🔥 Dunstable Downs Lighting of the Beacon 2025
Time: 20:30 - 22:00
DUNSTABLE DOWNS - THURSDAY 8 MAY 2025
🎉 EVENT DETAILS
Join communities across the UK in marking the 80th anniversary of Victory in Europe (VE) Day with a special beacon lighting ceremony.
🔦 IMPORTANT NOTES
Free event, no booking required. It will be dark when you leave – please bring a torch.
ℹ️ ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
No additional entertainment or concessions, as the focus is on paying tribute to those who secured peace. The National Trust café will serve drinks and cakes.
🕘 SCHEDULE
▪️9.00PM – Speeches
▪️9.30PM – Beacon lighting, alongside other locations across the UK, Channel Islands, and Isle of Man
▪️After beacon lighting – Singing of "I Vow to Thee, My Country".
ACCESS & TRANSPORT
⛔️ The road leading to the Downs will be closed. Please walk where possible.
🚍 A shuttle bus service will run from 8.30PM to 10.30PM (last shuttle at 10.20PM).
♿️ Parking is Blue Badge holders only.
🎥 LIVE STREAM
For those unable to attend, a live stream will be available on Facebook: [@DunstableDownsNT](https://www.facebook.com/DunstableDownsNT).
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Produced by BBB Group with generous support from:
✨️ Dunstable Town Council
✨️ South Beds Association of National Trust Members
✨️ Whipsnade Parish Council
17 other events on this day
🇬🇧 VE Day 80 at Milton Keynes Museum 2025 - FREE EVENT!
Time: 19:00 - 22:00
🔥 WHAT TO EXPECT
There will be live entertainment on the bandstand, cadet marches, plus food and drink available. MK Museum will be one of many sites across the UK and abroad, to light their beacon at 9:30pm.
Please note:
Only Wolverton and Greenleys Town Council are responsible for the management of the vendors. Never a third party. Please ignore any posts or comments offering stalls or vendors spaces for any of our events, this IS NOT us.
🇬🇧 VE Day in Parson's Close Recreation Ground, Leighton Buzzard 2025 - Free entry!
Time: 18:30 - 21:40
🔥 WHAT TO EXPECT
▪️18:40 – Vocalist on the Bandstand in Parson’s Close Recreation Ground
▪️19:30 – Royal British Legion Band on the Bandstand in Parson’s Close Recreation Ground
▪️21:20 – Reading of the Tribute
▪️21:30 – Beacon Lighting, Singing of I Vow to Thee My Country and the National Anthem
▪️21:40 – End
💦 FREE Bennett's Splash Park in Dunstable 2025
Time: 10:00 - 18:00
📆 2025 DATES
▪️Monday 5th May - Sunday 31st August
▪️7 days a week
▪️10am - 6pm
💦 FREE FAMILY FUN
Enjoy the 16 super soaking water features ranging from gentle mists, spray arches and tipping buckets to spray shooter cannons. The Splash Park is designed to be enjoyed by children of all ages from 2 years to 10 years.
Those who are older are asked to act responsibly for the safety of all.
Please note, the Splash Park will have 10 minute intervals where the water will stop to ensure water safety quality checks, why not take this opportunity to refresh at the Splashside Cafe.
❗️IMPORTANT INFORMATION
*Bennett’s Splash Park and Splashside Café may be subject to closure due to unforeseen circumstances due to weather, technical faults or other issues beyond our control. For regular updates, please follow us on Facebook: @bennettssplash *
🍕 THE SPLASHSIDE CAFE
The Splashside Café adjacent to the Splash Park offers an array of food and drinks for all to enjoy such as freshly prepared milkshakes, delicious pizzas, classic fish finger bap and much more! Please note, last orders are 5.30 pm. View the menu here.
🅿️ PARKING - Charges may apply
When driving to Bennett’s Splash, please park in Ashton Square Car Park located off Bull Pond Lane, LU6 3BE.
The Splash Park is a minute walk from here, into Bennett Memorial Recreation Ground. Please take care when crossing the road.
