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An ultimate Christmas weekend in Chester

The festive season is upon us again and this year Christmas is back in full force in Chester. There is plenty going on to inspire the festive spirit in and around Chester, from returning favourites to exciting new experiences. Christmas in Chester is a true highlight of the year for locals and visitors alike and is a real chance to get together, reconnect and experience our much-loved city in a whole new light. Chester does Christmas exceptionally, and the city’s community of residents and businesses really come together to bring you a magical festive experience. With this in mind, we thought we’d give you some inspiration for a festive weekend away in Chester, complete with unmissable events, sparkling food and drink and some exceptional winter offers. So wrap up in your best winter warmers, grab a mug of mulled wine and get ready to experience Christmas in Chester.

Shop local with the Chester Christmas Market

Making its much-awaited return after last year’s unfortunate cancellation, Chester Christmas Market is the centrepiece of Chester’s festive calendar. Visitors can expect some returning favourites as well as exciting new stallholders providing exceptional home-made and artisanal food, drinks, crafts, gifts and much more. Over half of all stallholders this year are from right here in Cheshire or nearby North Wales, making the market even more exciting with opportunity to truly shop local. There will be many artisans from across Cheshire and the region, such as Josh Johnson Ceramics, who designs and sells pottery, and Roberts Country Fayre, which makes award-winning layered pies. Other traders include; Cheshire-based Dipple Tipple, which sources the best of Britain’s spirits and liqueurs, such as the local Forest Gin from Macclesfield, and the Cheshire Candle Company, selling handmade fragrant candles. Open daily from 10:30am and open late Thursday-Saturday from Thursday 18 November to Wednesday 22 December, this year’s market promises to be extra special in many ways.

Spot the Roving Moon and experience exciting new pop-up events

A new and exciting festive feature will be making its debut in Chester this year. The team at Destination Chester are inviting visitors to look up at Chester experiencing the city from a whole new, enchanting perspective with the Roving Moon. This shining festive beacon will be in select locations high up around the city, and it’s your task to locate and spot it. Part of a new series of events and activities entitled Chester Designed by Nature, The Roving Moon promises to be an exciting initiative to inspire visitors to explore the city to find the majestic moon-shaped light display and really get into the festive spirit. Visitors are encouraged to get involved by snapping pictures of the Moon and share them on social media with the hashtag #chestermoon to be in with a chance to win some exciting prizes.

Also, as part of the Chester Designed by Nature programme, there are some exciting new popup events for the whole family to enjoy. On 4 December at there will be an afternoon of Storytelling and walkabout Theatre in the open air at the City Forest Garden (aka Chester Supertrees). Everyone can enjoy some magical stories performed by Award Winning Storyteller Ursula Holden Gill and watch the mesmerising Eye of The Newt Theatre Company as they perform The Hare and The Moon – a gentle and warm-hearted walkabout show inspired by the mythology of the moon gazing hare. And join visual artist Jo Gomez and take part in a lantern making workshop using recyclable materials 

Then on 17 December, there will be an outdoor event alongside the water edge of the canal at the Grassed Amphitheatre - an amphitheatre that has been created from the natural earth to create steps down to the canal. This will include Canal Street Day Care Centre choir performing some music and songs inspired by the moon. So wrap up warm, enjoy a hot chocolate, take part in some singing and be mesmerized by the Hare and the Moon walking theatre show performed by Eye of the Newt Theatre.

And on 23 December, a novel street performance of The Faun is coming to The Nest. Rooted in Roman mythology as the deity of forests, fields, and herds, this Faun has found herself trotting along a once roman landscape looking to charm the people with her love of the forest, music and dance.This is a promenade performance (starting at The Nest) that celebrates and incorporates the Roving Moon.

Embrace the Call of the Wild with the Lanterns at Chester Zoo

There’s reason to celebrate this year at Chester Zoo. The beloved Christmas Lanterns are making their welcome return for their 10^th year – coinciding with the Zoo’s 90^th anniversary from Friday 12 November to Thursday 23 December. Visitors to the Lanterns can experience the zoo after hours on a set trail in the dark – taking them through spectacular illuminations and colourful lanterns, encountering enchanting, costumed characters along the way. This year’s festivities will see brand new illuminated characters that shine a light on species that are threatened with extinction such as orangutans, butterflies, caterpillars and wolves. There will also be a 90th birthday light show, taking visitors on a journey through time as they explore the zoo’s history. The event will support the zoo’s crucial work as a wildlife conservation charity and will help with its recovery following the impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Christmas at the historic Cathedral

