Chester Heritage Festival Launch Day!

Heritage is alive in Chester — and on Saturday 23rd May, we're celebrating it in style.

Join us for Chester Heritage Festival's Launch Day — a spectacular free day of activities for all ages, where Chester's living heritage is explored, experienced and celebrated across Exchange Square and inside Chester Picturehouse.

Feel the rhythm of the city as local musicians fill the square with melodies that bridge past and present. Marvel at our professional bubbleologist and be captivated by our Jester. Get active with a fitness workshop led by Amanda Wah, winner of BBC Gladiators 2025, or step into Roman Chester like never before with an immersive virtual reality experience.

Get creative with hands-on activities for all the family — design your own heritage-inspired tiles, craft your own Viking jewellery to take home, or add your contribution to a community mosaic. Learn more about the challenges facing the River Dee with the team from the Welsh Dee Trust, and join in with our history games.

Head inside Picturehouse for even more to see and do — with Lego building and craft workshops in the café alongside Talking Chester, a packed day of talks, films and Q&As featuring Sunday Times bestselling author Ben Kane, creative director Russell Kirk, the story of Brown's of Chester, Chester's Viking settlers and the man behind Sh*t Chester.

See the full Talking Chester line-up and book tickets ➔

All activities are free — just bring your curiosity and sense of adventure!