£10,000 grant from Arts Council will help Midsummer Watch Parade be bigger than ever

PUPPETS, pirate ships, dragons and unicorns will parade through the streets as Chester welcomes back the spectacular Midsummer Watch Parade.

The city will be filled with giant puppets and magical creatures on June 23 and 24 as a cast of 500 return to the streets to wow crowds and celebrate the festival, which has been a tradition in the city since 1498.

And this year the parade, which is part of the Chestival festivities will be bigger and better than ever after a £10,000 Arts Council Grant allowed three apprentices to be trained in traditional puppet building techniques and to make a film documenting the whole process.

For a full preview to the Midsummer Watch Parade, pick up a copy of next week’s Chester Chronicle.