EVENTS

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 19

CHESTER: Saturnalia Parade starts from Grosvenor Museum at 6.30pm. Preceded by lantern making session in the Newstead Gallery from 5.45-6.30pm. Saturnalia is an ancient Roman celebration which consisted of feasting, visiting friends and giving gifts. It was also traditional for masters and slaves to swap places, making Saturnalia very popular in Roman times.

MOLD: Screening of the classic 1951 British film A Christmas Carol (U) starring Alastair Sim, in the Film Theatre at Clwyd Theatr Cymru at 8pm. Tickets £6, concessions £5.50. Call 0845 330 3565 or visit www.clwyd-theatr-cymru.co.uk.

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 21

CHESTER: Chester FC v Lincoln City at Bumper’s Lane. Kick-off 3pm. Call 01244 371376.

NESTON: Craft Attack - come and have some fun and let your inspiration run wild at the Civic Hall from 9.30-11.30am. Tickets £4.50. For details, call 0151 336 1077.

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 29

MARBURY: New year group dog walk at Marbury Country Park at 10.30am. Free for regulars and visitors. Call 07768 980918 or visit www.thedogclub.co.uk.

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 31

CHESTER: Christmas and New Year Masquerade Ball - the backdrop of Chester Town Hall plays host to a night of mystery and discovery as you step into a world of anonymity at the Masquerade Ball. Experience a luxurious party atmosphere, a night of pure live entertainment, a tantalising menu and disco. Tickets from £59.99. Call 01244 893185 or visit www.blackmango.co.uk.

THURSDAY, JANUARY 2

MOLD: Screening of the documentary film The Epic of Everest (U), the remarkable film record of the legendary 1924 Everest expedition with a newly commissioned score of western and Nepalese music, in the Film Theatre at Clwyd Theatr Cymru at 8pm. Tickets £6, concessions £5.50. Call 0845 330 3565 or visit www.clwyd-theatr-cymru.co.uk.

THURSDAY, JANUARY 9

CHESTER: Chester Society of Natural Science Literature and Art meeting with talk on Mata Hari, History’s Most Famous Spy? by Michael Murphy at the Grosvenor Museum Lecture Theatre at 7.30pm. Call 01244 336108.

TUESDAY, JANUARY 14

CHESTER: Chester Film Society screening of the 2009 French film Le Herisson (The Hedgehog) at The Steam Mill at 7.45pm. Guest tickets £3.50. Call 01244 371750 or 398707 or visit www.chesterfilmfans.co.uk.

THURSDAY, JANUARY 16

CHESTER: Chester Society of Natural Science Literature and Art meeting with talk on The changing seasons and their effect on the Cheshire countryside and its inhabitants by David Cummings at the Grosvenor Museum Lecture Theatre at 7.30pm. Call 01244 336108.

SUNDAY, JANUARY 19

ELLESMERE PORT: Waterways Craft Group at the National Waterways Museum. This lively group meets the third Sunday of the month (with the odd exception) on the first floor of the Island Warehouse, to demonstrate the traditional crafts of the inland waterways. Crafts demonstrated include boatman’s belt embroidery, bonnet making, cabin crochet, canal ware painting, rag rugging and patchwork. Call 0151 355 5017 for details.

MONDAY, JANUARY 20

CHESTER: Society of Thirteen meeting with talk on Understanding the Andromeda Galaxy: A Gravitational Approach at the Grosvenor Museum at 7.30pm. Professor Andy Newsam speaks on an exciting new experiment which involves measuring faint objects or tiny changes in brightness. Visitors £6. Call 0151 346 1017.

SATURDAY, JANUARY 25

CHESTER: Literature and the Drama of Costume - newly formed reading group celebrating well-known literary texts and their screen adaptations highlighting how different costumes can convey different meanings. Members of the public are invited to contribute to a friendly discussion of Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet. Taking place at The Old Vicarage on the University of Chester main campus. Admission free.

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 16

ELLESMERE PORT: Waterways Craft Group at the National Waterways Museum. This lively group meets the third Sunday of the month (with the odd exception) on the first floor of the Island Warehouse, to demonstrate the traditional crafts of the inland waterways. Crafts demonstrated include boatman’s belt embroidery, bonnet making, cabin crochet, canal ware painting, rag rugging and patchwork. Call 0151 355 5017 for details.

