Chester's Winter Watch parade Thursday 7 December
Chester's Winter Watch is the next festive parade taking place on Thursday 7 December at 7pm with a second parade on Thursday 14 December. Both parades leave from the Christmas Market in Town Hall Square.
The Winter Watch Parade is based on the archive records from the 1400s when the early police force, Chester's City Watch looked after the keys of the city at Christmas. They marched around Chester to make sure it was secure; this was followed by a banquet and celebration of Christmas by the city leaders.
The modern-day parade joins forces with some of the characters from the Midsummer Watch Parade also dating from the 1400s. The Winter Watch parade features Jack Frost, an Angel, Fire Skeletons, Dragon, Ice Queens, Devils, Cooks with their Victorian Christmas Dinner led by Chester's Karamba Samba dressed as a ghost band. Both the Midsummer Watch and the Winter Watch parades are unique to Chester.
Councillor Lisa Denson, Cabinet Member for A Fairer Future (Poverty, Public Health and Mental Health), said:
Our Winter Watch Parade is always popular and a chance to bring back some of the Summer Characters as they join forces with more traditional winter characters like Jack Frost and the ice queens. Chester's Karamba Samba lead both the summer and winter parades but for the night parade they turn into a ghost band. If you miss this first Winter Watch parade, there is a second one on 14 December when the night is shared with the Roman Legion celebrating Saturnalia.
The Winter Watch starts from the Christmas Market in Town Hall Square that will remain open until 8pm.
Park and Ride buses have extended times during the late-night shopping Thursdays with the last buses leaving around 9pm rather than 7pm. Using Park and Ride helps reduce traffic and congestion in the city centre.
Details about Christmas events in Chester: