Kite Festival
The 10th annual Chester Kite festival held on Chester Race Course over the weekend of 17-18 September 2011.
Dinosaurs at Chester Zoo
Throuighout the summer chester Zoo has played host to a number of animatronic Dinosaurs. Scattered around the Islands in Danger area.
Brook Street Mural
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.
Rhinos revisited
Photographs of three Rhinos from Chester's 2010 Rhinomania event now to be found in the car park of the Mill Hotel and Spa, Milton Street, Chester.
Chester's Christmas Big Wheel
Although prevented from sampling the delights of the big wheel on the opening night due to high winds. The wheel stands as an interesting, if temporary, addition to the Chester skyline. Part of the "Winter Wonderland" Christmas feature, located in the Castle Square overlooking the river and the Grosvenor Bridge. The wheel takes its place along with an ice rink, children's rides, a santas grotto, bar and "Victorian Market".
Chester Christmas Lights
Chester's christmas lights were turned on by the Lord Mayor on the 11th November from a stage in Eastgate Street. The crowd was entertained by local talent and characters from local pantomimes and businesses.
Autumn Shadows
The low autumnal sun gave the opportunity for some interesting photographs at Chester's cross and other areas around the city centre. Silhouettes of shoppers against the paving of the street.
Rhino Mania Damage
A spate of damage to Rhino's on the streets of Chester. The unfortunate statues have been removed for repair and replaced by black rhinos with the message..."My friend is at the vets and will be back soon".
Click on any photograph for a higher resolution slide show
Amphitheatre Mural gets a splash of colour
Having completedthe preliminary tonal drawing across the amphitheatre wall. Mural artist Gary Drostle and his team add colour washes. Having changed the perspective on the entrance way at the centre of the piece.
Click on any photograph to see a higher resolution slide show
Rhino Mania Hits the Streets
The 82 decorated Rhinos have made onto the streets of Chester and some further afield. The largest number are to be found in the city centre and are easily found on foot with the aid of the location map that can be downloaded from the Rhino Mania website or picked up in Chester Tourist Information in Town Hall Square.
Created by public art company Wild in Art. The designs on each of the 60 kg 6ft long fibreglass Rhinos have been created by local artists, community groups and schools, and the work sponsored by local businesses and organisations. In addition more than a hundred smaller Rhinos have been decorated by local schools.
Chester Amphitheatre Mural Takes Shape
Work is underway on the mural that will decorate the wall crossing Chester's roman Amphitheatre. Mural artist Gary Drostle from Woowich, London has completed murals of Roman Britain before when he created a vision of the now largely lost Roman Wall of London in the branch of Starbucks on London Wall. The intention is to depict what the amphitheatres currently hidden half would have looked like and how the building as a whole would have been through the ages up to the present day.
Rhino Mania Launch
Chester's Rhino Mania event was launched on the Racecourse in front of 300 invited guests on Thursday 1st July 2010. Prior to the placement of the 62 large Rhinos around the city and at travel gateways further afield. The Rhino Mania event itself begins on 5th July and runs until the 12 September. A leaflet is available showing the locations of the artwork and people are encouraged to go and see as many as possible and to sample the delights of the rest of the city as they do so.
Chester Mystery Plays-Noah's Flood
A 30 minute musical version of Noah's Flood from the Chester Mystery Plays. Last performed in 2008. The 1997 performance was performed by 200 people. Taking place in the newly refurbished amphitheatre it was a fitting, if not a little dusty, place for the production to take place. The Mystery plays are a melting pot of religion and everyday life. Originating in the Middle Ages they were street plays full of humour.
Chester Midsummer Watch and Giants Parade
The Chester Midsummer Watch parade dates back to 1498 and took place in the years between performances of the Chester Mystery Plays. The 1564 procesion is said to have included:
4 gyants, 1 unikorne, 1 dromodarye, 1 luce, 1 camell, 1 dragon, 6 hobbyhorses and 16 naked boys
The parades were continued until the late 17th century and revived in 1995 as a major event in the city calendar.
Chester Roman Weekend
Chester's Roman Weekend started the cities summer festival of music and events. With a living village in Grosvenor Park. Military displays and Gladiator combat in the amphitheatre. Dancing in the Town Hall Square, exhibitions and talks in the Grosvenor museum and on both days a march from St John's Church, through the rows to the Town Hall where a proclamation was made from the Town Hall steps.
Chester Marathon
The first ever Chester Marathon took place on the spring bank holiday, May 31st 2010. Following a route that took runners along the pathway that now covers the track bed of the old Mickel Trafford to Hawarden Bridge railway. With a loop at the Mickle Trafford/Guilden Sutton end and another around the Corus Steel works at the other. Start and finish lines were at Chester Rugby Club in Hare Lane, Littleton, Chester. The finish being in front of the clubs stand. The majority of the route being totally traffic free and largely in a rural setting.
Chester Races Roman Day
In marked contrast to the rainy days of the May Festival. Chester Racecourse played host to the Roman Day weekend family oriented event on May 22nd, in glorious sunshine. The event featured Roman Centurians, Chariot racing, The Devils Horsemen stunt riding and fairground rides and bouncy castles on the open course.
The hot sunny weather made it a picnic day and with cars allowed onto the open course many took advantage and enjoyed the day with a barbecue. Creating the strange sight of plumes of smoke rising through the crowds.
Here is a selection of Chester Races Roman Day photographs.










