Upcoming Dates
Thursday 7 & 14 December 23, 7 pm
Get Inspired
Event Details
The Winter Watch parades take place on Thursday 7 and Thursday 14 December both starting at 7 pm, from Town Hall Square and continuing around the City centre including St Werburgh Street, Northgate Street and Bridge Street including dance, fire breathing and sword fights in Eastgate Street and in the Town Hall Square.
Dating from the 1400’s Chester’s Winter Watch Parade was held at Christmas. The City leaders would hand over the keys to the City to the City Watch (early police force) after processing around the City to ensure it was secure. There followed a banquet and celebration of Christmas, knowing the City was safe.
The Winter Watch Parade was re-created by the Council in the 1990s and has been turned into a fun parade in the lead up to Christmas. Using some of the characters from the Summer Watch, this is a smaller evening parade. The cast of characters changes slightly but generally consists of-
- Karamba Samba Band dressed as ghosts and ghouls
- The Lord of Misrule
- Cooks
- Devils
- Dragons
- Angels
- Fire skeletons
- Ice Queens
- Jack Frost
- Tree of Life
- Giant Santa & Snowman
In addition, the parade has added a spectacular fire breathing finale, with the Chester Re-enactment group joining as the Chester Watch and a group of giant skeletons, Roman Tours have also joined adding the Midsummer Watch Chariot and a skeleton Emperor.
Address
Chester Town Hall Northgate Street Chester CH1 2HJ
