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

 

The Chester Christmas Magazine

The Chester Christmas magazine is now available online.

Christmas Lights Switch On
Thursday 13 November

Chester's spectacular Christmas Lights switch on started with a Diablo demonstration and mass Diablo event with 50 local school children.

 

 

 

Thousands filled Eastgate Street as the Christmas Parade made its way around the city.

Fireworks and snow welcomed the grand switch on. 

 

 

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

The fun includes the amazing Silver Man who will be entertaining the crowds with fire-juggling and stilt walking during weekends and school holidays, there will be the popular Santa’s Lapland Journey, the loveable characters Waddle and Frosty, and a carousel.

Competition

Visit the Frost Fair web site and enter the fun competition to win a a trip to the Zoo for the family.

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

 

Chester Fairy Day
November 15

Fly into Chester on Saturday 15 for some Fairy magic.  Children were invited by participating stores to come into the city centre dressed as fairies and wizards, and win some great prizes and goody-bags for their outfits.  Among those taking part in Chester’s first Fairy Day are Marks and Spencer, Debenhams, New Look in Eastgate on the Mezzanine level, Boots and Build a Bear.

 

Hoole Christmas Lights Switch On
November 15

5pm - 6pm

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.

 

Christmas Walking Tours
December
13 November – 21 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.

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
20 - 22 November 

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
4 & 11 December  

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
6 - 21 December  

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 & Win a Ring Competition
6 - 7 December 

Christmas Ice Sculptures were created during the day, a Christmas fairy in Eastgate Street on Saturday and a Christmas star on Sunday in Bridge Street.

Tabitha from Malpas is pictured receiving her prize from Jason Rigby, director of Rigby Jewelllers in Frodsham Street,  after guessing the time a ring frozen into a block of ice would be freed. The ice melted in 70hrs 30mins.

 

Christmas Arts and Craft Fair
6 December

Bishop Lloyds Palace, Watergate Row, Chester. Free Entry 9am - 5pm
A warm welcome, mince pies, mulled wine, christmas decorations and cards, fairies of all kinds - good ones and wicked ones! - angel pictures, gold and silver candles, lanterns, jewellery, silk wraps, art scarves, kimonos, notebooks, body shop, handbags, hand-crafted mobiles, Christmas cake decorations, driftwood artifacts, table runners, pashminas, baby clothes, sculpture, books, work by local artists and even reflexology for tired feet!

Help for men who need a present for their girlfriend, mum or sister and don’t know where to start. Don’t panic ..... find a present here!
Parcel wrapping service with donations to Jessica House charity. 

No disabled access and a few stairs to the first floor rooms. 
Held in support of the Jessica House Charity

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.

Saturnalia
18 December 

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 Touring Christmas Play  -Theatre in the Quarter

Silent Night is a musical Christmas play which will be touring to a variety of halls, churches, schools and theatres across Chester and Cheshire in December. Seven venues have so far been confirmed, these include; The Forum, Studio Theatre (Chester); St Thomas of Canterbury Church (Chester); Bishops' High School (Chester); Bickerton, Goostrey and Kelsall Village Halls as well as featuring as part of the Blacon Christmas Festival.

Silent Night, written by Helen Newall, is a retelling of the magical events surrounding the Christmas football matches during the Great War, and serves to commemorate the 90th anniversary of the end of the war. This professional production is directed by Russ Tunney from the Nuffield Theatre Southampton with original and traditional music by Matt Baker.

St. Thomas of Canterbury Church (Chester)
Friday 28th 1:30pm (Schools Performance)
Friday 28th / Saturday 29th November 7:30pm
Tickets: £10 / £8 (concs) 01244 682 949

Blacon High School (as part of the Blacon Christmas Festival) (Chester)
Monday 1st December 7:30pm
Tickets: 01244 402 549

Bishops' High School (Chester)
Tuesday 2nd December 7:30pm
Tickets: 01244 313 806

Action Transport Theatre Whitby Hall (Ellesmere Port)
Wednesday 3rd December 6pm
Tickets: 0151 357 2120

Poynton High School (Poynton)
(Schools Performance)
Thursday 4th December 10:30am

Upton Heath Junior School (Upton)     
Friday 5th December 10am
Tickets: 01244 972 970

