Things to Do

Taking place at Duston Mill, Northampton on Saturday 21st June 2025, from 12pm–11pm, Solstice Festival promises a day packed full of fun, creativity, and unforgettable experiences, all set in a beautiful riverside meadow (next to Sixfields Stadium), on the longest day of the year. Solstice Festival shines a light on the incredible talent, enterprise, and spirit of Northamptonshire. The festival will feature the very best musicians, performers, food, traders, makers, workshops, activities and community groups, all proudly local. For thousands of years, communities have come together on the summer solstice (the longest day of the year) to share food, music, fun and connection with family and friends.  After an incredible response from local performers and enterprises, over 50 have been selected to take centre stage. Solstice is not just a festival, it’s a joyful platform for the region’s creativity and community spirit. Live Music & Performances The Main Stage will..

A Northampton dad is turning grief into goals with a special charity football match and family fun day, in memory of his son Tyler and all lost angels. On Saturday 17th May, Tristan Heard is hosting Sands Aid Family Fun Day and Charity Football Match, a full day of activities to raise money and awareness for Sands UK – the Stillbirth and Neonatal Death Charity. Tristan became involved with Sands United FC, formed in Northampton for bereaved dads, following the loss of his first child at 38 weeks. Sands United was founded by Pride of Britain winner Robert Allen after the loss of his daughter at 39 weeks. What started as a Sunday league team has grown into a national movement, with over 40 teams across the UK and Ireland, offering support and solidarity through sport. “Me and my wife lost our son..

Get ready to be dazzled! Tickets are now officially on sale for Strictly SENSational, the highly anticipated Strictly Come Dancing-inspired show celebrating the incredible talents of adults with special educational needs (SEN). Hosted by SENSational Care Provisions and Joanne Banham Dance Company, this feel-good event will take place at The Deco Theatre on Sunday, 29th June 2025. An unforgettable evening awaits as participants from the SEN community take to the stage in a celebration of dance. After weeks of rehearsals and hard work, you can expect an electric atmosphere, show-stopping routines, and a whole lot of sparkle as the SENsational team lights up the dance floor. The event is not just a performance - it’s an important event with an aim to raise funds for The Tor Rox Foundation, a charity supporting cancer patients in accessing physical activity during treatment. “We are beyond excited to welcome everyone to watch what..

A Northamptonshire family is turning personal heartbreak into hope by hosting a special fundraising day at The Chester House Estate. The event is in support of the Twinkling Stars Appeal, a campaign led by Northamptonshire Health Charity to build a new maternity bereavement suite at Kettering General Hospital. Esmé Day, taking place on Tuesday 27 May, has been organised by parents Carmen and Chris Smith in memory of their daughter Esmé, who was tragically stillborn at 38 weeks. “Esmé would have been turning three this year,” said Carmen. “We wanted to mark the day with the kind of celebration we would have thrown for her, full of love, family, and joy. But more than that, we wanted to keep her name and her legacy alive. That’s how we parent her now.” Carmen and Chris were inspired to support the Twinkling Stars Appeal after hearing about it during their time in..

Some of the most respected names in UK stand-up will be coming to Northampton for a dedicated comedy festival this summer, with many acts using it as a warm-up on route to the Edinburgh Fringe. More than 50 comedians have been booked to appear at multiple venues across the town centre as part of a two-month-long series of gigs, including top names such as Rosie Jones, Paul Sinha and Josh Pugh. The festival, which takes place between Sunday, 25 May and Saturday, 26 July, has been organised by locally based promoters The Comedy Crate with support from Northampton Town Centre Business Improvement District (BID). Venues hosting performances include Saints Coffee, Cheyne Walk Club and V&B while many of the acts have made their name on shows including Live at the Apollo, Mock The Week and Eight Out of 10 Cats does Countdown. Mark Mullen, operations manager of Northampton Town Centre..

