24 Hour Pickleball Festival

MK Smashers Pickleball Social Club are taking over Woughton Leisure Centre for a 24-hour charity pickleball festival, running from 8am on Friday 30 October through to 8am on Saturday 31 October. It's a full day and night of play, with the club keeping the courts going for a solid twenty-four hours straight. The whole thing is in aid of the MK Food Bank, and the Mayor of Milton Keynes, Cllr Paul Trendall, is lending his support to the cause.

If you've never come across pickleball, the club describes it as a paddle sport that pulls together bits of tennis, badminton and table tennis. It's played on a court smaller than a tennis court with a perforated plastic ball, and the club says it's easy to learn and low impact, which makes it a decent shout if you're not used to running around a court for hours. Beginners get coached on the day and shown how to play, so you don't need to have a clue before you turn up.

It's open to all ages and abilities, so it works as a family thing or just something to do with friends. You don't need to bring your own gear either — equipment is provided as part of the entry. Entry is £10 per person, and since it's a charity event, that goes toward the food bank. It runs from 8am Friday to 8am Saturday at Woughton Leisure Centre, so you can drop in when it suits you.