Chester celebrates spring with FREE fun for all the family

From kayaking to art trails, the city throws a month-long party for the new season.

Chester is celebrating the arrival of spring with seasonal entertainment and activities to complement a new trail of art installations, Spring Blooms, that has popped up across the city. And it’s all FREE to enjoy.

Organisations and businesses across the city have got together to create an exciting calendar of events, from kayaking and cocktail-making sessions to mindfulness walks and art exhibitions, with plenty of music, drama and comedy in the mix, too. Why not make a weekend of it and stay in one of our many city centre hotels. 

SPECIAL WEEKENDS…

Enchanted Forest Festival, city centre, 19-20 March: Hear enchanted trees tell tales of their forest adventures, meet flower fairies as they perform magical moments, and hear the five-piece band The King Brasstards fill the streets with the sounds of New Orleans.

Birdcage Stage Spring Celebration Weekend, Chester-wide, 25-27 March: Acrobatic cats and dogs, singing cherubs, and a stilt-walking butterfly and flower duo are some of the performers to marvel at on The Birdcage Stage, a giant golden structure that is also one of the installations on the Spring Blooms art trail.

WHAT'S ON...

Spring Blooms, Chester city centre, until 31 March: Follow the trail of specially commissioned art installations by local and regional artists now on view across the city, with blossoms and roots, birds and nocturnal animals among the interpretations of re-emerging natural life.

Mini-Murals Art Trail, city centre, until 31 March: Discover the colourful murals inspired by nature that are transforming BT cabinets into works of art.

A Taste of Spring, city-wide, until 31 March: Taste the very best local food and drink and follow cocktail and real ale trails using a new digital and print map that leads to more than 30 independent venues.

Spring into Art, Watergate Street Gallery, until 31 March: Al-fresco drop-by-and-draw sessions, exhibitions featuring international artists and students from the University of Chester.

The Missing Building, CASC Gallery, until 18 March: Discover interpretations of the cityscape created by local children and their families who have been investigating the built environment and its possible re-interpretation.

Dee River Kayaking Sessions, 13-31 March, River Dee: Explore the natural world from a kayak on a 90-minute tour that will take a different perspective on the sights of spring.

SEE THE FULL PROGRAMME OF EVENTS HERE

Winsford Creates Festival - 19th March

An adventure through the arts; a free festival to delight and excite both old and young with dance performances, live bands, digital installations, art workshops, percussion parades, live streaming and more…