The Two Brewers Presents: Beer and Cider Festival

The annual Beer and Cider Festival is back again, Friday- Sunday at the Two Brewers in Olney. There will be a large selection of ales and 10 different ciders, including Orchard Pig 'Explora' and Gwyet 'Farmhouse Scrumpy' on offer over the weekend. It's always a great weekend, so make sure you stop by at some point over the weekend.

What's on When?...

Friday 11th: 5.30pm-11.30pm
Music from 8pm with local band 'Spaced Out'

Saturday 12th: 11.30am-11.30pm
Music from 12 midday until around 11.30pm, acoustic music until 7.30pm and local band 'Charlie's Uniform' from 8.30pm

Sunday 13th July: 12 Midday- 7.30pm
Rock with BOFF Band heats- various bands go head to head for a place in the Rock with BOFF Finals, and the World Cup final will be shown at 8pm on the big screen so you can enjoy the music, food, drink and football without having to move a muscle!

The event will be include a BBQ and live music throughout the weekend, and the World Cup final on Sunday night will provide the perfect close to the event. With plenty to eat, drink and enjoy, it will be a really laid-back festival with great music around the clock, and the marquee in the garden will mean you're comfortable whatever the weather!

For more information visit the Two Brewers website, or find them on Facebook.

Oh I do like to be beside the seaside...

Milton Keynes and the surrounding area isn't particularly famous for seaside fun... more famous for being about as far from each coast as possible! But don't panic, the beach is being brought to those of us who are stuck in the middle of the country away for the seaside, not just once, but twice!

1. Frosts Garden Centre. All summer there's a beach to be found at Frosts garden centre, and more than that, beach themed activities for the kids! Now this isn't going to be quite the same as the seafront but we'll have to make do, there's even a carousel! There are outside games, sand and refreshments- including homemade fish and chips, so you can really feel like you're (almost) at the beach, and it's all undercover so you can enjoy the beach even on a rainy day. There are also pre-bookable kids sessions, which include storytelling and arts and crafts activities, and it's open all day every day throughout the summer holidays.

2. Secondly, there'll be a beach to be found in the Centre:mk at Middleton Hall from the start of August, and will again provide a covered beach/sand area for the kids (and adults!) to enjoy whatever the weather.

So you don't have to drive for miles to build a sandcastle this summer, make a trip or two to Frosts and the Centre:mk for some beach fun!

National Gardens Festival Weekend

This coming weekend will see a wide variety of gardens across England and Wales opening to the public for the second ever National Gardens Festival Weekend. Over 500 gardens are planning on opening over the two days, with the aim of raising money for nursing and caring charities, such as Macmillan Cancer Support, Marie Curie Cancer Care and Carers Trust.

There are a number of different types of gardens included in the weekend, such as:

• urban gardens
• formal country gardens
• designer gardens
• herb gardens
• artist's gardens
• village 'group gardens'
• celebrity gardens

                          and more! 

There will also be demonstrations, stalls, arts and crafts, live music and other events happening at some of the gardens. Why not give them a visit and see what different things you can discover in the gardens this weekend?!

In Olney, the Cowper & Newton Museum gardens will be open for both days of the weekend, with live demonstrations and artists, as well as the gardens to view.

For more open gardens, click here.