Newport Pagnell Lights Switch on- Tomorrow!

The Christmas festivities are getting into full swing this weekend with the Newport Pagnell lights switch on day. As you'll know if you've been before, it's far more than just the lights being switched on, it's a full day of stalls and various entertainment, ending with the lights switch on at 5pm.

The day begins bright and early for all those involved with the stalls being set up at 9am, opening at 10am. There will be a variety of stalls hosting various products, from crafts to foods, to other stalls giving things away and promoting their business or cause. The High Street is set to be buzzing, and we've got a few specific things going on to wet your appetite for the days events...

Visit Santa: The United Reformed Church will be hosting Santa's grotto from 1-5pm, and it costs £3 to visit Santa (gift included). They will also be holding other activities, including bauble decorating, Christmas card making and reindeer food making.

The Parish Church will be hosting their Christmas fair from 10am, with a selection of stalls selling gifts, books, crafts, Christmas cards, hats, scarves and much more. There will also be a raffle, tombola and refreshments served all day. There will be carol singing for all once the lights have been turned on.

Newport Pagnell Baptist Church will have a 'Get in the Picture' stall, where you can come and have your photo taken as part of the Christmas story, either by putting your head in the picture frame or by dressing up as a character from the nativity. You can then download your pictures for free from the website over the following week.

The Methodist Church are asking for volunteers to come and help decorate their three Christmas trees, with your own dedication or wish. Stop by between 2-6pm, tea and coffee will be available.

Brooklands Centre will also be holding their Christmas fair on the day, from 10am-4pm with stalls, hot dogs, chutney tasting, tombola and more. The Historical Society will also have a stall, as well as the Newport Pagnell Town Council, who will be serving mulled wine and Christmas games.

There will be a variety of live entertainment from 1pm, including performances from Diamonds theatre school, singing and more. There will be carol singing around the Christmas tree with Olney brass band at 4pm followed by a parade to the Swan revived hotel at 4.45pm, and then the lights will be switched on. Come along for some great Christmas festivities!

Please note- the High Street will be closed  to traffic for the Christmas Lights Event from 8am-7pm. From the Union Street to Ousebank Street junctions. 

Emmaus Village Christmas Craft Fair- Saturday 29th November

There seems to be Christmas events, fairs and shopping nights coming out of our ears at the moment, but the more the merrier, so we've got another to share with you today.

Emmaus Village Carlton is a homelessness charity which offers active support to formerly homeless people. They provide a workable alternative to homelessness, where people are offered a home as well as meaningful work in a social enterprise with Emmaus.

The community has a furniture shop, bric-a-brac store, boutique and a bistro, which offers homemade meals, cakes and snacks, and it's a great place to find some unusual and quirky items as well as enjoying a bite to eat.

This Saturday they are holding a Christmas craft fair, with a variety of stalls selling quality, hand-produced gifts. Get in the mood for Christmas (if you haven't already!) with Christmas themed activities for the kids, including a lucky dip and raffle. Delicious seasonal refreshments including mince pies will be available in the Bistro. Proceeds from the raffle will be going to the Kings Arms Nightshelter project.

For more information and directions, visit the Facebook event page.

The Weekend in and around MK

It's the weekend again, and we're back with a list of events and activities to enjoy in and around the Milton Keynes area. There's a great selection of events on, and the Christmas themed activities are starting to appear already (and it's not even December yet!)

Friday 21st:

Newport Pagnell Farmers Market @ Market Place, Newport Pagnell High Street. 8.30am-1.30pm

Don't miss out on some great local produce this Friday morning, found on the third Friday of each month.

Harrold Twinning Association Wine Tasting @ Harrold Cricket Club, 7.30pm

An informal evening of wine tasting, hosted by Margaret Morley of Choice Wines, Little Addington. Tickets cost £8, email: mail@kit4kidz.com for more information.

The ride for Willen, Big Party Clothes Swap @ Olney RFC, East Street, Olney, 7pm

Grab a bargain and a gorgeous new outfit for the Christmas party season, as well as making some money from selling your old party clothes. Donate a percentage of the sale price to Ride for Willen. It's set to be a great night with your friends, trying on new clothes and having a few drinks while helping raise money for a great cause. Bring your old party clothes- party outfits, prom dresses, wedding outfits, dinner party, kids party clothes, designer or high street, all styles and sizes at a range of prices. Invite your friends and encourage them to bring clothes to swap too. Email vickibeynon@yahoo.co.uk for more info.

Saturday 22nd:

St Mary's church, Christmas Bazaar @ Carlton Village Hall, 10am-1pm

Come and get festive with the Christmas bazaar this Saturday. The grand draw will be at 12.30pm. Entry is £1 for adults, children go free.