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 17

CHESTER: Society of Thirteen meeting with talk on Lost on the Titanic: The Making of the Great Omar at the Grosvenor Museum at 7.30pm. Dominic Riley is a prize winning bookbinder. This lecture is about the most opulent and elaborate book binding ever created and it went down with the Titanic. Visitors £6. Call 0151 346 1017.

SATURDAY, MARCH 1

ELLESMERE PORT: Model Boat Show at the National Waterways Museum. Organised by the Ellesmere Port Model Boat Club, the weekend will see the museum basin and locks taken over by intricate radio controlled boats which will demonstrate their owner’s skills at both model making and boat piloting. There will also be exhibitions of masterpieces of model boats from various clubs based in the North West and trader’s stalls. Admission £3.50. Call 0151 355 5017 for details.

SUNDAY, MARCH 1

ELLESMERE PORT: Model Boat Show at the National Waterways Museum. Organised by the Ellesmere Port Model Boat Club, the weekend will see the museum basin and locks taken over by intricate radio controlled boats which will demonstrate their owner’s skills at both model making and boat piloting. There will also be exhibitions of masterpieces of model boats from various clubs based in the North West and trader’s stalls. Admission £3.50. Call 0151 355 5017 for details.

MONDAY, MARCH 17

CHESTER: Society of Thirteen meeting with talk on A Coastline Journey from the River Dee to the River Dovey by Mike Blackburn at the Grosvenor Museum at 7.30pm. Mike Blackburn is a lecturer with The Royal Geographical Society. In this talk he looks at the harbours, towns, ship building and transport links of the North Wales coast and the effects of tourism. This is a joint lecture with The Royal Geographical Society. Visitors £6. Call 0151 346 1017.

MUSIC

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 19

CHESTER: Philip Rushforth plays music by Karg-Elert, Bach, Franck, Bairstow and Buxtehude in his lunchtime organ recital in Chester Cathedral at 1.10pm. Admission £5.45, concessions £4.50.

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 20

WARRINGTON: Warrington Male Voice Choir present Christmas Voices, Christmas Brass - With audience participation in some traditional Christmas carols, singing from a great male voice choir and the sound of one of the country’s top brass bands, it’s a fantastic warm up for the festive season. Christmas Voices, Christmas Brass, featuring Warrington Male Voice Choir, Leyland Band and hosted by Bob Williams, is a great night out for people of all ages at the Parr Hall in Palmyra Square at 7.30pm. Tickets £10. Call 01925 442345 or visit www.pyramidparrhall.com.

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 21

CHESTER: Chester Bach Singers, conducted by Martin Bussey, presents Carols By Candlelight at St Mary’s Church in Handbridge at 7.30pm. Tickets £11 including refreshments. Call 0845 241 7868, visit www.chesterbachsingers.org.uk or pick them up in person from Chester Tourism Information office.

CHESTER: Christmas Joy with the Choir of Chester Cathedral at Chester Cathedral at 7.30pm. Adults £12.50, children £5. Call 01244 500959.

ELLESMERE PORT: Ellesmere Port Music Society Choir and Chester Philharmonic Orchestra carol concert at the Civic Hall. Call 0151 339 5225 for ticket information.

FRODSHAM: Frodsham and District Choral Society and the Vale Royal Schools' Concert Band concert  present Christmas Fanfare at 7.30pm at Frodsham Community Centre.  Tickets £10, £5 children under 16 or £25 for a family ticket. Tickets from Ros Rowe 01928 733247, Val Armstrong 01829 751867 or from Frodsham Frames.

HOOLE: Choir, Carols & Candles, a traditional Christmas concert given by the choir and guests at Hamilton Street Methodist Church at 7.30pm, including carols for audience.  Admission at the door is £6. Further details on 07939 645688.

KNUTSFORD: Family Christmas carols at Tatton Park from 3-4pm. Join in the Christmas carol singing with the King Edward Musical Society Band and choir in Tatton’s Stableyard setting. Car entry charge £5. Call 01625 374400 or visit www.tattonpark.org.uk.