Pulse’s Sammy Jones takes us through marvellous May’s stage attractions in the ‘fampton... Sometimes less is more, and a case in point is the upcoming production of Treasure Island at the Royal (May 2 & 3) which delivers Robert Louis Stevenson’s tale with just a cast of four. The show is a version the likes of which you won’t have seen before; laced with a host of contemporary comedic twists, including an unusual motley crew of pirates, a parrot called Alexa and a mermaid you will never forget. You have leading physical comedy company La Navet Bete (aka The Daft Turnip) to thank for this, and thank the Devon-based crew you will. It’s a family friendly show – suitable for ages seven years and up. Sir Tim Rice has enjoyed an illustrious career and the man seated at the heart of musical theatre visits the Derngate with My Life in..

Sunday night is usually reserved for episodes of The Antiques Roadshow and digging hard to find motivation for the upcoming week. Surely it’s not only us?! But Sunday, May 4th offers a welcome break from the sedate routine – it’s a bank holiday weekend, which means no work on Monday for many of you. If only SBD Promotions had gone and booked a raucous troupe of girls to do justice to the sublime catalogue of material left by The Ramones... Oh wait, they have! The Ramonas pay mighty fine tribute to Joey, Johnny, Dee Dee and Tommy, and embody that 70s spirit of the ultimate garage punkers. The girls have staying power too – they’ve been smashing out those tremendous tracks like Blitzkrieg Bop, Pet Sematary, I Wanna Be Sedated and Sheena Is a Punk Rocker for two decades. A ‘high energy, full throttle one hour’ show is the promise,..

Lamport Hall is delighted to launch a new event for the 2025 season. Inspired by the incredible makers, artisans and designers across the county and surrounding areas, we will be hosting a Makers Market and Food Festival on Saturday 10th May, 10am-5pm. There will be over 80 handpicked and carefully curated stalls selling a wide array of products including crackling wood wick candles, fused glass, keepsake boxes, propagation stations, tealights, handmade soap, wood turned items, original artwork, limited edition fine art prints, handmade willow crafts, family portrait experiences, wax melts, felt home décor, handmade fudge, ethical clothing, padded noticeboards, handcrafted jewellery, wheel thrown pottery, gin, brownies, cooking sauces, cocktail kits, pick n mix, craft ciders, handmade pies, luxury handmade chocolates, blondies, cakes, needle felted art, and much, much more! There will also be street food on offer from the brilliant Brooklyn Brownie Co selling brownies, sundaes, cheesecake and slushies’, as..

Freak Fridays has been helping music aficionados get their weekends off to a flying start at The Charles Bradlaugh since its launch back in February. ‘Wall-to-wall bangers, unapologetic anthems, and guilty pleasures,’ is the promise, with indie belters, hip-hop classics, disco grooves and 80’s new wave all ready to tickle your ears. You might remember we told you about this new venture from Rich Byles a couple of issues ago, but we wanted to put the needle in the groove, so to speak, and get the gist on one of those at the controls. Sylvia E. DeGray, aka Sylv, aka DJ Bad Apple, is among those bringing the tunes, and she has spent the past three years building up her live portfolio on the ‘fampton scene. Oh, and she is also working as a promoter in the town. She’s keeping busy. Sylv, a self-confessed ‘zealot DJ and disciple of goth..

For those who haven’t already had the pleasure, meet MC Hammersmith, the world’s leading freestyle rapper to come from the ghetto of middle-class West London. He’s been delivering his smart solo freestyle rap for nigh on a decade now. And it’s fab. He’s a much in demand, multi-award winning player at comedy festivals around the world. and his clever word work has been rewarded online; his videos have racked up more than 100 million views and he has half a million followers on TikTok. MC Hammersmith dropped his debut album, Mother’s Fettuccine at the tail end of 2023, a collection of 10 tracks including I’ve Definitely Got A Gun, I’ve Literally Got Millions of Guns and Why Does Nobody Listen? I Said I’ve Got Guns. It also boasted the Post British Boy Raps In Car riot with lines including ‘rhymes so cold you’ll need double glazing’ and ‘Your girl costs..

