Christmas in Chester (2025): Events, Christmas Market & Things To Do

Last Updated on 16th December 2025 by Sophie Nadeau

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Welcome to Chester! This magical city is rich with history and heritage, and best known for having the most complete city walls, and the largest Roman amphitheatre in the UK. Come Christmas, there are a plethora of festive events to be enjoyed, as well as Chester’s Christmas Market which regularly ranks in the top ten of the country’s best festive markets to visit. Here’s your ultimate guide on Christmas in Chester!

Christmas market dates 2025: 19th November to 22nd December

Is Chester worth visiting at Christmas?

Chester’s Christmas Market alone regularly makes the top ten (usually top five) of any “best Christmas Markets in the UK” list. Along with this, Chester has a surprising amount of other festive events taking place during the season, lighting up the city and bringing seasonal cheer to all those who live or pass through this part of northwest England.

Aside from its wonderful array of events, there’s truly nothing more enchanting and quintessentially old-time English feeling than wandering through Chester’s covered arcades and streets lined with Tudor-style half-timber buildings.

A brief history of Chester’s Christmas Market

The Chester Christmas Market first opened in 2012. It was established by the Chester and Cheshire West Council as part of Chester’s annual Winter Festival. Since then, the market has flourished into a thriving haven where Christmas shopper’s are more likely to find handmade crafted goods and quality presents.

Festive things to do in Chester

Chester Christmas Market

Chester’s Christmas Market is an annual event that takes place on Northgate Street, set against the beautiful backdrop of Chester Town Hall. It’s a relatively small market of some 70 stalls, most of which wrap around the centrepiece of a grand, twinkling Christmas tree.

Thanks to the market being conveniently located along one street, it makes it easy to navigate, and you don’t need to go in search of different zones, but rather enjoy gently flowing past the stalls with their treasures on offer.

The main focus of Chester’s Christmas Market leans towards gifts. Indeed, it’s a breath of fresh air to the festive markets selling mass-produced wares, as here, there’s a strong emphasis placed on the local craft makers.

Of course, as with any Christmas market, the usual smells of sizzling sausages, sugary churros and spiced mulled wines can be found. However, one thing Chester does lack is the mug deposit scheme for your hot beverages, instead visitors are served drinks in paper cups.

Overall, this intimate market is full of charm and cheery wonder to delight even the most Grinch of visitors! It’s especially perfect for those seeking out quirky and unusual gifts.

Head to Chester Market

Found nearby to the Christmas market is the fairly new indoor Chester Market, which first opened its doors to the public in 2022. While Chester itself has traded goods for well over 2,000 years, this new setting for the predominantly food based market feels clean and ultra modern.

Chester Market is the perfect place to head to after visiting the Christmas market, as it offers a wide range of local foods, and plenty more festive delights to gorge on!

The Chester Winter Watch Parade

Perhaps one of the most traditional festivities to take place in Chester is the Winter Watch Parade, a tradition which dates back to the 1400s.

Way back when the city’s leaders would hand over the keys to the City Watch (our early version of police) a banquet and celebration would follow, all the while the people knowing that their city was in safe hands.

In the 1990s it was decided by the council to recreate this event, re-enacting through the form of a parade in the lead up to the festive season. A spectacle of characters, from angels and demons, to the ice queen, Jack Frost, and even giant snowmen. There’s plenty to see, and a a spectacular fire breathing finale at the end!

In 2024, the Winter Watch Parade will take place on Thursday 5th December and Thursday 12th December, starting from the Town Hall Square at 7pm and making its way through to the city centre. The event is free to attend.

The Christmas Tree Festival at Chester Cathedral

This year, Chester Cathedral will house over 80 enchanting Christmas trees. Granted, the fresh woody pine smell might be slightly overwhelming for some… this twinkling display of dressed-up trees will be a wintery walkway where visitors can escape from the hustle and bustle of the markets and lose themselves in a forest of Christmas itself.

The Christmas Tree Festival will run from Friday, 22nd November, until Sunday, 5 January 2025. 

Festive afternoon tea at Palm Court

Palm Court is an AA Rosette-awarded restaurant which serves festive fine dining or festive afternoon teas during the season. Set within the elegant Grosvenor Pulford Hotel & Spa, this opulent eatery is the perfect place to get cosy with loved ones and enjoy a feast for all!

Although it’s on the pricier side of restaurants, you can be sure that the place is decked out head to toe in glorious decorations, and the service is of excellent standard.

Lanterns Parade

If you happen to be visiting Chester near the end of November, you may be lucky enough to watch the Lanterns Parade. This small one-hour event sees hundreds of school children wander from Chester Town Hall through to the city centre, with their handmade lanterns in hand.

The parade usually starts at 7 pm. It is a small Christmas spectacle, which is wonderful to watch! This year, the event will take place on Thursday, 28th November 2024. It’s completely free to go to, but be sure to wrap up warm as it’s an outdoor event.

Festival of Lessons and Carols for Christmas (Chester Cathedral)

In the afternoon on Christmas Eve, a beautiful church service is held in Chester Cathedral. This traditional service includes singing by the Cathedral choir, carols for the congregation and some readings and prayers celebrating the birth of Christ.

As someone who’s not religious per say, there’s still something warming about the jovial atmosphere of services that are celebrated come the Christmas period. This is especially true when it comes to belting out the classic carols, and hearing who’s going to attempt to harmonise Once in Royal David’s City…

Chester Santa Dash

Don’t be alarmed if you’re in Chester on the 1st of December this year, and thousands of Santas hurtle towards you. I promise this is just an annual tradition. You aren’t going mad!

The Chester Santa Dash is in its 13th year of running (2024) and sees thousands of Santas take to the streets of Chester to raise money for two of the city’s local charities: The Hospice of the Good Shepherd and the Countess Charity.

Anyone can run, whether it’s in a group, family or on your own. You can sign up and book your place online in advance. The entire route is 3.3km and it takes dashers past the iconic sights such as, The Grosvenor Park, Amphitheatre, Eastgate Clock, Chester Cathedral and the beautiful Chester Town Hall.