Celebrating the summer solstice, the Midsummer Watch Parade returns to Chester on Saturday, June 20 and Sunday, June 21.

Featuring the family of Chester giants, the procession begins at 2pm on the Town Hall Square.

One of the country’s oldest and most colourful street parades, it was first recorded in 1498.

The summer watch was originally staged by the City Guilds at Midsummer and was disbanded in the 1670’s before being revived in 1989.

Schools across the borough will come together following a series of workshops run by Chester artist Russell Kirk to make new characters to play in the parades.

Upton Heath CE Primary School at the Midsummer Watch parade in Chester in 2014

A dragon making workshop took place last weekend to give more people a chance to take part.

The Lord Mayor of Chester Hugo Deynem, joins the parade on Saturday.

He said: “The Midsummer Watch Parade is unique to Chester and hundreds of local people and children will be celebrating our history, bringing the city centre alive with colour.

“I would like to pass on my invitation to come and join us in Chester for this very special parade.”

The Midsummer Watch Parade includes a cast of up to 500 with pride of place going to Chester’s unique ‘Family of Giants’ the father, mother and two daughters; towering four metre figures.

The Family of Giants near the Cross in Chester in 2014

It is led by the summer watch drummer and the city guilds.

They will be followed by a pirate ship, an elephant and castle, ridden by a cupid shooting arrows, dragons, angels, the Chester ravens, unicorn, stag, hobby horses, St Werburgh, green men, Balaam’s donkey, Cernunnus the Celtic Lord of the Forest, devil band and dancers.

Kirk has been studying the city archives and created a new bactrian camel to join the dromedary camel already in the parade.

He said: “Documents from 1660 have listed two camels in the parade so they have been reinstated in our modern version.

“Also in this celebration of Chester’s history, there will be a new longboat and assorted Vikings in the parade.”

The parades will leave Chester Town Hall Square at 2pm on both days, embarking on a route around the city before returning to the Town Hall for a finale via Northgate Street.

View a gallery of photographs from the 2014 parade: