What's on this weekend...

If you're looking for a way to spend the last weekend of the Easter holidays then look no further. With temperatures set to soar this weekend, we've got loads of activities you can get involved with to get out and about, enjoying the sunshine and the last of the school holidays.

Friday:

Bedford Art Society @ Putnoe Heights Church, 7.15pm for 7.30pm start
Juliette Orton creates beautiful pictures using many different materials. She shows how they are made and where her inspiration comes from. Those keen to try can also have a go themselves. Entry is free for members, or £5 for visitors.

Easter Experiences @ Experience the country, Newton Longville, MK17 0BU
This is the second day of the Easter experiences, where you can take part in a 1 hour activity and off-road thrills ride for £25. Suitable for adults and those aged 12 and up. Add another activity for just £10, including archery, axe- throwing, air rifles and segways. Also available are young person's driving experiences in a Land Defender of £25. Morning and afternoon slots are available and must be pre-booked. Call 01908 630665 to book.

Saturday:

Jahnaiah Fundraising Dinner Dance @ Hilton Hotel, Kents Hill Park, 6.30pm-1am

Fundraising dinner dance in aid of orphans affected by Ebola in Sierra Leone. The money raised will support an existing orphanage in Sierra Leone which is already looking after children whose parents have died during the Ebola crisis, and also to help bring light to the lack of medical equipment and diagnostic materials available in Sierra Leone during this time. Tickets cost £50, and includes a three-course meal, entertainment and much more. Auction and raffle also available. Dress code is black tie/traditional. Click here to buy tickets and for more information.

No 38 Vintage Emporium Event @ High Street Newport Pagnell, 9am-5pm

The No 38 Vintage Emporium on the High Street in Newport Pagnell is celebrating being open for six months. There will be special events all day, including live music, free ice creams from the Shake 'n' Scoop ice cream shack, and a photo booth taking old fashioned style photos. 

Non-Stop Pop, featuring Union J and Stereo Kicks @ Arena MK, Stadium MK, Doors open 5.30pm for 6.30pm start

Headliners Union J will be joined by Stereo Kicks, Bailey McConnell and Harry Mondryk. Show will end at approximately 9.45pm. Tickets cost £14 and are available to buy by clicking here. 

Sunday:

That Time of the Month Comedy Night @ The Cannon, Newport Pagnell, 7pm

Nick Helm, star of BBC3's hit comedy drama, Uncle, Russell Howard's Good News, 8 out of 10 cats, and winner of Breakthrough Artists at the British Comedy Awards 2014, will be performing in a night of stand up comedy entertainment. Tickets cost £8 in advance or £10 on the door.

The Pad Presents: Marika Hackman @ Bedford Esquires, 7.30pm

Marika Hackman with support acts Sophie Jamieson and The Darling Mundaring. Following the release of her debut album, We Slept at last, and new single Animal Fear, Marika Hackman's songwriting speaks adventure; join the adventure for a great night of entertainment from a talented musician. Tickets cost £8 and are available online here.  

HULA Animala Rescue Bunny Bonanza @ Glebe Farm, Aspley Guise, 1-3.30pm

Enjoy some Easter activities at the end of the Easter holidays. Just when you thought all the Easter eggs had been found, come and join the Easter egg hunt and take part in the Easter Bonnet competition. Meet the rabbit welfare association and see a presentation on how to care for your pet rabbit. There will be a dog parade at 2.30pm, workshop, and family fun and refreshments will be available throughout the afternoon.

Education Centre Opening Day @ Howe Park Wood, 11am

Join the Parks Trust education team to celebrate the opening of the new education and visitor centre at Howe Park wood. Parking avaialbe in the car park off Chaffron Way, opposite the Westcroft Centre. 

Whatever you do this weekend, have a great time! As always, if we've missed any events, please feel free to share them to our Facebook page. 

WHAT'S ON: Easter weekend (April 2nd-5th)

Scrumptious egg hunts and chocolate prizes for whole family

This Easter bank holiday there are a range of activities across Bedfordshire, Northamptonshire and Buckinghamshire.

