All you need to know ahead of Midsummer Watch Parade

The historic Midsummer Watch Parade will take place on Saturday, June 20, and Sunday, June 21, starting from Chester Town Hall Square at 2pm on both days.

Dating from 1498, the parade is one of the country’s oldest and most colourful street parades.

Margaret Parker, the Lord Mayor of Chester, will take part in the Saturday parade.

Cllr Parker said: "The Midsummer Watch Parade welcomes new performers every year, plus many people returning every year.

"The main characters in the parade are based on archive records of the parade that can be traced to 1498.

"I’d like to thank artist Russell Kirk who has built the characters and performs alongside the massive cast that includes over 150 school children."

The parade features a cast of larger-than-life characters, many of which have been reimagined or rebuilt over the years.

Chester’s family of giant figures, standing four metres tall, are being reconstructed for this year’s event.

The giant father figure debuted last year, and this year a mother giant will appear for the first time.

On Saturday, Cllr Parker will be joined in the Lord Mayor’s Chariot by Dorothy Trussell, president of the Freemen & Guilds of the City of Chester.

On Sunday, Ms Trussell will share the chariot with the Sheriff of Chester, Cllr Alan Smith.

Routes for the parade will cover St Werburgh Street, Eastgate Street, The Cross, Watergate Street and Bridge Street before returning to Town Hall Square for a closing finale.

The procession is traditionally led by the City Guilds and features Chester’s Karamba Samba Band, alongside dragons, angels, ravens, unicorns, hobby horses, and more.

A wide cast of mythical and medieval figures will bring the streets to life.

St Werburgh, Chester’s patron saint, will join the parade from Chester Cathedral’s west door, accompanied by children from Saturday Singing Group and Children's Church dressed as her flock of geese.

The Chester Pirates will also return aboard their ship, chased by the Royal Navy and a giant octopus.

Schoolchildren from across the borough have contributed characters through themed workshops.

To see the full lineup and explore the parade’s history, visit www.midsummerwatch.co.uk.