MANCHESTER: Salford Choral Society Christmas Concert - Join Salford Choral Society in a celebration of Christmas music plus carols; some new and some traditional for the audience to sing. This uplifting selection of festive music includes pieces by Vaughan Williams, Johann Sebastian Bach and John Rutter, at the Royal Northern College of Music in Oxford Road at 7.30pm. Ring 0161 907 5555 or visit www.rncm.ac.uk for details.

WARRINGTON: Warrington Male Voice Choir present Christmas Voices, Christmas Brass - With audience participation in some traditional Christmas carols, singing from a great male voice choir and the sound of one of the country’s top brass bands, it’s a fantastic warm up for the festive season. Christmas Voices, Christmas Brass, featuring Warrington Male Voice Choir, Leyland Band and hosted by Bob Williams, is a great night out for people of all ages at the Parr Hall in Palmyra Square at 7.30pm. Tickets £10. Call 01925 442345 or visit www.pyramidparrhall.com.

MONDAY, DECEMBER 23

CHESTER: A service of Nine Lessons and Carols in Chester Cathedral at 6pm. Retiring collection.

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 24 (CHRISTMAS EVE)

CHESTER: A service of nine lessons and carols in Chester Cathedral at 3pm. Retiring collection.

ST ASAPH: service of nine lessons and carols by candlelight in St Asaph Cathedral at 7pm.

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 26 (BOXING DAY)

CHESTER: Roger Fisher plays music by Rheinberger and Dupré in his lunchtime organ recital in Chester Cathedral at 1.10pm.  Admission £5.45, concessions £4.50. Accompanied children under 16 free

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 8

CHESTER: Chester Music Society Choir presents Jonathan Dormand (cello) with Marisa Gupta (piano), performing works by Beethoven, Brahms and Poulenc, at Chester Cathedral at 7.30pm. Tickets £13. Call 01244 381995 or visit www.chestermusicsociety.org.uk.

SATURDAY, JANUARY 25

HANDBRIDGE: Chester Bach Singers are holding their annual choral workshop on Verdi's sacred work and opera with Justin Doyle, principal conductor of Manchester Chamber Choir and Musical Director of Opera North Children's Chorus. The workshop takes place at St Mary's Church from 9.15am-5pm. Workshop fee £18 (full time students and under 19s - £10). Performance of works studied at 3.45pm -£5 for audience. Call 0845 241 7868 or visit www.chesterbachsingers.org.uk.

THURSDAY, JANUARY 30

CHESTER: The Recording Room presents an acoustic night at The Guildhall in Watergate Street, featuring songs from Adele, Amy Macdonald, Christina Perry, Bob Dylan and many more. Doors 7pm. Tickets £3.50 advance.

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 1

CHESTER: Simon and Garfunkel - Through The Years featuring Bookends - follow the story of the American duo from the first meeting through the troubled waters and to their reignited friendship in a show written and performed by Dan Haynes and Peter Richards, incorporating video clips, audio snippets, imagery and live performance. Call 01244 341296 or visit www.chestertheatre.co.uk.

SATURDAY, MARCH 1

CHESTER: Chester Philharmonic Orchestra, conducted by Daniel Parkinson, performs works by Copeland, Barber, Dvorak and Gershwin at Chester Cathedral at 7.30pm. Tickets £15, £10, £8, children and students £5. Call 0845 241 7868 or www.chesterphilorchestra.co.uk.

SHOWS

CHESTER: December 21 - Comedy Live! featuring David Whitney and El Purnell, at Alexander’s, Rufus Court. Admission £12, members £10. Call 01244 340005 or visit www.alexanderslive.com.

CREWE: January 11 - Rock ‘n’ Roll Paradise - spectacular rock ‘n’ roll show where the music plays the leading role. This show delivers the dream line up of six legendary acts in a concert that would have been too good to be true. Now in its fourth year on the road this incredibly talented cast brings you “the show that never was” in the golden era of rock and roll, but delivered with all the fabulous flair of a high energy 21st century live concert. You’ll be blown away by Elvis Presley, Jerry Lee Lewis, Buddy Holly, Roy Orbison, the Big Bopper and Eddie Cochran, as these icons of rock and roll join each other on stage for this musical extravaganza, at the Lyceum Theatre in Heath Street at 7.30pm. Tickets £19.50, concessions £18.50. Call 01270 368242 or visit www.crewelyceum.co.uk.