ASHTON SQUARE CAR PARK is owned and operated by Central Bedfordshire Council. Please check the machines for chargeable days and hours.
🚘 Billington Car Boot Sale 2025
Time: 08:00 - 13:00
🗓 OPENING TIMES
We are OPEN every Thursday, Sunday and Bank Holiday Monday.
🌧 WEATHER DEPENDANT
Please check our FB page for weather updates via the event link.
🛍 BUYERS
▪️Gates open: 8am
▪️Entry after 8am: £1
▪️Early access for buyers before 8am: £5
🐕🦺 DOGS
Dogs are welcome on a lead.
🚘 SELLERS:
▪️ Sellers at 7am
▪️Loyalty cards available at gate
▪️ There's no need to book just pull up and sell!
🎫 Cars £8
🎫 Small Vans £10
🎫 Large Vans £12
🎫 Extra Large Vans £14
🎫 Small Trailer £2
🎫 Large Trailer £5
ℹ️ SELLERS INFORMATION
Sellers don't forget to bring spare change on the day! Take rubbish home.
🏍 Bike Meet at The Lowndes Arms in Whaddon
Time: 17:30
👋 EVERYONE WELCOME....
Are you a bike enthusiast? Bring your bike along if not still pop along and take a look at everyone’s bikes.
😋 FEELING HUNGRY?
We do some great food too!
☎️ Contact number: 01908 990334
🥳 Abigail's Party at The Place Theatre in Bedford
Time: 19:30
📆 2025 DATES & TIMES
▪️07 May, 19:30
▪️08 May, 19:30
▪️09 May, 19:30
▪️10 May, 19:30
🎭 ABOUT:
Beneath the veneer of polite conversation and cheese and pineapple sticks lies a simmering undercurrent of ambition, resentment, and social one-upmanship. As Beverly and her husband Laurence host a soirée for their unsuspecting guests—Angela, Tony, and the anxious Sue (whose teenage daughter, Abigail, is throwing a party of her own nearby)—the evening spirals into a brilliantly uncomfortable clash of class, aspiration, and ego.
A sharply observed satire of middle-class pretensions and the cracks beneath the surface, Abigail’s Party is as deliciously excruciating as it is laugh-out-loud funny.
Come join us for a night of awkward encounters, passive-aggressive exchanges, and 1970s nostalgia at its finest.
▪️Starts: 7:30pm
🎟 TICKET PRICES:
▪️Full Price: £16
▪️Concession - Senior / Unemployed: £14
▪️Wheelchair User & Buddy: £16
▪️Wheelchair User & Buddy - Concession - Senior / Unemployed: £14
▪️Student/ Under 18: £12
✅️ BOOK TICKETS VIA THE EVENT LINK
A £1.50 booking fee per cart is applied to all bookings made online or by telephone. Bookings for Free Tickets do not incur a booking fee.
♿ WHEELCHAIR USERS
Due to layout limitations at the venue we can accommodate a limited number of wheelchairs in our auditorium. We ask patrons with wheelchairs to contact us directly to book a wheelchair position (as well as companion seats) when booking their tickets.
To discuss any access needs, please give us a call on the box office number below.
☎️ BOX OFFICE: 01234 354321
🤸♂️Parent & Toddler Session at Gravity in Milton Keynes, only £4pp
Price: £4.25
🧒 Toddlers are most welcome at Gravity, and there are lots of ways for mini bouncers to have fun safely.
⭐️ PARENT & TODDLER SESSION TIMES 7 DAYS A WEEK SUBJECT TO AVAILABILITY:
▪️8am - 9am
▪️9am - 10am
▪️10am - 11am
⭐️ AGE FOR PARENT & TODDLER SESSIONS:
All children must be over 18 months and under 5 years old accompanied by a paying adult. One adult to two toddlers.
🧦 GRAVITY SAFETY SOCKS - £2.50
GRAVITY safety socks are an important part of our safety procedures - everyone participating MUST wear them at all times.
🕣 ARRIVE 30 MINS EARLY
Please arrive at reception at least 30 mins before your start time to check in, sort out any equipment, use lockers and watch our safety brief.
