Chester

As part of her Diamond Jubilee tour of Britain the Queen made a fleeting visit to Chester Zoo where she officially opened the new entrance gates, part of the "Diamond Jubilee Quarter".

Three groups of folk dancers descended on Chester on the 24th March 2012 for what was billed as the Chester Day of Dance.

Marking the launch of the annual Chester Food and Drink Festival. The Chester Cheese rolling competition was held in Bridge Street on a sunny February 21st.

That time of year again. A frenzy of post Christmas shopping frenzy. No shortage of people in the city centre despite the recession.

Christmas in Chester was a reduced affair this year.

The Winter Watch Parademakes it's annual pre-Christmas way around the streets of the city centre. Perhaps a little smaller than last years event.

The second Chester Marathon. Run from Chester Race Course into the city, across the Dee at the old Dee Bridge, through Huntingdon and out into the Welsh countryside. Back into England over the Dee at Holt/Farndon then back into Chester and the finish at the race course, via Sandy Lane and The Groves.

The 10th annual Chester Kite festival held on Chester Race Course over the weekend of 17-18 September 2011.

Throuighout the summer chester Zoo has played host to a number of animatronic Dinosaurs. Scattered around the Islands in Danger area.

Painted over the last two months on the end of 73 Brook Street by mural artist Gary Drostle. The painting celebrates the community of Brook Street past and present.

THe 36th annual Raft Race on the River Dee organised by the Rotary Club with the theme of "The Good, The Bad and the Downright Ugly". In aid of "The Hospce of the Good Shepherd".

As part of the years Chestival season. A shortened version of one of the Chester Mystery Plays was performed for the second year in the Amphitheatre. This time it was the Creation cycle. A sequence using a backdrop of a large video screen with dance, music and song.

Having divest itself of the Giants parade, which this year have there own parade the weekend before. And without the colour of the Town Criers Tournemant this years parade was back to tradition. Complete with Elephant and Castle; Camel; "The Merchants Mount" Pirate Ship; Dragon; St Werburgh and her Geese; Fish;  Ravens; Unicorns; The Tree of life; The Devils Band and Chester's own Giants. A mix of traditions reaching back into antiquity performed by schools and volunteers from around Cheshire.

Promoting Chester as "The Giant City". A host of giants from around the world congregated on Chester for a carnival procession through the city centre. Unfortunately a rainy day put a bit of a damper on events. Nevertheless an interesting sight as the figures trundled through the streets accompanied by drummers and other groups.

Chester's Roman Weekend again graced the Grosvenor park, Amphitheatre and city centre streets over the wekend of the 4th and 5th of June. This years event was considerably bigger than previous years with a stronger living history presence within the grounds of the park. Over 160 took part in the march through the city to the Town Hall Square, on both days, where speachs wre made before the return journey.