CREWE: January 17 - The Johnny Cash Roadshow - The UK’s No 1 Johnny Cash Tribute, fronted by respected singer/songwriter Clive John, re-creates with astounding accuracy and truly captures the essence of what it was like to be at a real Cash show! Also featuring Jill Schoonjans as June Carter, Amanda Stone and Sheena Beckett as the

Carter Sisters, all aspects of Cash’s life are covered withimpeccable taste. The show takes the audience from the 1950s right up to 2002 and all the stops in between. The greatest Cash hits are accompanied by an amazing video backdrop with evocative images and shots from Johnny Cash’s life, at the Lyceum Theatre in Heath Street at 7.30pm. Tickets £18, concessions £16. Call 01270 368242 or visit www.crewelyceum.co.uk.

ELLESMERE PORT: December 21-22 - A Christmas Canal at the National Waterways Museum. This is The Boaty Theatre Company's own take on the traditional Dickens Christmas classic. A miserly old Dock Manager is visited by strange spirits and given the opportunity to change his ways and redeem his soul... but will he change? Can he? Adults £5, children (under 16) £2.50, family (2 adults, up to three children) £14. Children must be accompanied by an adult. Call 0151 355 5017 for details.

INCE: December 24 - Rem-N-Niss - Retro rock show at the Duke of Wellington in March Lane from 9-11pm. For details, call 07810 002675.

LIVERPOOL: February 5-6 - Bella: Queen of the Blackfriars Ring - The story of legendary boxing promoter Bella Burge on her journey from being the confidante and dresser of music hall queen, Marie Lloyd, to losing everything in the blitz in 1940. A show with live music, song, dance and boxing at the Unity Theatre in Hope Place at 8pm. Tickets £10, concessions £8. Call 0844 873 2888 or visit www.unitytheatreliverpool.co.uk.

LIVERPOOL: February 27 - Punt & Dennis: Ploughing on Regardless - featuring Steve Punt and Hugh Dennis at the Playhouse Theatre, Williamson Square, at 7.30pm. Tickets £18. Call 0151 709 4776 or visit www.everymanplayhouse.com.

LLANDUDNO: February 1-2 - Comedian Sarah Millican’s Home Bird Tour 2014 - The British Comedy Award’s Queen of Comedy Sarah Millican is giving up the party scene (Ann Summers), easing off on the drinking (fizzy pop equals wealthy dentists) and is settling down (taking her bra off). Determined to put down some roots, she now has a cat (furry baby) and even a tree (she has a lot of mugs). On this, her third national tour, you will learn what to take on a dirty weekend, the easiest way to blend in in posh restaurants and how to teach a pensioner to swear. Join her for some hilarious domestic bliss, at Venue Cymru at 8pm. Tickets £25. Call 01492 872000 or visit www.venuecymru.co.uk.

STOKE-ON-TRENT: January 25 - Let’s Hang On - a musical journey through the prolific career of one of the most successful bands of all time - Frankie Valli & The Four Seasons, at the Regent Theatre at 7.30pm. Tickets £25.90-£23.90. Visit www.ambassadortickets.com or ring 0844 871 7649.

WARRINGTON: December 21 - Comedy Store - Sell-out comedy returns to Pyramid with the best in live stand-up from The Comedy Store, at the Pyramid in Palmyra Square at 8pm. Tickets £16. Call 01925 442345 or visit www.pyramidparrhall.com.

WARRINGTON: February 6 - Comedian Ed Byrne presents Roaring Forties -  A self-confessed “miserable old git” since the age of 23, Ed Byrne is now in his forties. While for others this might result in a crisis that prompts the purchase of a sportscar, Ed embraces middle age with open arms, at the Parr Hall in Palmyra Square at 8pm. Tickets £22.50. Call 01925 442345 or visit www.pyramidparrhall.com.

WIRRAL: December 19-21 - The Barbara Johnston Stage School presents Christmas Crackers 2013 - A children’s festive song and dance show at the Gladstone Theatre at 7.30pm. Tickets £10. Call 0151 608 6118 or visit www.gladstonetheatre.org.uk.

