Chester’s Midsummer Watch Parade

Chester’s Midsummer Watch Parade returns on Saturday 24 and Sunday 25 June starting from Town Hall square at 2pm. The medieval parade is one of the country’s oldest and most colourful street parades dating from 1498.

Councillor Louise Gittins, Leader of Cheshire West and Chester Council said: “What a majestic way to complete a packed June with the return of the Midsummer Watch Parade. This is a true community event with a huge cast of local people helping to celebrate Chester’s unique history.

“The Midsummer Watch characters are based on descriptions from the city archives including our famous family of giants.”

The Summer Watch was originally performed by the City Guilds at Midsummer. It was disbanded in the 1670’s before being revived in 1989, featuring the Chester family of giants. The Midsummer Watch 'Family of Giants' the father, mother and two daughters are towering four metre figures.

The parade is led by the City Guilds and Chester’s Karamba Samba Band, with dragons, angels, pirates, the Chester ravens, unicorn, stag, hobby horses, St Werburgh (and her geese), green men, Balaam's Ass, Cernunnus the Celtic lord of the forest, and a devil Band.

Later additions to the parade include an antelope in 2019 discovered following research in the archives from 1660 as being part of the parade joining The Hippogriff from Greek Mythology.

The Sheriff of Chester, Councillor Hugo Deynem will be joining the parade on Saturday and the Deputy Lord Mayor of Chester, Councillor Razia Daniels is taking part on Sunday.

Schools and groups across the borough have been creating characters for the parade in workshops run by artist Lucy Jones. Hoole Primary School will be green men, Dee Point join the parade as fish, Belgrave will be angels, Cherry Grove will be carrying suns and Guilden Sutton join the parade as fiery monsters. 

The parade will leave Chester Town Hall Square at 2pm on both days taking in; St Werburgh Street, Eastgate Street, The Cross, Bridge Street, returning to the Town Hall square for a finale.

The Midsummer Watch website includes photographs and video from previous years plus a history of the parade:

http://www.midsummerwatch.co.uk

Pictured - The Midsummer Watch from 2022.