Another highlight in the Chester festive calendar are the happenings at Chester cathedral. There’s not much more magical than experiencing some festive cheer amongst the medieval majesty of the city’s cathedral. This year the much-loved Christmas Tree festival returns from 27 November until 4 January. The cathedral’s cloisters will be lined with over 50 sparkling Christmas trees designed by local organisations, schools and charities. The magnificent 13^th-century refectory will also be serving Sunday brunch with a special guest from 18 November until Christmas Eve. Families can enjoy a delicious brunch from the refectory café joined by Santa himself! The team at the Cathedral are bringing the Charles Dickens classic A Christmas Carol to life with a wonderfully traditional production adapted for stage by Laura Turner, complete with beautiful period costume, song, dance, and a magnificent original musical score on 27 November and 8 December. And one of the nation’s favourite Christmas characters will make a welcome return as The Snowman Tour arrives at the Cathedral on 18 December. This special screening of family favourite The Snowman accompanied by a magnificent live orchestra is a guaranteed way to get into the festive spirit.

An especially festive production at Storyhouse

The cultural champions at Storyhouse are set to bring audiences a real festive treat with this year’s Christmas production – Oliver Twist! From 4 December to 16 January. There promises to be a stage packed with kids, dogs and feelgood songs at this year’s production as audiences experience the tale of the lovable but unfortunate Oliver and the cast of London urchins he finds. It promises to be a hit, with the show being produced by the team behind last year’s smash A Christmas Carol that thrived in spite of the pandemic and was unfortunately cut short. It’s definitely high time to experience some heart-warming festive theatre from the team at Storyhouse.

A festive flick in the moonlight

Chester’s favourite open air cinema returns this Christmas at Carriage Shed. Moonlight Flicks from Storyhouse are bringing some of the very best Christmas films to the stylish hub at Carriage Shed. You can watch everyone’s favourite Elf on his adventures in New York, be engrossed as John McClane takes care of business at Nakatomi Plaza, experience the Muppets’ signature retelling of a Dickens classic and much more. Make sure to wrap warm, bring your favourite seat, and enjoy some sparkling festive movie time treats. Oh, and with the inclement British weather, you may need to keep yourself (and your Mogwai) dry!

Find Santa in his Enchanted Grotto

This year the team at Chester Business Improvement District have invited Santa to bring his grotto to the Grosvenor Shopping Centre. From 26 November to 24 December, the kids can embark on a magical journey through a wintry woodland, follow the path to discover Santa’s Grotto and meet with the man himself.

Get into the spirit with a festive parade

The festive landscape in Chester is made all the more special with a parade. Chester is renowned for its parades and this year will see the return of some of the very best. The parade season starts on 25 November with the return of the 12 Days of Christmas Parade. Starting from the Town Hall, this festive favourite promises lights, snow, elves and a few surprises. Then, on 9 and 16 December the Winter Watch parade will take place. This historic tradition dates back to the 1400s, and is now a spectacle of lights and colourful characters. On 16 December the Winter Watch parade will coincide with Saturnalia – the celebration that sees Roman soldiers light up the city. Expect weird and wonderful characters, fire-breathing, rambunctious Romans and a lot of lights! Be sure to get your spot to witness these magnificent festive traditions in Chester this year.

Festive Dining

Chester, already renowned for its exceptional restaurants, is made all the more special with festive menus. At the elegant La Brasserie at The Chester Grosvenor guests can indulge in a three-course festive dinner menu from their award-winning chefs between 29 November and 23 December. What’s more, there’s extra luxury on offer with sparkling festive afternoon tea served in the stylish Arkle Bar & Lounge throughout November and December. The Grosvenor Pulford Hotel & Spa are bringing festive twists to their menus at both Palm Court and Nelson’s Bar, alongside their ever-popular festive afternoon teas. And at 1539 at the historic Roodee racecourse, the festive season is getting into full swing with a carefully-curated festive menu as well as a superb selection of festive winter cocktails – what could be better than festive dining with panoramic views of the oldest functioning racecourse in the world? We’ve barely scratched the surface here, so be sure to go to visitchester.com/food-drink to explore more dining in Chester this festive season.

Somewhere special to stay

With all the festive action, you may want somewhere for a little rest and relaxation. Many of Chester’s world class hotels are offering some great deals and packages for the festive season. The grand Rowton Hall Hotel are offering the Festive Bed & Breakfast Escape which offers guests an overnight stay, full country house breakfast as well as mulled wine and festive treats from £99 per room. For a staycation in the city, ABode, located next to the historic racecourse are offering the Winter in the City package, where guests will receive an overnight stay in the stylish ABode, dinner in Brasserie ABode and a full breakfast, all from £129 per room. And for a great family stay, the brand-new Leonardo Hotel, right in the heart of the city are offering bed and breakfast for £59 per night Sunday-Thursday – a great option for some Christmas shopping, exploring the city and experiencing Christmas in Chester. There are so many more great places to stay so make sure to go to visitchester.com/stay