• Christmas Lights Switch On
• Frost Fair (Chester Zoo)
• Hoole Christmas Lights Switch On  
• Street Entertainment 
• Lantern Parades
• Italian Market
• Local Producers Market
• Fashion in Eastgate
• Winter Watch
• Continental Christmas Market
• Ice Sculptures
• A Medieval Christmas
• Something Wishful
• A Tudor Christmas
• Christmas Walking Tours
• Saturnalia Roman Festival
• Silent Night
• Carols and Concerts
• Staying in Chester?

 

Christmas Lights Switch On
Thursday 13 November

 

3pm Diablo Record Attempt - Bridge Street

5pm - 6.30pm Christmas Parade

Karamba Samba
Costume Characters
School reindeer class
School snowflake class
Street entertainers – stiltwalkers, magicians, electro glide angel, uniclyclists
Santa’s Sleigh and live reindeer

Chester's Lord Mayor, officially launches Christmas in Chester by switching on the Christmas lights.
Fireworks and Chester has made a special request for snow on Thursday 13November.

Chester Zoo Frost Fair
From 27 November - 11 January

It's frosty and festive at the Zoo this Winter! Packed with great entertainment and festive things to do - plus all the animal attractions of Chester Zoo - the Frost Fair is THE family day out this Winter!

Real Ice

The huge ice rink is the largest outdoor rink with real ice in Cheshire! Look out for the special skating sessions when you can hang out with your friends at the disco skate or toddle skate.

Real Santa

Follow the Lapland Trail to meet Santa and his friends in their traditional winter wonderland grotto. At the end of this magical journey, you will receive a surprise gift from the elves' toyshop.

Festive Fun

Visit over 7000 beautiful and rare animals  Enjoy some fun with costumed characters Frosty and Waddle. Enjoy a brisk stroll around the ten show gardens, each one dressed for Winter. Ride the carousel and have a go on the snowball shy

PLEASE NOTE:

Entrance Ticket must be purchased to gain entry to the Zoo
Carers accompanying visitors with disabilities receive free entry on a 1:1 basis
All tickets are non-refundable and non-transferable
Chester Zoo retains the right to refuse admission to its premises at all times for any reason

 

Hoole Christmas Lights Switch On
November (date tbc)

The big Christmas Lights switch on for the Hoole shops. 

 

Street Entertainment
November 15 & 16
November 22 & 23
November 29 & 30
December 13 & 14

Look out for Christmas performers on the streets of Chester each weekend.

 

Chester Lantern Parades
November 20 & 27 

Starting from Chester Cathedral at 7pm, come and watch the river of lights as school children parade through the Christmas shoppers with their hand made lanterns. Special guests this year are Manchester Camerata. Parade route St Werburgh St, Eastgate St, Bridge Street, Northgate. Parade lasts for 30 minutes.

 

Italian Market
November 20 - 22

A welcome return to the popular Italian Market in Town Hall Square. Open between 9am and 5pm don't forget to visit during your Christmas shopping 

 

Local Cheshire Producers Christmas Market
Wednesday 3 December

A special Produce Market in Town Hall Square offering some of the finest fresh fruit, vegetables, dairy products, fish and meats.  Open from 9am 4pm

 

Fashion in Eastgate
Wednesday 3 December 12noon - 3pm
Wednesday 10 December 12noon - 3pm
Wednesday 17 December 12noon - 3pm

The Catwalk comes to Eastgate, Fashion Shows in the city cente.

 

Winter Watch Parades
December 4 &11 

Join Chester's own Lord of Misrule as the loudest and most colourful parade of Christmas hits the streets. Starting in Eastgate at 7pm the parade is led by Chester's Karamba Samba and includes Chefs, Cooks, Angels, Devils and fire breathing. Parade route Eastgate, Bridge Street, Northgate, St Werburgh St, Eastgate. Special finale outside Browns of Chester. Parade lasts for 40 minutes.