Autumn Fair @ St. Margaret's Church, Denton, 11am-3pm

A great variety of items on offer, including books, cakes, cards, gifts, pot plants, raffle, tombola and more. Refreshments, tea and coffee and homemade soup with fresh bread will be served.

Sunday 23rd:

The Pad Presents @ Bedford Corn Exchange, St Paul's Square, Bedford, MK40 1SL, 7pm 

Animals + Friends ft. special guest 'Stax legend' Steve Cropper + Cherry Lee Mewis. Animals + Friends were one of the most improtant British bands of the 1960s, with American and British chart topper 'House of the Rising Sun' among others. Guitarist Steve Cropper was voted among the top 100 guitar players of all-time by Rolling Stone Magazine readers in 2003, and so the combination of the two sets the scene for a great night.

What's on this weekend

It's the weekend again (hooray!) and as always, there are plenty of events in and around the local area to keep you entertained. 

Saturday: 

Turvey Bloomers Apple Pressing Day @ Turvey Village Hall from 11am-2pm. 

Come along for a great free event at Turvey Village hall, with fresh and bottled apple juice, cider, breakfasts, ploughman's lunches, cakes, honey, bread and pies, all locally produced. There'll also be plants (to buy, not to eat!) and there'll be musical entertainment to enjoy along with your food and drink.

The Ancient Order of Foresters- Annual Charity Brunch @ The Harrold United Reformed Church from 10am-noon.

This event is being organised by Gill and Brian Hillier on behalf of The Ancient Order of Foresters, in aid of Sense for deaf-blind people. Come along and enjoy an English breakfast or danish pastry and tea or coffee, all for a donation. Enjoy the wonderful, foot-tapping sounds of the Bedford Ukulele group as you eat or drink. There will also be a raffle, cake stall and the chance to get in there early and buy some Christmas cards and wrapping paper.

Local Choirs and the Hospice sing @ Newport Pagnell Parish Church at 7.30pm.

Join the Newport Pagnell singers and the Cranfield based Sounds Familiar Community Choir in celebrating the role of the Hospices in our local communities. The concert is organised by the choirs in association with the Friends of Willen Hospice. Tickets cost £8.

Bark in the park @ Ouzel Valley Park at 10am.

The monthly dog-walking social is back, at just £1 per dog, come along and meet other dog walkers and enjoy a new dog-walking route. Walks typically last between 1-1.5 hours and involve on and off lead walking. Meet in the car park on Simpson Drive, off H9 Groveway. 

This weekend in MK... Vintage, tea, fashion and cider

Recycle the Vintage

This Saturday, Throwback vintage presents their vintage and retro fair at York House, Stony Stratford. Come along and delve into a selection of vintage and retro items and enjoy musical entertainment- rocking rhythm and blues from Lucille. Open from 9.30am-4.30pm, entry is £1 and children under 12 go free.

Tea party vintage-style 

The Milton Keynes and Bedford group are holding a vintage tea party this Saturday in order to raise awareness for Crohns and Colitis UK. Held at the Summerlin Centre, Woburn Sands. Come along for tea, sandwiches and delicious cakes, served in lovely vintage bone china cups in surroundings decked out 1940's/50's style. Kaley Herrick of Vintage Vanity events will be there to entertain, alongside her lovely waiting staff. Dressing up vintage style is optional, but encouraged! Tickets cost £5 for a great afternoon, open from 2-4pm. Please check that there are places still available before you attend.

Friday-Sunday: Autumn Theatre of Fashion

Come along to the centre:mk this weekend to see some of the latest trends to be hitting the stores this autumn/winter. From fashion shows to pamper pods, demonstrations and workshops, the centre:mk's top brands will be showcasing some great fashion pieces. On top of that is the opportunity to win £500 off your autumn wardrobe, don't miss out this weekend! 

Saturday and Sunday: Cider and Juice Making

Campbell Park Pavilion are hosting an opportunity to learn how to make cider and press your own apples to turn it into delicious cider or apple juice! This is a ticketed event which must be booked in advance and costs £15 for the day, which runs from 10am-4pm.

Saturday in the Olney area

As autumn begins to hit home and the nights start to draw in, there are a number of events on this weekend to get you out and about in the mild weather in the local area. You can enjoy the picturesque falling leaves alongside the sun (it looks like it's sticking around for a little bit longer!) which will make a beautiful scene, so even if you're just heading out for a walk in the wood, why not grab your camera and take some autumnal snaps!

Saturday 20th:

'We're in the Pink', the breast cancer support charity, are holding their annual auction night at 7.30pm, in conjunction with Willen Hospice. There will be music from 'Error 404', a raffle, hog roast and of course the auction, where there are a number of great lots to be auctioned. Tickets cost £15 for adults and £7.50 per child. All proceeds will be split between We're In the Pink and Willen Hospice. The event will be held at the Olney rugby football club (MK46 4DW)
For more information visit the Facebook event here.