The Easter holidays mean different things to everyone, whether it be a time to eat as much chocolate as possible, a long weekend break from work or an important time in the religious calendar. Fancy getting out of the house? Try these events in the area. 

Easter egg hunts are taking place across the country this holiday, and Olney’s Cowper and Newton Museum (01234 711516) is no different with a trail until the 11th, alongside arts and crafts to keep youngsters busy. The clues are dotted around the museum and the centre of Olney, with a prize day for a Paddington Bear toy from Happy Days Top shop.

Further down the High Street, The Two Brewers is hosting an Easter fun day on the 3rd, with arts and crafts, a bouncy castle and face painting. 

Churches Together in Newport Pagnell are holding a procession and open air Service of Witness through the town on the same day. 

Hot cross buns and refreshments will be served in the Methodist Church afterwards. Easter Day Holy Communion will be held on Sunday morning (Newport-pagnell.org.uk). 

Children can become spies for the day at Bletchley Park throughout the holidays with a range of craft and Easter-themed activities at the site, including tours, trails, quizzes and collection handling. On the 6th, visitors can hunt for chocolate prizes in the Easter Eggstravaganza. 

Family Fun Wednesdays return to the site on the 1st and 8th, with under 12s getting free entry (bletchleypark.org.uk). MK Museum will be holding its own Easter egg hunt too (see our feature for full details). 

Lastly, The Park’s Trust egg hunt may be sold out but they are holding free themed fun and games on the 8th from 10am-2pm (theparkstrust.com).  

Northampton’s Abington Park Museum have a trail around the site, with treasure hunters winning a chocolate prize, from the 2nd-6th. The drop-in activity is just £1 per person (Northampton.gov.uk). The following day the museum is holding a nature-themed workshop where children can make their own caterpillar. 

The West Lodge Rural Centre is putting on its own Easter trail from the 4th-6th, with eggs hidden around the farm (westlodgeruralcentre.co.uk). For those wanting to head outside, Santa Pod is hosting the Festival of Power over the Easter weekend with drag racing, jet cars, stuns and air displays (santapod.co.uk). 

There’s the chance for children to sing, dance, recreate famous artworks and make their own Easter crafts at The Higgins in Bedford during the holidays (thehigginsbedford.org.uk) With holiday activities take place at 11am, 12, 2pm and 3pm. The town’s John Bunyan Museum is also offering a free Easter hunt until the 11th (bunyanmeeting.co.uk/museum). 

Until the 13th, there will be 25 places throughout Bedford with a picture of a bunny. If you find all of them you can win £100 worth of vouchers (lovebedford.co.uk). 

Further afield, the Roald Dahl Museum is putting on a range of spring-themed activities for families, including making crackling egg cups and  chirpy chicks (roalddahl.com). 

Anything we haven’t mentioned? Just get in touch on (01234) 713298.

Half Term Activities in MK

MYIMA @ Hollington Woods Wednesday 29th October- Over Half term, MYIMA will be offering family earthy explorer sessions. Story Express will be from 10.30m-1pm for children under 6 years, and Earthy Explorers: Nature Detectives will be from 2-4.30pm for children over 6 years. The sessions will be packed with uniquely interactive and creative activities to promote ecological awareness with a sprinkling of Halloween for flavour! Booking is essential as spaces are limited. The sessions cost £4.50 for 1 child, £8 for 2 children or £11 for 3. Email Jessica Flowers on badgerfish21@yahoo.co.uk to book.

Milton Keynes Museum- Half term activities all week from 11am-4.30pm, Monday-Friday. MK museum is open all half term for family frights and spooky goings on. Seasonal children's activities will be on offer, and you can meet Professor Beamish and his diabolical devices!

Bletchley Park Presents- Family Fun Wednesdays (29th October)- There will be activities for the whole family, including a range of craft and spy workshops for all ages, children's guided tours,  trails, quizzes and handling competitions. Have fun while learning about the home of the Codebreakers!

There are also a number of Halloween activities this half term, including some spooky walks at Howe Park Wood and the Spooky Railway Walk at Clifton Reynes in Olney, to name but a few!

These are just a handful of activities going on, there are a lot more available in your local area!

Don't forget the clocks go back tonight so you get an extra hour in bed tomorrow morning!