THERE will be a whole host of festive activities taking place in Chester over the next couple of months.

Chester Business Improvement District (BID) are pulling out all the stops for 2024, with everything from captivating parades and parking incentives to magical grottos and gift cards.

The ever-popular Santa's Enchanted Grotto is back for its fourth year, with the theme of ‘A Journey Through Fairytales and Storybooks’. Taking place in St. Michael’s Row within the Grosvenor Shopping Centre, the Grotto will run from November 22 to December 24. More than 4,000 visitors pass through its doors annually, becoming a must-see staple of the festive season.

As in previous years, the Grotto will also support local charity Platform for Life, combining festive magic with a commitment to the community.

Chester BID will once again fund the 12 Days of Christmas Parade, which is organised by Cheshire West and Chester Council. Taking place on November 21, the parade is expected to draw over 10,000 visitors to Chester’s city centre. 

Save on parking and spend time in the city! Chester BID is once again funding free parking at Chester Racecourse every weekend in the lead-up to Christmas. 

Free parking will be available every Saturday and Sunday from November 23 to December 22, beginning at 10am each day. The full schedule is as follows:

Saturday 23rd November | Sunday 24th November
Saturday 30th November | Sunday 1st December
Saturday 7th December | Sunday 8th December
Saturday 14th December | Sunday 15th December
Saturday 21st December | Sunday 22nd December

Chester BID is also bringing back its popular Christmas Shop Front Competition. Your city centre businesses will be decorating their windows and storefronts with creativity. Keep your eyes peeled across Chester BID socials to cast your vote this year and choose your favourite festive window display.

Accepted at a wide variety of retailers, restaurants, and entertainment venues across Chester, the Chester Gift Card offers a versatile and thoughtful present for any recipient. Supporting independent and national businesses, the gift card has been active since 2021 and can be purchased at chestergiftcard.com or the Visitor Information Centre on Town Hall Square.

Popular gifting products for the festive seasons have been hand-picked by businesses across the city from much-loved brands to independents, all wrapped up in Chester BID's Spend Christmas In Chester Gift Guide. This is a free digital guide featuring products from across every sector.

Carl Critchlow, CEO of Chester BID, said:

“Our goal this Christmas is to enhance the visitor experience and ensure Chester continues to thrive as a top city for the festive season. Through our wide range of activities, we aim to ensure that the entire city feels alive with Christmas cheer. Not only are we promoting Chester as a must-visit destination, but we’re also supporting local businesses by encouraging footfall and increasing dwell time across the Christmas period.”