Events


The Milton Keynes Rose is used throughout the year for events and gatherings.
Everyone is welcome to come along. You can also visit at any time simply to enjoy the space.

crowd of people at MK Rose

Annual Event: Holocaust Memorial Day


Next event: Saturday 27 January 2024

Holocaust Memorial Day is a national commemoration day dedicated to the remembrance of those who suffered in the Holocaust under Nazi persecution and in subsequent genocides.  A short service is held at The Milton Keynes Rose annually with readings and performance from a local choir.

Next event is on Saturday 27 January 2024.  Please meet at the Milton Keynes Rose at 2pm for a short service.

Pancake Day races 2024

Annual event: Corporate Pancake Relay Race


Tuesday 13 February 2024

The City’s Pancake Day Race was back for another year of flipping fun! It was a damp, successful and competitive Shrove Tuesday in support of the Milton Keynes Rose. Organised by partners The Milton Keynes Rose Trust and The Parks Trust and attended by HM Lord-Lieutenant of Buckinghamshire, Countess Howe, the Corporate Race was won by the team from Smith Jenkins with MK SNAP successfully defending their Para-Pancake Race title.

Continue reading “Annual event: Corporate Pancake Relay Race”
women celebrating International Women's Day at MK Rose

Annual Event: International Women’s Day


8 March every year
 

In 2019 guests gathered at the MK Theatre and then the Milton Keynes Rose to attach their #PressForProgress pledges to the International Women’s Day pillar. Nikki Ross, assistant chief constable of Thames Valley Police, and Debbie Brock, Chair of the Cenotaph Trust (Milton Keynes Rose) gave inspiring speeches and two students from MK Academy read extracts from ‘Good Night Stories for Rebel Girls’ by Elena Favilli and Francesca Cavallo.

Read more in the MKCitizen online

Albert French pillar at MK Rose

Annual Event: Albert French Commemoration


15 June every year

Held on 15 June each year, Albert French Day commemorates Rifleman Albert French who died aged 16 in the First World War and all those who served.

The 2020 event was unable to be held publicly as usual however reading by Chris Roberts and wreath laying was filmed to share.
View the film here.

Man playing bugle at MK Rose

Annual Event: Armistice Day


11 November every year
17

Everyone is welcome to the annual service at the Milton Keynes Rose for Armistice Day on 11 November with silence at 11am followed by wreath laying. Nearest recommended parking located at centre:mk car parks (John Lewis end) and use the Redway bridge that leads into the park.

What3words location: yelled.pavilions.unleashed

Milton Keynes Rose

Annual Event: Celebrating Diwali


The Diwali Festival ‘spiritually signifies the victory of light over darkness, knowledge over ignorance, good over evil and hope over despair’. We are proud to have a pillar at Milton Keynes Rose and welcome the Milton Keynes and beyond community to celebrate with us.

Location: Campbell Park, Milton Keynes MK9 4AJ

Parking: Centre: MK (John Lewis), Redway near by

Milton Keynes Mayor Mick Legg at MK Rose

New Event – Designation Day


23 January 2024

The Milton Keynes Rose was delighted to welcome the Mayor of Milton Keynes, Mick Legg on 23 January 2024 to mark the 57th anniversary of the designation of Milton Keynes as a New Town.

Group celebrating World Thinking Day at MK Rose

New Event – World Thinking Day


22 February 2024

The Milton Keynes Rose was delighted to celebrate World Thinking Day on Thursday, 22 February 2024. On this day 10 million Girl Guides and Girl Scouts all over the world connect to shout about the things that they do.

The theme this year was Our World, Our Peaceful Future and the event was celebrated at the MK Rose by representatives of the Guides, Brownies, Rainbows and the Trefoil Guild.

MK Rose Vigil for Ukraine

Past Event: Vigil for Ukraine


24 February 2023

A candle-lit vigil was held at the Milton Keynes Rose on 24 February 2023 at 5pm to mark the first anniversary of the Russian invasion of Ukraine

MK Rose pillar Concrete Cow Day 3 September

Past Event: Concrete Cow Day


Saturday 3 September 2022 11am to 12.30pm

MK’s iconic Concrete Cows, designed by Liz leyh were first unveiled in 1978. Since then they have become a symbol of the city’s development. While comedians across the country have had cheap laughs with joks about them we have grown to love them, with a replica set at Bancroft, soft toy reproductions, Willen Hospice’s annual ‘Midnight Moo’, the ‘Cowshed’ at Stadium:mk and Donny and Mooie the MK Dons mascots.

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Past event : Tea Party for First Tea Bag Day


Friday 5th July 2019

The first tea bag produced in Britain from Tetley’s factory in Osborne Street, Bletchley.  The tea bag was brought to Britain by Tetley, who produced them in the UK for the first time in 1953 in Bletchley. By 1968, Tetley tea bag sales had soared to 5,000 tonnes a year.

wWomen dancing at MK Rose

Past Event: Commonwealth Picnic 


21st April 2018

Over 100 people celebrated being part of the Commonwealth by sharing food, friendship and flags on HM The Queen’s Birthday, joining in with Commonwealth celebrations that took place right across the globe.

Past Event: Vigil for Manchester Bombing


23rd May 2017

Milton Keynes’ new Mayor, Cllr David Hopkins, held a short public vigil in honour of those who lost their lives at Manchester Arena. Twenty-two people, including children, died and 59 others were injured after an explosion at an Ariana Grande pop concert at Manchester Arena in a suspected terror attack.