Chester Competes as the UK's Most Family-Friendly Christmas Shopping Destination 

From elf-trails and ice-rinks to snowmen and secret wardrobes, Chester has everything to entertain the whole family this Christmas. With less than two weeks to go until the launch of the city's jam-packed festive schedule, partners in the city are promising a fun-filled and stress-free festive shopping experience for visitors.

This year the city has its own elf, ChELFie, on hand to guide festive shoppers around the historic streets of the city giving away prizes for those who spot him in shop windows; and bring Christmas wishes to life by meeting Elsa and Olaf and their Disney friends in the city centre. Families will be able to enjoy movie time at FREE Kidsmas Family Film Screenings at the Grosvenor Museum; and on selected weekends celebrity chefs will be taking part in enchanting Gingerbread story-telling and decorating events.

The Chester Christmas Market on Town Hall Square and Library Square will include a family-friendly activity area this year to entertain children while parents browse the fantastic mix of stalls. The Market opens on Thursday 20th November to coincide with the city's Christmas Light Parade and will be filled with unique handmade gifts, stunning home wares and specialist tipples.

The 70 festive chalets will also be filled with culinary delights of the North West's producers with mince pie ice cream from The Ice Cream Farm, Cheshire's finest Cheese from Joseph Heler and beer from Llangollen Brewery. The streets will be brought to life with music and entertainment from local groups and solo performers and families will even be able to get up close with birds of prey.

Visitors are already excited by the early opening of Chester Racecourse's Winter Wonderland on 14th November. Transformed into a snow covered fantasyland of festive delights, attractions include an open air ice-rink, Santa's very own North Pole village Grotto, real reindeer, vodka ice bar, Christmas craft workshops, alpine bar, and an opportunity to dine with favourite festive characters in the Enchanting Land of Sweets.

For the first time ever, The Snowman will also be making an appearance on Saturday 13 December at Chester Cathedral as Carrot Productions present a screening of The Snowman film, accompanied by a live 25-piece orchestra. City visitors can also indulge in the magic of Narnia at the cathedral¹s The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe exhibition from 29 November until 6 January and enjoy the 40 majestic Christmas trees of the Christmas Tree Festival.

Alice in Wonderland will also put in a magical appearance as the festive show for Theatre in the Quarter at St Mary's Centre.

Chester's popular festive parades and local community activities will bring the city to life as they meander through the streets of this historical city from 20th November through until 18th December.

Christmas Light Parade: 20th November, 6.30pm

A fun community parade filled with lanterns, light and dance to switch on the city's Christmas lights.

Lantern Parade: 27th November, 7pm - Local school children parade through Chester with handmade lanterns adding a touch of sparkle to the city centre this Christmas.

Winter Watch Parades: 4th & 11th December, 7pm - Karamba Samba as the 'ghost band' lead a fun parade of skeletons, Christmas cooks, angels and devils as they celebrate the Winter solstice.

Saturnalia Parade: 18th December, 7pm - Chester is back in Roman control for the night as the Roman legion light up the streets with a march of torches.

For shopping outside of the city, Cheshire Oaks Designer Outlet launch their Christmas activities on Thursday 13th November as they switch on the lights of the UK's largest Christmas tree and fireworks dance to the theme of the nutcracker. Visitors can experience the enormity of the tree from the inside, as a magical archway makes it Europe's largest walk-in Christmas tree - plus this year an interactive floor projection will entice the child in every shopper! Throughout the festive period choirs and bands will perform in the malls to enhance the Christmas atmosphere and the incredible offers in the stores will ensure that all Christmas lists are covered. During November all stores will be open on weekdays until 9pm, and then on weekdays throughout December they will open for shoppers from 9am until 10pm.

Christmas dining and accommodation offers in the city include:

Abode Chester
Romantic breaks from £199.00 per room per night
http://www.abodechester.co.uk/occasions-events/christmas-new-year-2014

The Mill Hotel and Spa
Christmas Fayre Dinner, Bed & Breakfast from £139 per couple
http://www.millhotel.com/christmas-dining

Full details of Chester's Christmas programme of events can be found on www.christmasinchester.com

Twitter- @ChesterXmas

Facebook- https://www.facebook.com/ChesterChristmasMarket

ENDS

Issued by Marketing Cheshire
Attached – event poster for the 2014 Christmas programme

Marketing Cheshire
Marketing Cheshire is the place marketing and destination management organisation for Cheshire and Warrington. We see all our members as partners and we will seek to work together to ensure that Cheshire and Warrington is the place to visit, live, invest, meet and study.

For further information visit www.marketingcheshire.co.uk