Family events around MK: our guide to what's on

Come face-to-face with Star Wars characters at the National Museum of Computing

Star Wars, dinosaurs, craft and more - there's lots on for families in MK over the next few days...

SUMMER BYTES

National Museum of Computing, from Saturday

The month-long Summer Bytes Festival starts at The National Museum of Computing on Bletchley Park on Saturday. Open every afternoon from noon to 5pm, the festival has fun and learning in store for all the family with opportunities to interact with robots past and present and experience different realities – virtual, augmented, retro and real-time.

The festival opens with Galactic Saturday, when visitors can come face to face with Star Wars characters including R2-D2. Under-16s going in sci-fi costume will get free entry.

www.tnmoc.org/bytes

ZOORASSIC PARK

Whipsnade Zoo, until September 4

Dinosaurs have landed at Whipsnade Zoo. Zoorassic Park is a special exhibition at the zoo for the duration of the school summer holidays, with life-sized working models of a Tyrannosaurus, Triceratops, Stegosaurus and plenty more, and the chance for dinosaur face painting and a “fossil” dig.

www.zsl.org

FREE FAMILY WORKSHOPS

Milton Keynes Arts Centre

A summer of free, artist-led workshops for all ages is on offer at Milton Keynes Arts Centre, in Great Linford.

Help create a stool/art object with Shepherd Manyika on Wednesday, August 3. On August 4 and 5 you can make tie-dye T-shirts and use homemade potato stamps to create patterns on aprons,

Booking essential 01908 608108. www.miltonkeynesartscentre.org

LINSLADE CANAL FESTIVAL

Tiddenfoot, Linslade, Saturday

Colourful narrowboats, traditional arts and crafts, live music and dancing, birds of prey, wriggly reptiles, a fun dog show and a children’s funfair are all on offer at the Linslade Canal Festival, from 11am to 5pm at Tiddenfoot Waterside Park.

Pedestrian admission is free. Car parking is available a short walk away at £4 per car.

www.leightonlinslade-tc.gov.uk

ARTS SLAM

Royal & Derngate, Northampton

Young people can try beatboxing and street dance with the four-day Arts Slam Summer Holiday project at the Royal & Derngate from Monday to Thursday, August 1 to 4. Open to ages 14 to 21.

No previous experience necessary. Participants will collaborate to produce their own beatboxing and street dance pieces.