CHESTER SET TO CELEBRATE SPRING WITH A MONTH FULL OF FREE EVENTS

Chester is celebrating the arrival of spring with seasonal entertainment and activities to complement a new trail of art installations, Spring Blooms, that has popped up across the city and it’s all free to enjoy.

Destination Chester has brought together organisations and businesses across the city to create an exciting calendar of events from kayaking and cocktail-making sessions to mindfulness walks and art exhibitions, with plenty of music, drama and comedy in the mix, too. For full details, see:

https://www.visitcheshire.com/chester/springblooms. 

THROUGHOUT MARCH… 

Spring Blooms, Chester city centre, until 31 March: Follow the trail of specially commissioned art installations by local and regional artists now on view across the city, with blossoms and roots, birds and nocturnal animals among the interpretations of re-emerging natural life. 

Mini-Murals Art Trail, city centre, until 31 March: Discover the colourful murals inspired by nature that are transforming BT cabinets into works of art. 

A Taste of Spring, city-wide, until 31 March: Taste the very best local food and drink and follow cocktail and real ale trails using a new digital and print map that leads to more than 30 independent venues.  

Spring into Art, Watergate Street Gallery, until 31 March: Al-fresco drop-by-and-draw sessions, exhibitions featuring international artists and students from the University of Chester. 

The Missing Building, CASC Gallery, until 18 March: Discover interpretations of the cityscape created by local children and their families who have been investigating the built environment and its possible re-interpretation.  

Dee River Kayaking Sessions, 13-31 March, River Dee: Explore the natural world from a kayak on a 90-minute tour that will take a different perspective on the sights of spring. 

SPECIAL WEEKENDS… 

Birdcage Stage Spring Celebration Weekend, Chester-wide, 25-27 March: Acrobatic cats and dogs, singing cherubs, and a stilt-walking butterfly and flower duo are some of the performers to marvel at on The Birdcage Stage, a giant golden structure that is also one of the installations on the Spring Blooms art trail. 

Enchanted Forest Festival, city centre, 19-20 March: Hear enchanted trees tell tales of their forest adventures, meet flower fairies as they perform magical moments, and hear the five-piece band The King Brasstards fill the streets with the sounds of New Orleans. 

AND MORE…. 

Once A Desert, Chester Cathedral, 9-12 March: Travel back to the Triassic age, when the rock that created this cathedral was formed and the land beneath our feet was part of the Sahara, at this sound-and-light spectacle by the artists Heinrich & Palmer.  

The Rows – A Journey Through Time, Chester Rows, 12 March: Hear the thoughts of Cestrians from the past – real and imagined – as performed by current residents. 

Saturday Girl About Town with Casey Orr, Watergate Street Gallery, 12 March: Pose for an portrait at the pop-up studio of international photographer Casey – your image might be chosen to go on display in the city centre later in March. 

Reflective Art Walks for Families & Adults, Storyhouse, 12, 15, 20, 28 March: Join local artist Lydia O’Hara on a walk around the city, taking in the Spring Blooms art trail, and then create a piece of art drawing on your experience. 

Zero Waste Blooming Cocktails with Koji, 19, 20, 26, 27 March: Learn how to make a zero-waste cocktail from micro-seasonal ingredients at Koji, the first all-natural cocktail and wine bar. 

Spring Into Wellbeing, Storyhouse, 16, 24 & 30 March: Take a mindful stroll with Lisa Rossetti around the city’s natural spaces, then put pen to paper about the experience at a creative writing session. 

Roman Medicinal Garden Experience, Medicine Garden, 27 March: A centurion will be your teacher about Roman medicine, plants and poison at the new Medicine Garden on Pierpoint Lane. 

Pictured - Dee River Kayaking.