| Where: | Chester, Cheshire starting and finishing at Forum Shopping Centre/Town Hall Square |
| When: | Thursdays in early December |
| Time: | 7pm |
As well as a Midsummer Watch, the city of Chester holds an annual festival in midwinter; unlike the June event which is held in the afternoon, Winter Watch takes place after dark amidst the twinkling Christmas lights. With its origins in medieval parades marking the turn of the year, it is a carnival procession featuring dancers, lantern bearers and a host of seasonal characters and musicians. Chester has been famed for its parades since medieval times when they were organised by the City Guilds- expect a fire breathing finale and a skeleton emperor! On the second of the two Watch Nights, the parade often joins the Saturnalia event (see separate article) when they’re on the same date so you get a combination of Roman and medieval festivities.
Helpful Hints
In 2024 it should be on Thursday 5th and Thursday 12th December (to be confirmed).
It usually, though not invariably, happens on the first two Thursdays in December (in 2015 it took place on December 10th and 17th to avoid a clash with the Coca Cola Truck’s visit on 3rd!!). When we visited in 2018 on the first week, the famous Christmas Market was in full swing as well as a Christmas Tree festival in the Cathedral and Christmas Donkeys just outside.
Click here for more : http://www.midsummerwatch.co.uk/winter-watch-parade/
and here for the event’s Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/groups/318260864932897/
https://www.facebook.com/ChesterMidWinterWatchParade/
Hi when will it be confirmed if the Winter Watch parade will happen in 2021? I want to book accommodation etc there as a present for friends of mine.
Hi Janet,
I’ve found that the watch parades dates aren’t confirmed until fairly near the time- I expect you’ve followed the links to the Facebook pages and website that belong to the organisers of the event, but nothing has been updated for a long time and they’re what I usually use for the calendarcustoms updates. Maybe try contacting via the Friends link on the web-page at https://www.midsummerwatch.co.uk/friends/ or asking the Chester Tourism office? Sorry I can’t be more help – it’s quite tricky to get advance notice of lots of events in the current uncertain climate.
Best wishes,
Averil