Studying in a city can involve operating on a tight budget. Fortunately, Chester excels at hosting events that don’t cost anything to attend.
The festive season is no exception, and December will find winter parades taking place in town that are entirely free to enjoy.
On Thursday, December 12, the Winter Watch parade will be held in the city in a joint event with the Roman Saturnalia Parade. The parades begin at Chester’s Town Hall Square and then circle the centre of the city visiting Northgate Street, St Werburgh Street, Bridge Street and Eastgate Street, in easy reach of Chester student lets.
The parades are annual favourites in Chester in the approach to Christmas. They aim to take revellers and onlookers in the city back in time to its origins as a Roman fort (Deva Vitrix) in the first century AD.
The Saturnalia parade’s stand-out feature is the sight of Roman Legionaries dressed in authentic armour and uniforms marching through the city streets, illuminating them with torches. However, the Winter Watch parade honour’s Chester’s earliest police force, “The City Watch”. It commemorates the passing of keys to its protectors before the population could feast together, safe in the knowledge that the city was safe. It boasts a cornucopia of colourful characters and talented performers.
Students and city visitors alike can expect to see Jack Frost, dragons, cooks, ice queens, fire breathers, devils, dancers, sword fighters, skeletons and the Lord of Misrule.
The free parades will begin at 7 pm on December 12.
Written By
Kate