The Winter Watch is based loosely on ‘setting a watch’ the great ceremony dating back to before the 17^th century held in Chester on Christmas Eve. A grand procession would march through the city with torches and fireworks, The Mayor and Aldermen headed the parade accompanied by the Dean and Chapter and members of the Chester Guilds. The Recorder made a speech praising the antiquity of the city, after which the Mayor handed the keys of the city’s gates to those watchmen chosen to keep guard for the night. The ceremony ended with a banquet and general rejoicing.

The parade was revived in its present form in 1998 by Chester City Council incorporating some of the characters from the larger Midsummer Watch Parade. 
 

Continental Christmas Market
December 6 - 21 

Continental flavours come to Chester, from tasty bites and warming drinks to gifts, come and visit the new continental market in front of Chester's Town Hall while you do your Christmas Shopping. Opening hours from 10am 8pm Mon to Sat and 10am 6pm on Sundays.

Ice Sculptures
December 6 - 7

Not to be missed, Christmas Ice Sculptures created during the day in Bridge Street.

 

A Medieval Christmas
Saturday 6 December

Visit Chester Cathedral, Chapter House between 10.30am - 4.30pm and meet some Medieval pilgrims as they visit Chester for the festive season; with music, mumming plays and much more. Free, drop-in event. 

Something Wishful
Friday 12th December

The spectacular closing celebration for Cheshire’s Year of Gardens 2008. Based on the Thai, Loy Krathong or floating candle ceremony, the event will take place on and around the River Dee in Chester. Thousands of ‘wishes’, made by local communities and artists will be launched into the river as part of the celebrations in December.

Something Wishful is produced by Chester Performs, who are working with Emergency Exit Arts from London and with the Cheshire Year of Gardens team.

 

A Tudor Christmas
Saturday 13 December

10.30am - 4.30pm Stanley Palace, Watergate Street. Help us prepare for Christmas with characters from a Tudor household, see how herbal remedies were used to keep people hale and hearty. Take this opportunity to see inside the historic 'black and white' toenhouse of the Stanley family.

Christmas Walking Tours
December

Something a little different when you visit Chester. Join our guides for a fun filled walking tour, looking at customs, origins and traditions of Chester's festive season. A Yuletide treat for all the family. Departs from Town Hall Tourist Information Centre 1.30pm Thu, Sat, Sun. Tickets £5, £4 and family ticket £13.

Saturnalia
December 18 

Celebrate Christmas in Chester in style with the unique Roman Parade. Soldiers from the The Deva Victrix Leg XX v.v will march from Chester's Roman Amphitheatre to the High Cross in Eastgate Street. Torches will be lit as the soldiers celebrate Saturnalia, the feast at which the Romans commemorated the dedication of the temple of the god Saturn.  Parade starts from the Roman Amphitheatre 7pm

 

Silent Night  -Theatre in the Quarter
December tbc

 

Carols and Concerts

 

Chester Philharmonic Orchestra
Saturday 15 November

Chester Cathedral
Chetham's School Chester Philharmonic Concerto
Prize Winner Jonathan Radford
Conductor Ewa Strusinska
Bernstein
Larsson
Dvorák
On the Town: Three Dance Episodes
Saxophone Concerto
Symphony No 9 in E min Op 95 New World
Tickets £15 (reserved) £10 £8 (concs) Tel 0151 632 1633
or £45 season ticket for all four concerts

Chester Cathedral Nave Choir Concert
Concert by Candlelight
Sunday 16th November 8.00 pm

Chester Cathedral
Magnificat (Collegium Regale)
John Tavener
Two Hymns to the Mother of God
John Tavener
Missa assumpta est Maria
GP da Papastrina
Marian settings
Gorecki, Elgar, Faure and Durufle

Tickets: £10.00 (£8.00 concessions)
Chester Cathedral Shop 01244 311586

Chester Music Society Choir
Liverpool Sinfonia
Saturday 22 November 7.30pm

Chester Cathedral
Conductor Graham Jordan Ellis
Soprano Julie Kennard
Mezzo Soprano Rosie Aldridge
Baritone Stephen Roberts
Finzi  For Saint Cecilia
Elgar Sea Pictures
Vaughan Williams  A Sea Symphony

