Chestival 2010 promises a month of arts and entertainment activities

Feb 18 2010 by Michael Green, Chester Chronicle

A SPECTACULAR month of arts and entertainment will dominate the city centre this summer as the countdown begins to Chestival 2010.

Music, theatre, parades, cycling, history, showjumping and horse racing form just part of a packed programme of activities running from June 11-July 14.

Chester’s refurbished Town Hall will reopen for the first time to arts events with the internationally acclaimed Chester Summer Music Festival forming the centrepiece of the cultural bonanza.

Among the highlights are:

June 11-13 – Largest Roman festival in the country with marches, Amphitheatre games, a Roman village in the Grosvenor Park and a gala banquet.

June 14-17 – The World Town Crier Competition returns to the city with 50 international town criers taking part.

June 17-20 – Chester Mystery Plays performed on the original pageant wagon as well as at the Amphitheatre.

June 18-20 – Giants of Chester & Europe and Midsummer Watch parades including giant chess.

June 25-26 – Fireworks concert and other music events tied in with Chester Racecourse meeting.

June 27 – Cycle Sunday with bike showcases and half pipe BMX activity in the Amphitheatre.

July 1-4 – British Masters Showjumping featuring more than 40 leading riders.

June 30-July 14 – Chester Summer Music Festival featuring the Kings College Cambridge, Tallis Scholars, Penguin Cafe Orchestra, folk star Kathryn Tickell and the European Union Chamber Orchestra.

July 5-mid-September - Rhino Mania world class public art event featuring more than 70 rhino sculptures.

One of the masterminds behind Chestival 2010 is director of Chester Festivals Tracy Lynn who has spent much of the past 12 months coordinating the various groups who will be staging the events.

She said: “This will be an exciting month featuring a variety of activities which will make Chester the focus of national attention.

“The Town Hall will be reopening for music events for the first time since it was refurbished and the area in front of the Town Hall will have a permanent performance area with a stage, bar, coffee shop and outdoor seating area.

“This will become an information hub for the festival and provides a gathering area and a focal point.”

Tracy also emphasised that while a large number of events has been finalised, work is still going on behind the scenes to add to the programme between now and the start of the festival.

“We are currently talking to a number of popular and well known figures with a view to holding a series of Audience With evenings during Chestival,” Tracy added.

Chestival 2010 was officially launched during a special event at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in the city on Tuesday night when representatives from Cheshire West & Chester Council, Visit Chester & Cheshire, Chester City Management and Chester Renaissance outlined plans to members of the business community.

Brochures highlighting all the festival events will be available from about April 1.