There's another charity event on Saturday, a Macmillan coffee morning at Cold Brayfield village hall in Olney. Come along from 10am to enjoy the coffee morning and village fete with your friends, while raising money for a great charity.

This Saturday, Wollaston Courtyard is holding their first ever food fair. Running from 10am until 4pm, there will be a variety of foods on offer from a great selection of local producers. From specialist cheese makers, to micro brewers, a chocolatier, cakes, biscuits and confection, local honey and fresh vegetables, there will be something on offer for whatever tastes you prefer. As well as all of these foods on offer, there will be a barbecue serving up local meats, and a selection of tasty Cajun and Indian foods. Tea and coffee will be served throughout the day from the tea shop, and there will be an array of vegetarian and vegan snacks available form the 'eyetoeye' shop. Come along and let your senses be tingled by the products of the local area and try something new!

Upcycling in Olney

We've been following the recycling and upcycling themes throughout the Phonebox magazine and blog over the last few months. You'll have noticed in the last issue of the Phonebox magazine we featured a unique gift shop on Olney high street; 'Afterglow', which you can read about here or see the image below.

Upcycling is a particularly creative idea, but you don't have to necessarily be arty to upcycle. There's nothing wrong with jumping on the bandwagon a bit and 'borrowing' already existing ideas to create something. With a personal touch and different base product to work with, it's unlikely that these upcycling items will ever be the same as another. These sorts of gifts are becoming increasingly popular, particularly for those wanting to find something quirky or different to give as a gift. These items are so unique that they have a real personal feel to them and make a great gift.

Saturday 19th July is the Olney Vintage Fair in the Church Hall, Church Street, and could be the perfect place to spark an interest in vintage and upcycling. Vintage and worn-out items can be the perfect basis for upcycling, items which are otherwise worn out and needing a bit of tlc can be given a new lease of life and made to feel more contemporary. Why not head over to the vintage fair and see if you can grab a bargain and turn it into something new? If you like to be different in your home furnishings, why not paint up a plain chest of drawers into something more unique, or turn a trunk into a coffee table? The possibilities are endless! If you've got a good creative imagination then great, if not then don't panic, have a google and you'll be sure to find endless ideas online, or visit to Olney's local upcycling shop 'Afterglow' and let the creative work be done for you. Upcycling is a great idea and we want to encourage more of you to be getting creative and saving from throwing things away, get involved!

What else is on this weekend?

We've already mentioned the Olney Cherry Fair, but what else is there to entertain you this weekend around the area?... Well, the Phonebox Magazine have found quite a lot of events for you to get involved with, and as summer becomes more of a reality for us, there seem to be a lot of seasonal fetes and fairs around, so take your pick!

SATURDAY

Newport Pagnell Summer Fete @ The Parish Church, High Street, Newport Pagnell 
This is a family event which will have the usual mix of stalls, including crafts, puzzles, bric-a-brac, toys, tombola and raffle. The cake stall will be filled with yummy treats, and there will be the ever popular second hand book stall for you to browse and buy. Pop in on your way up the high street, any time between 10am and 2pm.

MK RSPCA Summer Fair @ Memorial Hall, Great Linford
Raising funds for the local RSPCA, the event will include a great variety. From unique and handmade gifts to raffles, tombolas, plants, bric-a-brac and jewellery, there's something to interest everyone. Refreshments will include homemade cakes, cream teas and a bar. Admission is free and parking will be available. Pop in anytime between 2 and 4.30pm this Saturday

Danesborough Chorus Summer Concert @ St. Mary's Church, Woburn 
An exciting summer concert, local choir Danesborough Chorus will be performing Howard Goodall's: Eternal Light, a Requiem, with Howard Goodall himself conducting. The event kicks off at 7.30pm. Tickets cost between £20 and £10, call the box office on 01908 583460 for more information.

...And as we've already mentioned but it's worth a reminder; the Olney Cherry Fair from 1pm @ Glebe Field, Church Street Olney and is well worth a visit!


SUNDAY

Churches together in Harrold and Carlton: Harrold Open Gardens
Come along between 1.30 and 6pm, start at Harrold Village Green to enjoy the many open gardens to view and enjoy. There's also a vintage and classic car display, ukulele band, cake stall, tea and coffee, homemade cakes and more. Admission costs £3 for adults, £2.50 for concessions and £1 for children over 12. All proceeds go to local charities.

Newport Pagnell Historical Society Musueum Opening @ Chandos Hall, Silver Street
Exhibition marking the centenary of the outbreak of WW1. Also, come along and see our recreation of a Victorian kitchen. books, maps, photographs and other items of general local interest on sale. Admission is free.

