Twelve-days of Christmas in Chester

Chester’s Christmas Market opens today and next week sees the return of the Twelve-Days of Christmas parade on Thursday 25th November starting at 7pm.

Organised by Cheshire West and Chester Council in partnership with the Chester BID and Destination Chester, the ‘Twelve Days of Christmas’ is the first of four parades to return this year.

The parade including community groups and local artists starts from a new location this year on Bridge Street, traveling towards the Cross, Eastgate Street, St Werburgh Street, past the Town Hall and ending in Watergate Street.

Father Christmas will greet the parade with pyrotechnics as it passes the Cross, Eastgate Clock, Chester Cathedral and the Town Hall.

During the parade, the Roving Moon, a new installation created by Wild Rumpus will be unveiled in its first secret location. Following its reveal, the moon shaped sculpture made from recycled metal and fabric, will move across the city to a different location each week.

Councillor Louise Gittins, Leader of Cheshire West and Chester Council, said: “The Twelve Days of Christmas is one of the many highlights for this year’s celebrations that started with the opening of the fabulous Christmas Market in Town Hall Square, it will be followed by hundreds of local school children carrying their Lanterns (2 December), The Winter Watch Parade (9 December) and the Roman Saturnalia Parade plus Winter Watch (16 December).

“I’d like to thank everyone involved in the parades and activities including the University of Chester, we’ll have over 70 students helping as marshals at the Twelve Days of Christmas and other parades.”

There is always something extra special about Chester at Christmas. Don’t worry if you only catch a brief glimpse of Father Christmas during the parade, he has his own grotto this year in the Grosvenor Shopping Centre (details on the Chester BID website).

Chester’s Christmas Market is open until 22 December. The Market will be open Sunday to Wednesday 10.30am to 6.30pm Thursday, Friday & Saturday 10.30am to 8pm.

Although not compulsory, in the interests of COVID-safety anyone attending Christmas events is encouraged to take a rapid lateral flow test beforehand, wear a face covering – particularly if it is crowded, wash hands regularly and social distance where possible.

Around one in three people have COVID-19 without any symptoms. A lateral flow test is designed to identify these cases and prevent anyone from spreading the virus unknowingly. For information about lateral flow tests and how to access them visit: www.cheshirewestandchester.gov.uk/c19testing.

If you do have symptoms, please do not attend. Self-isolate straightaway and book a laboratory-processed PCR test by ringing: 119 or visiting:

www.gov.uk/get-coronavirus-test.

For details about Christmas events in Chester visit:

https://www.visitcheshire.com/christmas/christmas-in-chester

The Christmas Market opens Thursday 18 November to 22 December, all of the Christmas lights will be on to welcome it.

The Twelve Days of Christmas Parade Thursday 25 November starting at 7pm

Lantern Parade 2 December,

The Winter Watch Parade 9 December

Roman Saturnalia Parade plus Winter Watch 16 December 

Pictured - Father Christmas at Chester Town Hall (2019)