Tickets: £16, £12 (Nave: numbered, reserved): £6 (Aisles)
Reduced prices available. Telephone 01244 380347

Chester Music Society Club
AbbeyGateCollege
Wednesday 26 November 7.30pm

St Mary's Centre, Chester
Chapel Choir and soloists
Stewart Smith Music Director
Tickets £4 Students and Jobseekers £1 at the door Tel 0151 339 5219

Dee and Alyn Gilbert and Sullivan Society
Hits From The Blitz

Friday 28 November 7.30pm
All Saints Church, Hoole 

Saturday 29 Nov 7.30pm
Chester Cathedral 

Tickets £10 01244 345 649, 01352 757957 or Cathedral Shop

Spirit of Christmas 2008
Friday  28 November 7.00pm

Chester Cathedral
Matthew Kelly hosts a spectacular evening, as stars get Christmas off to a cracking start. The concert raises money for the Neuromuscular Centre in Cheshire which provides vital services and employment for people with muscular dystrophy across the North West and beyond.
Tickets : £50, £17.50, £10 Telephone: 01606 861733

The Advent Carol Service & Procession by Candlelight
Sunday 30 November 6.30pm

Chester Cathedral
Tickets not required

London Festival Orchestra Concert
Monday 1 December 7.30pm

Chester Cathedral
Handel’s Messiah  
Tickets: 01244 311586 (Cathedral Shop)

Combined Emergency Services Carol Service
Tuesday 2 December 7.30pm

Chester Cathedral   
Tickets not required

Chester Music Society
Celebrity Concert
Cantorian Sirenian Singers
Wednesday 3 December 7.30pm

St Mary's Centre, Chester
Conductor Jean Stanley-Jones
Piano Tim Stuart
The ticket price includes free wine and buffet
Tickets: £15; Reductions £12. Telephone 0151 339 7326

Nigel Ogden Organ Concert
5 December, 7.30pm

Hamilton Street Church, Hoole
£8 (under-21's free admission)

Nigel Ogden of BBC 2 Radio Organist Entertains makes a welcome return visit to Hoole.  Nigel is looking forward to playing our new organ for the first time, with the concert also being the start of our Christmas Tree Festival.

Christmas Tree Festival
5 - 7 December

Hamilton Street Church, Hoole
Free Admission (donations welcome)

Come and join us for our second annual Christmas Tree Festival - 19 Christmas Trees decorated by local groups and schools.  Seasonal refreshments available.  Church open during Friday evening's Nigel Ogden concert, and on Saturday between 10.30am and 4.00pm, and on Sunday 12.30pm to 3.30pm.

Bishops’ School Carol Service
Monday 8 December 7.00pm

Chester Cathedral   

King’s School Macclesfield Carol Service
Wednesday 10 December 8.00pm

Chester Cathedral   

Nightingale House Hospice Concert
Thurs 11th December  8.00 pm

Chester Cathedral

Following the success in 2007 of Nightingale House Hospice’s ‘Celebration of Christmas’ concert , the Froncysyllte Male Voice Choir have kindly agreed to headline the concert for a second time, in the splendid surroundings of Chester Cathedral.

Musical Director Ann Atkinson,and the Fron choir,  will be joined on the night by international tenor soloist Aled Wyn Davies, award winning Pheonix Brass, a quintet from Manchester and the Choir from the Kings School, Chester. William Roache MBE, Coronation Street’s Ken Barlow, will be guest MC for the evening.