Albion Inn (Chester)
Christmas In The Trenches Silent Night Special
Friday 5th December 7:30pm
Tickets: £25* 01244 340 345
*Price includes a 4-course meal, proceeds go to The War Memorial Trust

Bouverie, Garden Lane (Chester)
The company perform musical excerpts from the play at the Garden Quarter lights switch-on
Saturday 6th December from 5:30pm
Further Info: 01244 381423

Hammond School (Chester)
(Schools Performance)
Tuesday 9 December

Forum Studio Theatre (Chester)
Tuesday 9th / Wednesday 10th December 7:30pm
Tickets: £10 / £8 (concs) 01244 341 296

Bickerton Village Hall (Bickerton)
Thursday 11th December 7:30pm
Tickets: 01829 720 440

Waverton Village Hall (Waverton)
Friday 12th December 7:30pm
Tickets 01244 336 405

Goostrey Village Hall(Goostrey)
Saturday 13th December 7:30pm
Tickets: 01477 544 467

Kelsall Community Centre (Kelsall)
Sunday 14th December 7:30pm
Tickets: 01829 752 647

For further information about Silent Night or how to book the show for a venue please contact Amber Knipe at Chester Performs on 01244 409113 or email amber@chesterperforms.com

 

Carols and Concerts

Chester Philharmonic Orchestra
Saturday 15 November

Chester Cathedral
Chetham's School Chester Philharmonic Concerto
Conductor: Ewa Strusinska
Saxophone: Jonathan Radford
COPLAND
An Outdoor Overture
BERNSTEIN
On The Town: Three Dance Episodes
LARSSON
Saxophone Concerto Op 14
DVORAK
Symphony No. 9 (New World) in E Minor Op 95

Reserved seats: £15 (concessions £12)
Unreserved seats: £10 and £8
School children: £5 
Tickets from Box Office (tel: 0151 6321633; email: ticketsales@committee.chesterphilorchestra.co.uk)
Chester Tourist Office (tel: 01244 402111; email: tis@chester.gov.uk), Orchestra Members & at the door

 

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
Abbey Gate College
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.

 

We Sing
5 December 7.30pm

Chester Cathedral
Adult £10, Concessions £8, Children £6, Family £30

Macmillan Cancer Support Christmas Carol Concert . Already supported by actor Darren Jeffries (who plays OB in Channel 4's Hollyoaks) and his fellow cast mates who hope as many people attend as possible.

 

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 Chester Male 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      
Tickets £10 provided by eden.co.uk £1 booking fee.

Graham Kedrick with band plus guest Phillipa Hannah.       

 

Chester Music 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 School Carol 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 7.30pm

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

 

Children's Carol and Toy Service
Saturday 20 December 3pm

St Johns Church
in aid of the Children's Society and the NSPCC. People attending the Service are asked to bring along gifts for all age ranges from Babies to Teenages for distribution by the two Charities to Children who will literally have nothing this Christmas.

 

Murder in the Cathedral by T S Eliot
Saturday 20 December 7.30 pm

St Johns Church
A Stage 2 Production 

 

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

 

Carol Service

Sunday 21 December 6.30pm

St Johns Church
Usual Services plus at 6.30pm The Carol Service  for the Parish together with the Civic and Business Community of the City followed by refreshments (Sponsored and supported by the Grosvenor Estate)

 

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

 

The Nine Lessons and Carols
Tuesday 23 December 7pm

Chester Cathedral

Chester Cathedral Choir no tickets required

 

Christmas Eve:
Wednesday 24 December

Chester Cathedral
3.00pm           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

Midnight Mass Of The Nativity
Wednesday 24 December 

St Johns Church
usual daily Services plus  11.30pm  celebrate the Mass of Christ on the first Christian site in Chester, where Christian Worship has been offered for over 1500 years.

 

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

Family Service with Carols
Thursday 25th December 10.00am

St Johns Church
Mass will be offered on all Holy days throughout the Christmas period

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 Holy Communion with Carols
10.00am Cathedral Christmas Eucharist
11.45am Choral Eucharist (Book of Common Prayer)

The Cathedral will be closed from 1pm

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

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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.