great days out, there is something to satisfy most tastes, here are a few suggestions for 2020, the line ups often change and are released nearer to the festival date but you can get a good idea of what is to come by checking the official websites and seeing what has gone before.
MK Fest
From the creators of Festwich, the UK’s biggest tribute festival is returning to Campbell Park, Milton Keynes. If you're not familiar with with UK Tribute Festivals, the ethos has always been to give away the tickets for free for you to experience two days of the best tribute bands around. They spare no expense in creating the best possible festival experience and deliver high production values in an extremely fun filled safe family environment. It attracts like-minded festival revellers of all ages from all corners of the UK and beyond! The first MK Fest in the beautiful surroundings of Campbell Park on 13 - 14 June.
Milton Keynes Reggae Festival
Milton Keynes Reggae Festival is the BIGGEST EVER family friendly Reggae show to hit MK. 4,000 capacity show on Campbell Park. 2 stages of Reggae, Dancehall, Dub & Jungle. Caribbean food market, with food vendors from near & far. Kids entertainment zone including Kids Reggae Disco, Inflatables, rides & more! Join us on 15th August for a celebration of ALL things Reggae! Dancehall, Jungle and Reggae featuring world famous David Rodigan and Aswad.
The Milton Keynes Festival of the Arts
Established in 1968, The Milton Keynes Festival of the Arts is the largest and longest established annual performance festival in Milton Keynes providing an encouraging platform for amateur performers of all ages. It comprises a 8-10 day dance festival, speech and drama festival, solo musicians festival, orchestras and ensembles day, choirs and barbershop day and Milton Keynes Young Musician of the Year. All parts of the festival offer both competitive and non-competitive classes which are adjudicated by professional examiners. Every entrant receives constructive verbal and written feedback on their performance and a graded certificate, plus there are trophies, bursaries and medals to win. Open from 15 February - Sat 14 March.
Milton Keynes Half Marathon and Festival of Running
Milton Keynes Half Marathon and Festival of Running takes place on 15th March starting at the wonderful Xscape city-centre venue. The festival consists of a gentle or super-swift 5k event, classic 10k distance race, ever popular half marathon distance race and 20 miler for those who like to go long. If you’re running the Virgin London Marathon, Brighton Marathon or one of the other big spring marathon races, the longer races are ideal races for you to add to your preparation programme. The courses are mainly flat, fast and well marshaled to ensure you get any assistance you need. There are some wonderful experienced pacers running in the half marathon and the 20 mile event to help you achieve your goals. All you’ve got to do is hang on! The races start on the central dual-carriageways of Milton Keynes then winds through some beautiful scenery. Gain plenty of inspiration along the way whatever your race-day goal – fun run, stepping stone to full marathon, personal best time or just to finish! All events will be chip timed and every runner will receive a finisher’s medal.
IF: Milton Keynes International Festival
Produced by The Stables and taking place every two years, IF: Milton Keynes International Festival is now a major landmark event in the cultural calendar - 17 - 26 July. Engaging around 500,000 people, the Festival presents a world-class, multi-arts programme over 10 days which includes large-scale and family events. The programme features The Stables Spiegeltent, home to a programme of concerts, comedy and circus, an Acoustic Stage as well as installations placed in unusual locations across Central Milton Keynes, including parks, public squares and boulevards, as well as in the digital realm. The Festival has been recently honoured with the prestigious EFFE Label 2017-2018 as one of Europe’s most ‘remarkable festivals’. It was assessed and scored by 95 experts prior to going before the International Jury who said: “The Festival has grown its artistic programme to embrace its local infrastructure, landscape and communities to extend its ambition and relevance to international issues and embrace innovative artistic engagement”.