£20 unrestricted view £12.50 restricted view

The Chester Ladies Choir
City Of ChesterMale Voice Choir
Friday 12 December 7.30pm

All Saints Church, Hoole Road, Chester
Conductor Rodney T Jones.
Details of tickets 01244 680490 or 01244 341296

Dreaming of a Holy Night - Graham Kendrick Tour
Saturday 13 December 7.30pm

Chester Cathedral             

ChesterMusic Society Youth Choirs
Christmas Concert
Saturday 13 December 7.30pm

All Saints Church, Hoole Road, Chester
A Festival of Christmas Music for all the family
Helena Thomas and Katie Wilkes conductors
Tickets: £7 (Reductions: £5) Telephone 01244 300717

Chester Bach Singers
Carols by Candlelight
Sunday 14 December 7.30pm

Tattenhall Parish Church
Conductor Martin Bussey
Includes Britten’s Ceremony of Carols with harp
Tickets: £10 (concessions £9, students or schoolchildren £5)
0151 677 3137 or Tourist Information Centre: 01244 402111

Chester Music Society Choir
Chester Philharmonic Orchestra
Aspects of Christmas
Monday 15 December 7.30pm

Chester Cathedral
A Celebration in Words and Music for all the family
With readings by Stage and Television celebrity  Patricia Routledge
Conductor Graham Jordan Ellis
Treble Matthew Rogers
Tickets £16 (Nave: numbered, reserved)
£10 (Aisles: numbered, reserved, restricted view)
Reduced prices available Telephone 01244 380347

Chester Cathedral Carol Concerts
Tuesday 16 December

10.30am         King’s School Chester Carol Service
2.00pm           Merton House School Carol Service
7.30pm           Chester Music Society Choir  Christmas Carol Concert 

Chester Cathedral Carol Services
Wednesday 17 December

10.30am         Abbey Gate School Carol Service
7.30pm           Abbey Gate College Carol Service

Hammond SchoolCarol Service
Thursday 18 December  2.30pm

Chester Cathedral

Queen’s School Carol Service
Friday 19 December 10.30am

Chester Cathedral
Tickets:  01244 311586 (Cathedral Shop)

Christmas Concert with Cathedral Choir
Fantasia on Christmas Carols by Vaughan Williams
Friday 19 December 7.00pm

Chester Cathedral
Director Philip Rushforth
Organist Ian Roberts
Tickets £10 Unreserved from Cathedral Shop Tel: 01244 311586

Chester Bach Singers
Carols by Candlelight
Saturday 20 December 7.30pm

St Mary's, Handbridge
Conductor Martin Bussey
Includes Britten’s Ceremony of Carols with harp
Tickets: £10 (concessions £9, students or schoolchildren £5)
0151 677 3137 or Tourist Information Centre: 01244 402111

Candlelight Concert
20 December 7.30pm

Hamilton Street Church, Hoole
£6 (under-21's free admission)

Listen to music for Christmas in a festively decorated Church, with plenty of Carols for Everyone – an ideal way to complete your Christmas preparations

Chester Chorale
Charity Christmas Concert
Saturday 20 December 7.00pm

All Saints Church, Hoole
Conductor: Barry Ball
Carols for all plus music by Faure and Barry Ball

Cathedral Nave Choir Carol Service
Sunday 21 December 3.30pm

Chester Cathedral
Tickets not required
Nine Lessons & Carols
Tuesday 23 December 3.30pm     
Chester Cathedral
Sung by the Cathedral Choir
Tickets not required

Christmas Eve:
Wednesday 24 December

Chester Cathedral
3.30pm           Nine Lessons & Carols Sung by the Cathedral Choir
5.30pm           Crib Service
11.30pm         First Communion of Christmas
Tickets not required at any of these services

Christmas Day:
Thursday 25 December

Chester Cathedral   
8.00am           Holy Communion & Carols
10.00am         Cathedral Christmas Eucharist Preacher: The Bishop of Chester
11.45am         Christmas Choral 
                        Eucharist BCP
                        Preacher: The Dean
An Epiphany Celebration with Carols & Readings sung by the Cathedral Nave Choir
Sunday 4 January 2009 3.30pm                            

Chester Cathedral

Chester Cathedral Regular Sunday Services through Advent, Christmas and Epiphany:

 8.00am
10.00am
11.30am 
3.30pm

You are most welcome at all of these services. www.chestercathedral.com

Staying in Chester?

With so much to see and do this Christmas, why not come and stay for a few nights, book your accommodation online and give yourself plenty of time to shop and enjoy the Christmas celebrations.