An enchanting Santa’s Post Office on Northgate Street is just one of the magical events planned for a child’s Christmas in Chester this year.

Youngsters will get the chance to write their Christmas wish list with help from Santa’s elves and then post it in a special letterbox before watching in wonderment as it flies all the way to Lapland.

The event is part of CH1ChesterBID’s Chester Kidsmas festival and will be open from Saturday, November 21 and every weekend until Christmas, in addition to December 21-24.

Kidsmas begins with the Christmas lights switch-on and a brand new Twelve Days of Christmas themed parade on Thursday, November 19, coinciding with the start of late night shopping in the city every Thursday until Christmas.

Other free activities include festive movie screenings, special holographic glasses that turn decorative lights into sparkling Christmas shapes and chELFie’ – CH1ChesterBID’s very own Christmas elf – will make a welcome return to the city alongside his new female friend ‘ELFie.’

The childhood magic of Chester Kidsmas will be returning to Chester city centre this Christmas

Chief executive Rita Waters said: “We want to make this a truly memorable Christmas and that’s why we’ve added a packed programme of family-friendly events to complement the fantastic range of shops and restaurants in the city centre. We want to bring people together to celebrate the wonders of the festive season and ensure that Chester is the best place to shop, visit and dine this Christmas.”

Christmas will also be on the big screen with family favourite movies including Home Alone and Elf being shown at the Grosvenor Museum. The free screenings will give families the perfect opportunity to enjoy a festive cinematic atmosphere, starting from late November and continuing throughout December.

The Christmas dressing of the city centre has also been enhanced this year after CH1ChesterBID and Cheshire West and Chester Council teamed up to provide more Christmas decorations, new and improved lighting and additional Christmas trees in the city centre.

For more information about all the events and activities taking place this Christmas, people can visit www.christmasinchester.com or follow #chesterkidsmas or @chELFie_CH1 on Twitter.

Christmas Day

Santa is coming in