Free Fun Day raising funds for the Olney Town Colts @ Olney Recreation Ground
Come along from midday- 5pm and enjoy a free fun day with stalls, bouncy castles, food, a licensed bar and ice cream. The Ian Bufton big band will be playing throughout the afternoon. Bring a picnic and come and enjoy a lazy Sunday afternoon.

Holistic Pamper Day in aid of Willen Hospice @ The Well in Willen, Newport Road, MK15 9AA
Get pampered and raise money for charity at the same time. Local therapists are holding a pamper day to support Willen Hospice. Reflexology, manicures, swedish massage, gong sessions, Reiki and angel cards re just some of the treatments on offer at the Well in Willen. Treatments are offered at reduced rates; most are £15 for 30 minutes, and all proceeds go to Willen Hospice. Booking isn't required so feel free to pop by anytime between 10am and 5pm, cakes and other refreshments are also available.

Olney Cherry Fair 2014

The traditional Olney Cherry Fair is back again this Saturday, with a host of attractions to keep you entertained all day. The idea of the 'cherry fair' originated many years ago, in times where the town of Olney produced a large crop of cherries which were sold off at the end of harvest, and the town celebrated with a holiday. An event which is now organised by the Parish church, it's always a great day, and this weekend is set to be a success as ever.

There's a fun dog show, open gardens, games and side shows, bouncy castles, organ recitals and choirs in the church, bell tower tours, tug 'o war, children's games, alpacas and a demonstration form MK cheerleading academy, to name a few!

Of course, there will be cherries on offer, as well as many other refreshments including teas, coffees, cakes and a BBQ: braai with real boerewors (South African cuisine)

As you can tell, the day is set to be full of fun and variety, gates open at 1pm with the official opening at 1.15pm. The event will be held at Glebe field, Church Street, Olney, and parking will be limited so parking a little further out and walking in may be advised. The event costs just £1 for adults, and children are free. 

It's a great event and a tradition of Olney, so definitely one not to be missed!

What's on in and around MK this weekend

It looks like summer is actually here, so we'd better make the most of it! As always, check the Phonebox Magazine's 'live and local' listings, in print or online, for ideas of what's on, in and around the Milton Keynes area.

Saturday 14th June

Odell Village Fete and Family Dog Show 
@ Scout field, Horsefair Lane, Odell, MK43 7AA, 2pm
Held in the pretty North Bedfordshire village by the river Ouse near Harrold and Odell Country Park. Come along for a great day out. There will be a number of attractions at the fete and dog show, including:

• Bouncy castle
• Gift and bottle stalls
• Tombola
• 'White elephant'
• Side shows
• Bedford Brass Band
• Children's sports
• Refreshments including ice cream, Pimms and more

Stony Riverside Fair
@ Millfield, Willow Lane, Stony Stratford, 1pm-4pm

Presented by the volunteers of the Stony Stratford Riverside Parks Group, it's the annual family Stony Riverside Fair on Millfield. It's set to be a wonderful afternoon with fun activities and free attractions for children.

World Cup- England's first game, 11pm England v Italy
Chances are you'll be watching this late match from the comfort of your own home, but if you'd rather see it in a crowd there are a few places you can watch the match. Olney Football Club is one such place, where they'll be showing all of the England matches on their big screen. Come along and cheer on England as they play their first World Cup match, against Italy.

Sunday 15th June

HULA Animal Rescue: Purrfect open day
@ South Midlands Animal Sanctuary, Glebe Farm, Salford Road, Aspley Guise, MK17 8HZ, 1pm-4pm

It's national microchipping awareness month, so come and have your dog, cat or rabbit microchipped for just £10. Entry is just £2 for adults, kids go free.
Events during the day include:

• Bazaar and book store bargains
• Meet the resident farm animals
• HULA dog parade at 2pm
• Fun and games for the children
• Delicious refreshments
• Children's toys, books and clothes 

Bletchley Park Presents: Sir John Dermot Turing
@ Bletchley Park, 2pm-4pm

Sir John Dermot Turing is the nephew of Alan Turing (1912-1954), who is well known to have been one of Bletchley Park's leading cryptanalysis, as well as a founder of the science of artificial intelligence. He will present an overview of the family background, life and achievements of his famous ancestor. Ticket-holders are welcome to arrive throughout the day to enjoy Bletchley Park at their leisure. The session will begin at 2pm with a talk from Sir John Dermot Turing, followed by a Q&A session at 3pm and then tea and cake at 3.15pm in the Billiard room, followed by a book signing.

As always, there's a great deal on this weekend, and on top of these events, as the usual things to see in and around milton Keynes, if the sun stays out why not visit a lake, woods or country park?
Whatever you may be up to this weekend, have a good one!