Join the vibrant spectacle on Saturday 14th June as Northampton Carnival returns with a fiery tribute to history and a feast of live music, dance, and culture. Excitement is mounting as Northampton Carnival prepares to ignite the streets once more with colour, rhythm, and community spirit. This year’s spectacular event takes place on Saturday 14th June at Racecourse Park, Kettering Road, Northampton NN1 4LG, bringing together a fusion of creativity and heritage under the striking theme: “The Elements of Carnival – Earth, Wind, Fire, Water.” Chosen to mark the 350th anniversary of the Great Fire of Northampton, the theme invites troupes and float designers to interpret the natural forces through costume, dance, and display, honouring the town’s resilience and spirit through carnival’s signature energy and flair. The park opens to the public from 12 noon, with a full programme of entertainment on offer. Expect a vibrant showcase of local performers..

Kelmarsh Hall and Gardens are delighted to announce the grand reopening for the 2025 open season, offering visitors the chance to experience the grandeur of the historic Hall, explore the award-winning gardens, and enjoy a variety of exciting events throughout the season. The Hall, a beautiful Palladian style country house nestled in the heart of Northamptonshire, invites guests to step back in time and discover its fine rooms, including the servants' quarters and exhibition rooms. This year, Kelmarsh Hall is introducing a newly-designed guest bedroom, inspired by the renowned Nancy Lancaster. Reflecting Nancy’s signature shabby chic style, the room promises to captivate with its charming and timeless appeal. New for this year, the Hall will also be opening on Sundays, alongside the gardens and tearoom! Beyond the Hall, visitors can immerse themselves in the breathtaking historic gardens. The tranquil woodland and lakeside walks provide the perfect setting for a peaceful..

Northampton Town Council’s Bands in the Park season kicks off this on Sunday, 6th April, with a packed calendar of free live performances from local bands and musicians every Sunday and Bank Holiday Monday until 29th September. The popular event takes place between 2pm and 5pm at Abington Park’s historic bandstand, in the relaxing surroundings of the town’s premier park. This year’s programme features a wide range of brass, jazz and concert bands from Northamptonshire and beyond, along with choirs, music groups and solo performers, with three performances sponsored by The Park Café – Abington Park. A town council spokesperson said: “We have a brilliant line-up arranged for this year’s Bands in the Park season, with performances from traditional brass bands, plus some contemporary acts including Hayden Regan Rock n Roll Covers, Similar Jones and Hannah Faulkner & Friends. “We are very grateful to the Park Café for their ongoing..

Visit Wicksteed Park from April 5th to 21st, 10:30am to 5pm, for two weeks of egg-cellent adventures, thrilling rides, and family fun! Meet Wicky Bear as he strolls around the park and grab a delicious bite to eat from Lighthouse Bites, Carlo’s Courtyard or the Garden Café. Even more exciting adventures await during May with Wicksteed Park’s a-MAY-zing attractions. Join us during May weekends, bank holidays and from the 24th of May until the 1st of June for May half-term for days full of excitement and family fun. Enjoy unlimited access to our attractions with wristbands starting from just £22. Great value family wristbands are available starting from £56 for 3 people. Children under 0.9m can enjoy the fun of Wicksteed Park’s Easter Eggstravaganza or a-MAY-zing fun for FREE with a fully paying accompanying adult.* Wicksteed Park is proud to partner with Nimbus Disability for all access needs and Essential..

Boughton House is excited to welcome visitors this Spring, offering a host of new and exclusive events. These include a brand-new, family-friendly event in the stunning Boughton Gardens and the exclusive opening of Boughton House during the Easter weekend. "Spring at Boughton" is a family-oriented event taking place on Sunday 13th and Monday 14th April. Visitors are invited to join a fun trail to help Little Bo Peep find her lost sheep throughout the Duke of Buccleuch’s Gardens and Parkland. Along the way, participants will encounter games and learn fascinating facts about the estate as it prepares for spring. A key highlight will be the opportunity to see the newborn lambs up close. Boughton House has also partnered with Camp Wilderness, who will offer free archery and axe-throwing sessions for children aged 8 and above. Sam Rees, estate manager, said: “Family history has inspired the new event which links Boughton’s..