THE Midsummer Watch Parade returns to Chester this weekend, with a host of popular characters set to take to the streets.

Led by the City Guilds and the Lord Mayor of Chester, the event will see the famous family of giants joined by Chester’s Karamba Samba Band, dragons, angels, the Chester ravens, St Werburgh (and her geese) and more.

The parade can trace its origins back as far as 1498, with various figures being added throughout its long history.

Later additions to the parade include an antelope in 2019 discovered following research in the archives from 1660 as being part of the parade joining The Hippogriff from Greek Mythology.

This year’s event will begin at Town Hall Sqare on Saturday, June 22 from 2pm and will take in St Werburgh Street, Eastgate Street and the Cross, before returning to Town Hall Square.

Over 200 school children from across the borough have been creating characters for the parade in workshops. Hoole Primary School will be fish, Dee Point are a flock of ravens, Belgrave will be angels, Cherry Grove will be carrying suns, Guilden Sutton will accompany St Werburgh as geese, Grosvenor Park will be Green Men and Waverton primary school join the parade as fiery monsters. 

A second performance will be held at the same time on Sunday, June 23.