What's On in Chester
Things to do in and around Chester: events, days out and family activities, with the practical details.
Top story
Chester Halloween 2026: Ghost Walk, Pumpkins, Fireworks
Halloween in Chester 2026: zoo trail 17 Oct to 1 Nov, a free city trail, the £12 children's ghost walk on 29 Oct, Holt pumpkins and fireworks on the 31st.
Dates for the diary
- On now to 3 Oct Bugsy Malone
- Sat 3 Oct Chester parkrun
- Sat 3 Oct Chester Makers Market
- 3 Oct to 1 Nov Halloween at BeWILDerwood Cheshire
- Sat 3 Oct An Evening of Kate Bush
- Sat 3 Oct The Take That Experience
- Mon 5 Oct Matt Willis: Mending, in conversation
- 6 to 7 Oct How Soon is Now?
- Thu 8 Oct The Music of Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons by Candlelight
- Fri 9 Oct Motown by Candlelight
- Sat 10 Oct Chester Gather and Graze Market
- Sat 10 Oct Chester v Bedford Town
More stories
Christmas
Chester Cathedral Christmas Tree Festival: 25 Nov to 3 Jan
Chester Cathedral's Christmas Tree Festival runs 25 November 2026 to 3 January 2027: 80+ trees, Sundays free with no booking, under 5s free, last entry 5.30pm.
Chester
Chester Racecourse NEET Conference on 15 Oct: Who Speaks
Petty Pool's NEET conference fills the Racecourse Pavilion on Thu 15 Oct, 9am to 4pm, with Chester Zoo's CEO and young people. The full programme is below.
Events
What's On in Chester: Marathon 11 Oct, Fireworks 31 Oct
Chester's next six weeks: the marathon on 11 October, Blood Brothers at Storyhouse, Halloween fireworks on 31 October and Jane Eyre from 10 November.
Chester
Chester, 26-27 September: Town Crier Final, Francis Rossi
The World Town Crier Tournament final is free in Exchange Square on Saturday. Plus Tatt Fest, Lucy Beaumont and Francis Rossi at Storyhouse, 25 to 27 Sept.
Half Term
Chester October Half Term 2026: 26 to 30 October, What's On
Chester's October half term is 26 to 30 October 2026: Halloween at Chester Zoo, a £12 children's ghost walk, Horrible Histories at Storyhouse and the fireworks.
New Year's Eve
Chester New Year's Eve 2026: No Fireworks, Four Parties
No fireworks in Chester on New Year's Eve. Four ticketed parties from £70 (£27 a child), two gastropubs open until 11pm, and last trains from about 8.30pm.
Chester
Chester Remembrance Sunday 2026: 8 November, Parade Times
Remembrance Sunday is 8 November 2026. The council has confirmed seven services, Northwich and Upton at 9.30am; Chester's cathedral parade times and closures.
Chester
Chester Christmas Lights 2026: No Switch-On, Parade 19 Nov
Chester holds no Christmas lights switch-on ceremony. The lights come on street by street as the 12 Days of Christmas Parade passes, listed for Thursday 19 November 2026.
Chester
Chester Santa Grotto 2026: Eastgate Square Opens 20 Nov
Grotto on the Square opens 20 November 2026 at Eastgate Square, with four SEN sessions and daily slots from 4 December. The Town Hall grotto has no dates yet.
Chester
Chester Fireworks 2026: 31 October, Gates 4.30pm, From £10
Chester Racecourse fireworks: Saturday 31 October 2026, gates 4.30pm, junior display 6.45pm, main display 7.30pm. Early bird £10, under 5s free, no parking.
Chester
Chester Christmas Market 2026: 18 November to 22 December
Chester Christmas Market 2026 runs Wed 18 Nov to Tue 22 Dec in Town Hall Square: 80 traders, free entry, open to 8pm Thu to Sat, parade night Thu 19 Nov.
Chester
Chester Marathon Road Closures: Sun 11 Oct, 7.30am to 5pm
Chester Marathon closures on 11 October 2026: city centre 7.30am to 11am, The Groves to 5pm, Castle Drive shut from Saturday. Every road time, village exits, parking.
Chester
Chester Panto 2026: Rapunzel at Storyhouse, 4 Dec to 3 Jan
Storyhouse's 2026 panto is Rapunzel, 4 December to 3 January, from £19.50. Plus every access performance date, and the Northwich and Ellesmere Port pantos.
Chester
Chester Zoo Lanterns 2026: 13 November to 3 January
Lanterns & Light runs 13 November 2026 to 3 January, timed entry from 4.15pm, tickets from £12. The zoo says you will not see any animals on the trail.