📝 FAST TRACK
Fast track your experience by filling out the safety agreement online.
🎟 TICKETS - £4 PER PERSON
Add the total number of participants to your cart (toddlers plus parent, plus additional paying parent if required). Under 5s need to be accompanied on the activity area by a paying adult. Tickets can be booked via the event link.
🤸♂️ Soft Play at John Buyan Sports & Fitness in Bedford
Price: £6.20
A Play Park session for children at John Bunyan Sports and Fitness Centre in Bedford. Designed with colourful structures and padded obstacles, our soft play structure is the perfect backdrop for endless giggles and joyful discoveries.
🕐 TIMES TO CHOOSE BETWEEN:
9AM - 6.30PM (90 MINUTE SESSIONS)
RULES
🔸️Supervision ratios apply for children up to 12 years.
🔸️No outside food and drink is permitted.
🔸️All junior tickets include 1 adult, all additional adults need to purchase a ticket.
🔸️Socks must be worn at all times.
ℹ️ YOU WILL HAVE TO REGISTER IF YOU HAVENT ALREADY TO BOOK (You can register and book via the event link)
🎟 TICKET PRICE
▪️Child over 1 (including 1 adult): £6.20
▪️Under 1: Free
▪️Additional Adult: Free
☕️ FREE MICKEY'S CAFE - The Transfiguration Church in Kempston
Time: 12:00 - 14:00
☕️ MICKEY'S CAFE
🗓 WHEN?
▪️Every Tuesday & Thursday
▪️12pm - 2pm
💖 DETAILS:
Located in the heart of the Kempston community, Mickey’s Cafe offers not only delicious food and drinks, but also a sense of community and belonging.
🧒 SEND, Stay and Play in our own way in Flitwick (Children aged upto 12 years)
Time: 13:30 - 14:30
▪️WHEN? NO BOOKING JUST TURN UP.
Weekly on Thursday's.
▪️AGES:
Our, 'Stay and Play in Our Own Way' sessions are open for all families with children aged up to 12. Even if your children are at school, please do still come along to build friendships and gain advice and support from professionals. A member of staff from the SEND Team attends every session, so they are on hand for specific support.
CONTACT DETAILS FOR ANY ENQUIRES
☎️ Telephone 0300 300 8111
📧 Email: flitwick.childrencentre@centralbedfordshire.gov.uk
🥊FREE BOX RELEASE FOR AGES 12-19 IN LEIGHTON BUZZARD
Time: 17:00 - 18:00
✨️ Discipline
✨️ Self-Defence skills
✨️ Stress Relief
✨️ Confidence – building
✨️ Health & Fitness encouragement
💥 ALL EQUIPMENT PROVIDED FREE!
📍WHEN & WHERE?
▪️When: Every Thursday
▪️Time: 5-6pm
▪️Where: Pages Park Pavilion, Leighton Buzzard
☎️ RESERVE A SPACE - Limited
🌳 Tree Tots at Howe Park Wood, Milton Keynes
Time: 10:00 - 10:50 Price: £1.00
That’s why our Outdoor Learning Team runs Tree Tots, a weekly 50-minute nature play session that enables you and your little ones to join in all kinds of outdoor fun alongside other children, parents and carers.
👩🍳 WHAT TO EXPECT
Tree Tots offers a range of seasonal activities designed just for under-5s. You’ll get to join in all kinds of fun things that connect you and your little one with nature – from ‘cooking’ in mud kitchens, balancing on ropes and swinging in hammocks to playing with water, exploring the woods and collecting natural treasure.
📍WHERE/WHEN IT TAKES PLACE
Taking place in a dedicated area of Howe Park Wood every Thursday at 10am (Winter) or 10am and 11am (Summer).
🌧 WEATHER INFORMATION
Tree Tots takes place in all weathers (unless it’s very extreme) because we believe that children should have the opportunity to experience the wild outdoors – whether that’s rain, wind, sun or snow. Please come dressed appropriately for the weather.
