CHESTER communities will tune into the night sky this Christmas time as a dramatic new installation from Wild Rumpus launches in the city centre for the whole of the festive season.
'The Roving Moon' will be unveiled in its first secret location in the city as part of the city’s 12 Days of Christmas Parade.
Following its reveal the moon-shaped sculpture, made from recycled metal and fabric, will move across the city to different locations. As it hops across landmark buildings, it will entice visitors and shoppers to explore snippets of the city they might not have previously discovered.
Destination Chester, a network of the city’s tourism partners, has commissioned the installation, and the team at Chester’s Storyhouse will be staging ‘roving’ events to coincide with the moon’s secret movements across the city.
The Cross at night with the Christmas lights. Picture: Mark Carline.
These events will launch on Sunday, December 4, when City Forest Garden, the site of Chester’s supertrees, will start the winter season. An afternoon of storytelling and walkabout theatre will mesmerise and enchant, amongst the sculptural trees and alongside an interactive lantern making workshop with artist Jo Gomez.
Other city winter happenings include the return of Chester’s Christmas Market, which runs from November 18 to December 22, torchlit winter parades the Winter Watch and Saturnalia on December 9 and 16, and The Lanterns at Chester Zoo from November 12 to December 23.
Chester Zoo's Lanterns return for the 10th year.
Chester BID is also set to launch ‘Santa’s Enchanted Grotto’ from November 26 to December 24 within The Grosvenor Shopping Centre, where children will be able to walk through a magical winter wonderland, dotted with fairies, woodland creatures and magic, before discovering Santa’s Grotto and meeting the big man himself.
The Moon follows the launch of The Nest as part of Chester, Designed by Nature, a new six-month community arts project launched by Destination Chester, with support from the European Regional Development Fund.
The project aims to embrace and explore the natural world that surrounds us through a programme of art, activities, performance, storytelling and amazing large-scale sculptural installations which will appear across the city.
Jamie Christon, chair of Destination Chester, said: "We’re hugely excited to be able to present this dramatic new installation from Chester Designed by Nature, which has been made possible by a grant from the European Regional Development Fund.
"Destination Chester has grown in strength and support this year and is the single network representing the visitor economy in the city.
"Chester is a magical place at Christmas time. With the beautiful market in Town Hall Square and the medieval rows setting the scene, the moon will light up the sky and complete the fairy tale – delighting adults and children alike.
"Jess Rost, the artist behind the moon installation, has created something truly other worldly – but this is essentially another project of sincere collaboration - testament to the way our city works in partnership."
- For more details, go to www.visitchester.com , or @visitchesterandcheshire on social channels. Use #chestermoon to search for moon locations or post photographs when discovered.
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