Santa Claus is coming to Town Friday 18 November 2011

Santa Claus is coming to Town!
Friday 18 November 2011

Today regional shopping destination, thecentre:mk announce exciting plans for the opening of ‘An Olde English Christmas’ in Middleton Hall and a spectacular outdoor ice rink in Queens Court for Christmas 2011.

In 2010, over 6,000 people visited the centre to watch Santa parade down the malls and open his grotto. This year thecentre:mk announce plans for a parade which will start at Door 1 near M&S food hall and cascade down the Midsummer Arcade of the centre at 4:30pm on Friday 18 November. Over 100 children from local schools will create a wonderful acapella Christmas carol chorus to accompany Santa on his journey to Middleton Hall, to open his grotto.

Once Santa and his carol singers reach Middleton Hall and Santa officially opens his grotto, the Milton Keynes City Orchestra will take to the stage to play a mini sing along carol service, for all of thecentre:mk guests to enjoy. Song sheets will be provided for guests to join in and Christmas will have officially opened in Milton Keynes.

The elegant outdoor ice rink, in Queens Court will hold an extra special charity ‘donate to skate’ on Thursday 17 November from 6:30-7:30pm, to raise money for BBC Children in Need. thecentre:mk welcome families to come along to be the first people to skate on the ice and enjoy the wonderful festive atmosphere of the outdoors in Queens Court.

Melanie Beck, Head of Marketing and Communications at thecentre:mk comments, “We are very excited for the launch of Christmas at thecentre:mk this year and especially with the inclusion of Children in Need at our ice rink in Queens Court and the Milton Keynes City Orchestra for the opening of ‘An Olde English Christmas’ in Middleton Hall. We hope that our shoppers will join us for these special events over the two days and enjoy the beginning of Christmas in Milton Keynes.”

To visit Santa in his grotto, to book a ride on the train or a skate on the ice rink, visit http://www.thecentremk.com or call 08445 449660. Santa’s grotto closes on 24 December 2011, the Ice Rink and ‘An Olde English Christmas’ which includes the train, close on 2 January 2012. The ice rink in Queen’s Court can accommodate need specific and group bookings, as well as school and corporate party requests.

Please note thecentre:mk BBC Children in Need Skate will not be ticketed and will be based on a first come first serve basis, entrance will be based on a donation to the charity, a minimum £5 donation per person is recommended.