A celebratory performance in response to the participatory artwork that will be in the Town Hall foyer over the four days of the Festival. In this event, staff and dance students from the University of Chester will present a live performance responding to the chair and its collected promises.
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.
This led walk, which is also "wheels accessible", is one of four themed routes staged as part of the 2026 "Festival of ideas" that uses examples from the existing cityscape to demonstrate various aspects of the overall theme of Sustainability.
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.
Lace up your plimsoles and sprint through the last century of Cheshire’s sporting past with Let’s Talk, History. Using historic sound recordings from Cheshire Archives’ collections, this free audio trail tells 100 years of stories about the county’s competitive, recreational and, at times, amusing sports.
This session explores research into how sharing lived experiences can enhance inclusivity and a sense of belonging for students.
What happens if items from an historic museum collection are brought together with everyday goods and services available nearby? International artists’ team Grennan & Sperandio decided to find out – in Chester!
This talk will discuss the background to the enormous expansion of munitions' factories and production in Britain, as a result of the 'Shells Scandal' of 1915, including within the local area around Chester.
Join Dr Lucy Andrew, former Senior Literature in English Literature at the University of Chester, as she introduces her debut novel, A Very Vexing Murder, a cosy crime retelling of Jane Austen's Emma, and discusses her path to becoming a published author.
Join us for an in‑conversation event with David Baddiel—award‑winning comedian, bestselling author, and acclaimed cultural commentator. Renowned for his intelligence, originality, and distinctive humour, Baddiel has shaped British comedy and public debate through his work across stand‑up, television, radio, and writing.
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.
How NOT to Flee a War is a first-hand talk by Ukrainian journalist Maria Romanenko, co-presented with her partner Jez Myers, telling the story of their attempt to escape Kyiv as Russia launched its full-scale invasion on 24 February 2022.