Chester’s Midsummer Watch Parade - 21 and 22 June

The Chester Midsummer Watch Parade bursts onto the streets on Saturday 21 and Sunday 22 June starting from Chester Town Hall square at 2pm on both days. The medieval parade is one of the country’s oldest and most colourful street parades dating from 1498.

The Midsummer Watch characters are based on descriptions from the city archives including the famous family of giants.

The Lord Mayor of Chester, Councillor Sherin Akhtar will join the Sunday parade, said the Lord Mayor: “This parade has been a firm favourite on the streets of Chester in its current form since 1989, but its origins can be traced back to 1498.

“The Summer Watch was originally performed by the City Guilds at Midsummer. It was disbanded in the 1670’s before being revived featuring the Chester family of giants, the father, mother and two daughters, towering four metre figures.

“This year welcomes the first of the new giants built by artist Russell Kirk, who also directs and performs in the parade. We have some special guests returning to Chester from Carlisle Council who will be looking after the Antelope and The Bactrian Camel.

“Don’t miss the Midsummer Watch Parade, I’d like to thank Russell and the massive cast that includes over 150 school children.”

On Saturday, Sara Smith, President of the Freemen and Guilds of the City of Chester will accompany The Sheriff of Chester, Councillor Simon Eardley onboard the Lord Mayor’s Chariot. On Sunday the Lord Mayor of Chester will join Sarah on the chariot.

The parade is led by the City Guilds plus Chester’s Karamba Samba Band, with dragons, angels, the Chester ravens, unicorn, stag, hobby horses, St Werburgh (and her geese), green men, Balaam's Ass, Cernunnus the Celtic lord of the forest, and a devil Band.

Later additions to the parade include an antelope joining in 2019 discovered following research in the archives from 1660 as being part of the parade and The Hippogriff from Greek Mythology.

The Chester Pirates will be setting sail on their pirate ship pursued not only by the Royal Navy but a giant octopus that will be joining in the fun this year.

School children from across the borough have been creating characters for the parade in workshops. These include Dee point as fish, Guilden Sutton as suns, Belgrave will be geese and Grosvenor Park as ravens.

The parade will leave Chester Town Hall Square at 2pm on both days taking in; St Werburgh Street, Eastgate Street, The Cross, Bridge Street, returning to the Town Hall square for a finale.

The Midsummer Watch website: midsummerwatch.co.uk includes photographs and video from previous years plus a history of the parade.