IT’S going to be a classic Christmas in Chester this year and it starts next week.
The Christmas programme in Chester starts with the traditional Christmas lights switch-on on Thursday, November 10.
The fun starts at 5.45pm from a stage at the Cross where the crowds in Eastgate Street, Bridge Street and Watergate Street will compete for their lights to be turned on first.
The message from Chester’s Matt Baker, musical director of A Handbag of Harmonies choir, is to bring along your singing voices, as through the power of voice alone he wants you to help switch on the Christmas lights.
Matt will lead the audience plus a selection of choirs from across Cheshire for the biggest Christmas sing-a-long party the city has seen.
Executive member for culture and recreation, Cllr Stuart Parker, said: “Christmas is always an exciting time, this year the programme of events and activities is the biggest we’ve ever seen.
“The favourites return including Lantern Parade, Winter Watch and Saturnalia parades but this year we are also bringing a new Bright Night, Deelight weekend and Classic Weekend to the celebrations.”
Following the Christmas Lights switch-on, Chester Racecourse is hosting a new Christmas Gift Fair from Friday to Sunday, November 11-13, including arts and crafts retailers with hundreds of ideas for the festive season.
A special visitor is expected at the Forum Shopping Centre on Saturday, November 12, as Santa arrives with his real reindeer to parade around the city from noon before turning on the Forum Christmas lights.
The Classic Christmas events and activities are a partnership between Cheshire West and Chester Council, Chester Renaissance, Chester City Management, Marketing Cheshire and Chester Festivals.
Details of the new events are available online at visitchester.com/Christmas and also in a new Christmas magazine being distributed throughout Cheshire West.
Chester leads the festive switch-on that continues with celebration events in Frodsham and Winsford on November 25 and Northwich on November 26. Neston will turn on their lights on December 2.
