November event announced to switch on Milton Keynes' Christmas lights

The annual Christmas Lights Switch-on event will be taking place in Milton Keynes City Centre in mid-November.

The family-friendly event, organised every year by MyMK, will be taking place in the large car park next to The Point in the city centre, starting from 4pm on Saturday November 16th. This represents an expansion of the event, which was previously held within Midsummer Place shopping centre.

Festivities will begin at 4pm with performances from the St Bernadette’s School Choir and the Milton Keynes Rock Choir. MK Theatre Pantomime star Max Fulham will take to the stage with his fellow Peter Pan performer, Gordon the Monkey.

Events will finish with a performance by Milton Keynes’ very own Mike Woodhams, a local teacher and Britain’s Got Talent finalist who captured the heart of judges with his remarkable singing impressions. Mike will be joined by Father Christmas for the switching-on of the City Centre’s festive lights, accompanied by a dazzling fireworks display.

The Lights Switch-on marks the beginning of a packed schedule of Christmas activities in Milton Keynes over the holiday season.

Among highlights of the season include Santa’s Grotto in centre:mk, from 15th November to 24th December 2024 and where children will be enchanted by Norbert, Santa’s newest reindeer, in an immersive adventure.

There will also be the annual pantomime at Milton Keynes Theatre, which will see a production of Peter Pan at the venue from 6th December 2024 to 5th January 2025, featuring Craig Revel Horwood as Captain Hook and Max Fulham as Smee.

Local businesses will sponsor and decorate trees as part of the Christmas Tree festival at Midsummer Place, also launching on 16th November, for the chance to win shoppers’ votes and raise funds for local charities.

A new event for 2024 is Molly O’Reilly’s Irish Pub, which is a pop-up experience running from 29th November to 28th December 2024 in the car park next to The Point and billed by MyMK as an event where people can, “expect a winter wonderland of live music and festive treats as the spirit of Dublin meets the energy of Oktoberfest!”