Festival of Ideas

Medieval Treasures: Hold and Create History
2026-07-04 11:00 - 12:00 (Europe/London) | Chester Town Hall, 33 Northgate Street, Chester, CH1 2HQ
Step into Chester’s past at our Medieval Object Drop-In Handling Workshop. Explore authentic artefacts alongside the Historic Towns Trust map of Chester, uncovering untold stories. Enjoy hands-on, creative activities for all ages: touch history, make, draw, and imagine the medieval city together.
https://mob.chester.ac.uk/
https://www.historictownstrust.uk/maps/an-historical-map-of-chester

Afternoon tea: art, health, science and environment
2026-07-04 12:30 - 14:00 | Storyhouse Garret Bar, Hunter Street, Chester, CH1 2AR
In this packed workshop, get your hands on wonderfully decorated Victorian and modern teacups and saucers, design and make your own, taste hot world teas while learning about the health benefits of tea drinking, learn about the environmental footprint of tea today – cultivation and processing to packaging and transport, looking at the sustainability of loose-leaf tea versus tea bags. Step into and influence the global historic and contemporary world of tea.

Through the looking glass: Postcards to my younger and older self- exploring the psychology of ageing
2026-07-04 13:30 - 14:30 | Chester Town Hall, 33 Northgate Street, Chester, CH1 2HQ
Ever wondered what you would have said to yourself when you were younger, or what you would tell your older self? Opening with an exhibition of postcards written by students at the University of Chester to their older self and members of Chester U3A to their younger self, we will explore messages and their meanings, applying psychological principles to discuss aging and its representation. Come along to find out what the key messages in the postcards are and what psychology has to say about them.

Mini Scientist
2026-07-04 14:30 - 17:00 | Chester Town Hall, 33 Northgate Street, Chester, CH1 2HQ
This event is part of our Nature Heroes Family Fun afternoon – no need to book in advance.
A hands-on experience where our young scientists (and their parents!) can explore the biomolecular world by extracting DNA from delicious fruits using household items. Laboratory coats will be provided to set the scene for what will be an exciting experiment with University of Chester scientists on-hand to answer any questions. DNA is ubiquitous to all lifeforms and is known as ‘the molecule of life’, which we shall explore in this interactive session.

Practical Basic Life Support Skills for Everyone
2026-07-04 14:30 - 17:00 | Chester Town Hall, 33 Northgate Street, Chester, CH1 2HQ
A short session to:-
. recognise when someone needs medical help
. learn the best way to get help quickly
. learn how to perform BASIC life support until help arrives
Please note that this is a drop-in session; no need to book.

Wildlife Quest with Chester Zoo
2026-07-04 14:30 - 17:00 | Chester Town Hall, 33 Northgate Street, Chester, CH1 2HQ
This event is part of our Nature Heroes Family Fun afternoon – no need to book in advance.
Drop in to play a game with Chester Zoo’s Youth Board and Youth Network – discover actions that you can take to help wildlife and take on a wildlife challenge!

Picturing the Animal-Human Bond
2026-07-04 15:00 - 16:00 | Chester Town Hall, 33 Northgate Street, Chester, CH1 2HQ
This interactive workshop will introduce some of the research surrounding the bond that humans have with animals as well as the role of drawing in communication, expression and artistic production. We invite everyone to share their experiences with animals they are close to, whether this is pets or other animals. Supplementing descriptions and conversations with words, we encourage participants to have a go at depicting these important relationships in pictures through a ‘draw and tell’ approach

You can write a song! 10 ways to get started.
2026-07-04 16:00 - 17:00 | Storyhouse Garret Theatre, Hunter Street, Chester, CH1 2AR
“I wish I could write a song, but I don’t know where to start…”
This is a super practical workshop to remove the fear of the blank page and give you tools to start writing your own songs.
We’ll look specifically at lyric-writing. No instrument needed!
Adam Kirkup is a Chester-based songwriter, musician and coach. He’s performed with New York alt-folk luminary Kimya Dawson, toured with a WWE wrestling champion and attended the respected Chris Difford songwriting retreat.
adamkirkup.com
instagram.com/adamkirkup

Mindfulness and self-compassion in an uncertain world: A 60-minute experiential session for the Festival of Ideas
2026-07-05 11:00 - 12:00 | Chester Picturehouse, Unit 10 Hunter Street, Chester, CH1 2AR, United Kingdom
Join this session for a gentle, practical introduction to mindfulness and self-compassion in uncertain times. Through simple guided exercises, reflection and discussion, you’ll explore how to steady your mind and respond to challenges with greater kindness. No experience needed, just curiosity and an openness to pause, breathe and reconnect.

Archaeological Finds in the Market
2026-07-05 11:00 - 12:30 | Chester Market, Exchange Square, Chester, Cheshire, CH1 2AR, United Kingdom
Archaeologists from the Grosvenor Museum will be in Chester Market on Sunday morning with some of the finds from excavations in the city centre. Come and see in close-up objects used and worn by people living and working in Chester from 2000 to 300 years ago. A great opportunity to ask questions and find out more about some of the fascinating finds from the museum’s archaeological collections. All ages welcome.

Murder (flock) of Crows Eco Art Workshop
2026-07-05 13:00 - 15:00 | Chester Town Hall, 33 Northgate Street, Chester, CH1 2HQ
Please join me so that we can collectively make a Murder (flock) of Crows, they are intelligent, have their own language and can communicate information, are a translucent multi color, not black as they seem. We will be making and decorating from templates, using recycled materials a collection of these magical and mystical birds( as referred to in the Mabinogion: Adar Rhiannon’s magical birds)
nataliepapworth.artweb.com
