Chester Events, Things to Do and Festivals 2014 / 2015

(Chester, Cheshire, England, UK)

Chester boasts a packed calendar of events, ranging from annual folk and music festivals to food fairs and fireworks, amongst countless other things to do and enjoy, many of which are of a seasonal basis.

Many of the city's most prominent and well-supported events are staged at the Chester Racecourse, which also has a regular programme of horse races between May and September. At the end of the year, the racecourse is called home by the seasonal Winter Wonderland, with its magical fantasyland featuring real reindeer, ice skating, a story room, fairground rides and a free performance stage in the Paddock area.

Charity balls are frequently held in and around the city, while in nearby Knutsford, the Cheshire County Showground stages some of the county's biggest annual gatherings, with the yearly Cheshire Show in the middle of June being amongst the biggest and most well attended.

Chester Calendar of Festivals and Events 2014 / 2015

January

• New Year's Eve - parties are held in many of the city's larger and most prominent hotels. The Chester Racecourse also stages its own New Year's Eve party, which is billed as the largest in the North-West of England.

February

• February Folk Day - held at the Hoole Community Centre on Westminster Road, located on the northeastern side of the city.

March

• Giant Chester Food, Drink and Lifestyle Festival - includes celebrity chef demonstrations, numerous exhibitors' stalls and Camperfest.

April

• Music Trains - an unusual programme of live performances on trains from or to the city of Chester.

May

• Chester Folk Festival - held over the course of the Spring Bank Holiday, the May folk fest includes live music, comedy, dance displays, singarounds and a craft fair.

June

• Cheshire Show - mid-June, staged at the Cheshire County Showground in nearby Knutsford over a two-day period in the middle of the month. The show comprises a speciality food hall, a food theatre with live cooking demonstrations, traditional countryside sports, a dog show, vintage farmyard machinery, a family funfair, a horse show and a stunt motorbike display.
• Home and Garden Show - held at the Chester Racecourse each June, this show suits those looking to inject a little character and style to their abode.

July

• Rotary Club Fun Raft Race - early July, a charity raft race along the River Dee, usually held on a Sunday near the beginning of July
• MBNA Chester Summer Music Festival - staged in the cathedral and Town Hall, this classical music festival includes a varied programme of events, including over 20 concerts.
• LCL Bike Ride - an annual cycle event that offers several options for riders, including the classic Liverpool-Chester-Liverpool route. It prides itself on being the only cycle event in the UK to include a 3-mile / 2-km underground stretch.

August

• Cheshire Game and Country Fair - held at the Cheshire County Showground. A packed programme usually includes birds of prey displays, a craft village, and other arena events.
• Grosvenor Park Open Air Theatre - al fresco performances of well-known plays.

September

• Chester District Heritage Open Days - free access to historic properties that are normally closed to the general public or charge admission for entry.
• Yesteryear Rally - held in nearby Malpas, this rally is a family friendly weekend event and takes place each year in September.

October

• Essar Chester Literature Festival - held over the course of a fortnight from mid-October. The festival includes talks by authors, as well as book signings.
• Chester Marathon - a popular marathon run thanks to its fast, flat course.

November

• Chester Lions Firework Display - features a toddler-friendly display followed by the main fireworks, as well as a fun fair and live entertainment.

December

• Winter Wonderland - includes a Christmas market, festive lights switch-on and an ice rink.