DO YOU want to be a part of this year's Midsummer Watch Parade?

A public meeting is being held at Chester Town Hall at 6.30pm on Tuesday, June 6, to choose the main characters and discuss the route arrangements.

Free workshops have also been arranged for Saturday, June 10, from

10.30am-12.30pm and Saturday, June 17, from 2-4pm, at the Grosvenor Museum. Places can be booked by calling the museum on 01244 402005.

Chester's Midsummer Watch Parade dates from 1498, making it one of Britain's oldest and most colourful street parades.

Originally staged by the City Guilds at midsummer, the parade was disbanded in the 1670s and almost forgotten until it was revived in 1990.

More than 500 years later, Chester prepares to welcome back the giants, unicorns, elephant, devils and other traditional characters.

The parade takes place on Saturday and Sunday, June 24 and 25, from Chester Cathedral's Abbey Gateway at 2pm into Town Hall Square then around the city streets.

This year's event has been organised by Chester City Council and the Friends of Chester Watch.

The processions are led by a drum-mer and youngster followed by the City Guilds, with pride of place going to Chester's unique 'family of giants'. The giants are joined by, among others, dragons, angels, the Chester Ravens, hobby horses and St Werburgh with her geese.

The Midsummer Watch Parade is featured in the Grosvenor Museum's summer exhibition 'Local Colour, Traditions that Shape Chester' starting on July 1. One of the Chester giants will be on display, plus a selection of other characters.

Further information about the parade is available online at www.chester.gov.uk/midsummerwatch.