Spirit of Christmas at Chester Cathedral

Actors Brian Prothoroe, Carolyn Pickles and Georgia Taylor are some of the names revealed for festive readings at this year's Spirit of Christmas concert

Well it just wouldn't be Christmas without The Neuromuscular Centre's Spirit of Christmas, now would it? The annual concert hosted by Matthew Kelly ensures the festive season starts with a sparkle and is filled with Christmas readings and music.

This year's special guests are actors Brian Protheroe who starred as Samuel Walker in Spooks, Carolyn Pickles, best known for her role as Shelly Williams in Emmerdale and Casualty actress Georgia Taylor, known to many as Toyah Battersby in Coronation Street. Click here for more details.

The Winter Watch Parade

Jack Frost in the Winter Watch Parade

Dating back to the 1400s, Chester's Winter Watch Parade sees local artists and community groups join together to celebrate the Winter solstice.

The parade features skeletons, Christmas cooks, angels and devils to mark the time when city leaders would hand over the keys to the city watch. This year's parades are on December 10 and 17 from the Town Hall at 7pm.

Light Up a Life on the River Dee

This year's Hospice of the Good Shepherd Light up a Life event at the River Dee will take place on Sunday, November 29 at 4.30pm

Each year there's a beautiful service at the River Dee to have a candlelit lily floated on the river in memory of your loved ones. There's also music from Kelsborrow Choir and the opportunity to join in carols and enjoy mince pies and mulled wine.

Weird and wonderful cuisine at the Christmas Market

When else can you enjoy an ostrich burger in the cold?

Santa at the Grosvenor Garden Centre

It's just not Christmas until Santa visits the Grosvenor Garden Centre, say some of the Chester Chronicle staff.

This year he's coming on Friday (November 27) from 5pm-9pm and you can find out more details here

The Calendar Club shop reappears

St Michael's Row in Grosvenor Shopping Centre

Situated in the Grosvenor Shopping Centre, Calendar Club shops make it easier on the frazzled Christmas shopper to find their calendars, diaries and planners in one place. But come January, it's gone again for another year.

Tip Top's annual Christmas pantomime

Tip Top Productions have held auditions for their forthcoming pantomime, Dick Whittington
Tip Top Productions have held auditions for their forthcoming pantomime, Dick Whittington

Tip Top Productions have been celebrating Christmas in Panto-land since 1996 and this year they have launched their first professional company of performers for Dick Whittington.

Click here for dates of this year's performances.

Santa Dash

The Chester Santa Dash

Hundreds of Santas running through the streets of Chester is quite the sight, and even better - the feel-good event raises money for two local charities, the Countess of Chester Hospital, and the Hospice of the Good Shepherd.

The Cheshire Oaks Christmas tree goes up

Cheshire Oaks Christmas tree

Also known as the UK's largest artificial Christmas tree, the spectacle sparkles with more than 100,000 twinkling lights and visitors can walk inside through a magical giant archway. With its thousands of football-shaped baubles and 1.2 miles of structural cabling, it's impressive to say the least.

Queuing for your Christmas tree at Delamere Forest

The trees at Delamere are hugely popular but only good things come to those who wait.

The forest is open for tree sales daily between Saturday November 28 and Wednesday December 16 from 10am until 5pm. On Thursdays and Fridays they are open til 7pm.

Handbag of Harmonies swap their pink feather boas for tinsel

A Handbag of Harmonies

Once you see this Chester ladies' choir swapping their trademark pink feather boas for a piece of tinsel, you know it must be December.