👶 AGE: Under 5's
TIME: 10.00am - 10.50am
🎟 TICKETS: £1.00pp (Book via the event link)
Please purchase one ticket per person attending including adults and children. Maximum 3 children per adult. We do not refund bookings.
🏛 Free Panacea Museum in Bedford 2025
Time: 11:00 - 17:00 Price: £0.00
Discover the amazing story of the unique religious community that created its own Garden of Eden in the centre of Bedford. The museum has beautiful gardens to walk around.
⭐OPEN:
Thursday - Sunday, 11am - 5pm
(last admission 4.30pm)
📖 SOME INTERESTING HISTORY
The Panacea Society was originally called ‘The Community of the Holy Ghost’, and was made up mostly of women. Its leader was Mabel Barltrop – the widow of an English clergyman, and mother of four children– whose followers called her ‘Octavia’.
Octavia. The founder of the Panacea Society.
During the 1920s, followers of the Panacea Society moved to Bedford to live near Octavia. Eventually, the community was able to combine the gardens of several properties to form ‘the campus’ – a private space between the community houses, with a chapel at its centre.
From this headquarters, the Society operated a religious organisation which reached across the world. Over two thousand people became members of the Panacea Society, in Europe, North America and many parts of the British Empire and Commonwealth.
From its beginning, the Panacea Society expected the end of the world. Society members were convinced that God would soon act to bring about a new age – a period of peace and happiness called ‘the Millennium’.
The Panacea Society was part of a wider religious movement of groups concerned with prophecy. The Panaceans believed that God was speaking to them through Octavia, but her followers did not believe she was the only modern prophet. Rather, they accepted a lineage of seven prophetic voices since the late 1700s – a tradition they called ‘the Visitation’.
🧒 FOR CHILDREN
Children trails, colouring sheets and wooden toys in the activity space in the main museum building 'Castleside'.
☕ FOOD AND DRINK
Tea room serving refreshments, hot & cold snacks with indoor & outdoor seating
🚼 TOILET INFORMATION
Baby changing can be found in a toilet that is big enough to fit a pushchair in
🅿️ PARKING
No parking is available at the Museum, however there is pay and display parking nearby.
♿🅿️ ACCESSIBILITY (Partly accessible)
Accessible info and blue badge holders, click here: https://panaceamuseum.org/visiting/access
CONTACT DETAILS
☎️ Tel: 01234 353178
📧 museum@panaceatrust.org
🇬🇧 Fish & Chips Special for VE Day 2025 - Flitwick Rufus Centre
Time: 12:30 - 14:15 Price: £9.95
🐟 WHAT TO EXPECT
Fish, chips, garden peas and ice cream for £9.95pp. Available untill 14:15pm, no booking required.
💃VINTAGE SINGER PERFORMING:
▪️12:30pm - 13:30pm
🎉 Mini VE Day Street Party at The Crown in Flitwick
Time: 15:00
🎶 WHAT TO EXPECT
Music, few nibbles and of course the bar will be open! Everyone welcome so why not stop in after school or on your way home from work and say hi!
🔥 LIGHTING OF THE BEACON 2025 - Ampthill Park
Time: 20:30
DATE:Thursday 8th May 2025
TIME: 8:30 PM (Beacon lit at 9:15 PM)
LOCATION: Ampthill Great Park
🇬🇧 EVENT DETAILS:
Join us to celebrate 80 years of peace in Europe since the end of World War II, accompanied by Ampthill Town Band, the Royal British Legion, and local organizations. Refreshments available after the lighting.
🅿️ PARKING
Additional parking available at Ampthill Rugby Club & Ampthill Town Cricket Club.
💥 Kids Eat Free Carvery at The Old Red Lion - Houghton Regis
Time: 16:00 - 18:00
WHEN?
That’s right — every weekday Monday - Friday from 4pm to 6pm, kids can enjoy a free carvery with every paying adult. You can book via the event link or phone on the number below.
Perfect for after-school dinners, stress-free family meals, or spontaneous early evening plans.
Fresh flavours for the grown-ups, tasty favourites for the little ones — and great value all around.
☎️ Phone: 01582 797304
