Christmas celebrations in Chester
Chester’s Christmas Market opens on Wednesday 19 November marking the start of the Christmas celebrations in Chester. The Chester Christmas Market is open seven days a week; Sunday to Wednesday 10.30am to 6.30pm Thursday, Friday and Saturday 10.30am to 8pm.
Councillor Lisa Denson, Cabinet Member for A Fairer Future (Poverty, Public Health and Mental Health) said:
Christmas officially starts in Chester with the opening of the Christmas Market. All of the popular parades are back this year; 12 Days of Christmas, Lanterns, Winter Watch and Saturnalia. There is a magical Christmas grotto and the traditional festive show at Storyhouse is Beauty and the Beast starting on 5 December until 4 January.
The festive events start with the Twelve Days of Christmas parade, sponsored by Chester BID on Thursday 20 November starting on Bridge Street at 7pm. The ‘Twelve Days of Christmas’ is the first of four parades returning this year.
Community groups and local artists will parade through the city centre from Bridge Street, travelling towards the Cross, Eastgate Street, St Werburgh Street, past the Town Hall and ending in Watergate Street. Father Christmas will be joining the parade, greeting the audience.
Shop mobility in Chester can be pre booked for late night shopping until 7.30pm on Thursday‘s; 20 and 27 November plus 4, 11, and 18 December. Appointments must be made at least one day in advance. Shop Mobility details
Father Christmas will then be in his grotto at the Grosvenor Shopping Centre from 21 November until 24 December (details on the Chester BID website)
Father Christmas will also be visiting Chester Town Hall for a traditional grotto experience 13, 14, 19, 20 and 21 December.
Step inside the festive Assembly Hall to meet Santa’s helpful elves, Sparkle & Jingle. They’ve set up their arts and crafts workshop and they can’t wait to meet you. Create a magical Christmas t-shirt, ready to wear on Christmas eve, then craft a festive gift bag and get ready to meet the big man himself.
You’ll climb the magical staircase to meet Father Christmas in his enchanting grotto and receive a beautiful photo plus a present from him too. Booking details
Festive events:
Thursday 20 November 7pm
12 Days of Christmas parade, starting from Bridge Street.
Thursday 27 November 7pm
Lantern Parade, starting from Town Hall Square
Thursday 4 December 7pm
Winter Watch Parade, starting from Town Hall Square
Thursday 11 December 6.30pm
Roman Saturnalia Parade, starting from the Grosvenor Museum
Thursday 11 December, 7pm
Winter Watch Parade, meeting the Romans in Town Hall Square
Chester’s award-winning Indoor Market will open every day, including Mondays, in the run-up to Christmas from 1 December to 24 December and will be welcoming choir performances, the return of the Christmas bauble in Exchange Square and a makers market every weekend also in the square in the run-up to Christmas from 22 November to 21 December.
Chester Park and Ride is running late night services over Christmas, the last bus from Foregate Street will be 9pm on Thursdays from 20 November to 18 December.
Starting from 19 November until Christmas eve the security bollards at Town Hall Square in Chester will be raised preventing access to vehicles after 10.30am until 8pm (Sunday to Wednesday between 10.30am and 6.30pm).
On Saturday’s from 22 November until 21 December, the bollards by Hunter Street, opposite Storyhouse will be closed, from 10.30am to 8pm, and on Sundays, from 12pm to 6pm, for the duration of this period.