WIRRAL: January 9-12 - The Chrysanthemums Pantomime presents Little Red Riding Hood, at the Floral Pavilion, New Brighton at 7.15pm with 2.15pm matinees on Saturday and Sunday. Tickets £9.50, concessions £8. Call 0151 632 5170 for details.

EXHIBITIONS

CHESTER: Exhibition of work by Russell Kirk at Contemporary Art Space Chester, University of Chester, Faculty of Arts and Media, Kingsway. Call 01244 515870 or visit www.chester.ac.uk/casc.

CHESTER: November 9-February 2 - Pure Beauty - The Pleasures of Abstract Art - Abstract images are art for art’s sake, concerned solely with the creation of an image from the processes and materials of painting and printmaking. Just as music is patterns of sound, abstract art seeks to create a response in the viewer by the use of pure patterns of form, colour and line. Selected by Professor Neil Grant, head of art and design at the University of Chester, this exhibition at the Grosvenor Museum explores one of the central streams of modern art.

CHESTER: October 5-January 19 - Collecting Cheshire: Victorian Naturalists at the Grosvenor Museum - In 1871, Charles Kingsley, author of The Water Babies, founded the Chester Society of Natural Science. This society, along with the local archaeology society and art school, built the Grosvenor Museum. Discover the unique characters who helped to build the museum’s wonderfully diverse natural history collection which includes insects, birds, fossils and plants at the Grosvenor Museum’s Exhibition Gallery One.

CHESTER: Until December 20 - The Lost Churches of Chester - not so many years ago, many of us spent part of each Sunday sitting straight-backed on uncomfortable pews, listening to a storring sermon and singing our favourite hymns. Nowadays, for good or ill, times have changed and many of the churches and chapels in our city have lain neglected, damaged, changed beyond recognition or simply disappeared. This photographic exhibition looks at some of these buildings - many long forgotten - that were once popular centres for worship, community and social meetings for centuries, at Chester History and Heritage Centre.

CHESTER: Until December 20 - Spotlight on Great Boughton - the latest community spotlight explores the rich history of the parish of Great Boughton. This photographic exhibition ranges from Roman finds through the remains of the medieval hospital and graveyard of St Giles to the trades and industries for which the area is well known. It also featurss tales of the infamous Gallows Hill where criminals and martyrs alike were executed. The exhibition can be seen at Chester History and Heritage.

CHESTER: Until 2015 - Motherhood - this small exhibition explores the role of motherhood between 1860 and 1960 with interpretation extending into the surrounding period rooms. Recognising that the role is not always fulfilled by the biological mother, the exhibition examines the themes of baby and child care, home making and time out. Through objects, costumes and ephemera, the exhibition considers the roles of motherhood, labour saving equipment and the implications of social developments during a century of enormous change, in the Grosvenor Museum Costume Gallery.

ELLESMERE PORT: March 5-April 29 - Exhibition of paintings by Rob Pointon at the National Waterways Museum. A wide and varied collection including some of Rob's Year of the Boat paintings together with other work. Call 0151 355 5017 for details.

MOLD: January 18-March 1 - Reparation and Restitution -The Forgotteon Evolutionist by Fred Langford Edwards - an exhibition exploring the life, ideas and surviving collections of Alfred Russell Wallace, the physical hardships he endured during his travels and his contributions to the theories of natural selection and evolution. Edwards’ project has been to generate artworks, publications and activities which will reinstate Wallace as a major contributor to the ideas and processes that explain how species gradually change to create new types of beings, at the Oriel Gallery at Clwyd Theatr Cymru. Call 0845 330 3565 or visit www.clwyd-theratr-cymru.co.uk.

MOLD: December 2-January 4 - Rosie Davies: Shadows - colourful watercolours and oils inspired by nature and the landscape in the Community Gallery at Clwyd Theatr Cymru. Call 0845 330 3565 or visit www.clwyd-theratr-cymru.co.uk.

MOLD: November 30-January 11 - Vincent Price: Tales of Terror - a collection of original movei poster memorabilia in honour of Vincent Price, taking a look at how his films have been represented across the world, in the Oriel Gallery at Clwyd Theatr Cymru. Call 0845 330 3565 or visit www.clwyd-theatr-cymru.co.uk.