Event Info

The Chester Raft Race is on Sunday July 2rd starting at 10am with music at the Groves (Map) and rafts launching from 10:30am at the Meadows (Map).

Our event is a prestigious charity event that has been at the heart of Chester since the 1970’s. The event has raised over £500,000 for local causes during this time and this year we will be supporting the amazing charity SHARE which was setup by a group of ladies including Monica Hogg and Louise Edwards from the Mold area in collaboration with Adam Dandy, SHARE’s aims include supporting families in crisis and people who are homeless in North Wales and Cheshire.

Thank you to Salt Town Contractors Ltd, and our other sponsors, your support has enabled us to bring this event back for another year.

The theme for the rafts this year is Superheroes.

What's On

A Great Day Out!

There’s loads going on with activities starting at 10am.

At the Meadows

  • Music at Race HQ and Carnival Games from Chester Round Table, Chester 41 Club and Chester Ladies Circle
  • Disabled Parking only (limited spaces available)
  • Hospitality Tents
  • Toilets
  • Raft Launch & Return

Countdown to the race!

Day(s)

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Hour(s)

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Minute(s)

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Second(s)

Timetable

What’s On

Timetable

All times subject to change, keep an ear out for announcements on the day!

9am: Car Park Opens / Event Tent Opens

Rafts need to be at the meadows before 10am ready for scrutineering at the race start. There is disabled parking available in the Meadows (donations to charity on the gate)

More about Parking & Travel Arrangements

10.30am: Race Starts!

The first rafts will launch from the Meadows and make their way towards the finish line near the Bandstand. Competitors will launch in waves and make their timed runs.

12.30pm: Raft Race Finishes

By 12.30 the final raft should have made it to the finish line and we’ll know who our champions will be…

12.30pm: Raft Race Trophy Presentations

Trophies and medals will be awarded to the winners in each category at Race HQ on the Meadows

1pm: After Party on the Meadows

The stands and attractions at the Meadows, including family entertainments, bar, food outlets and ice creams, will stay open after the race has finished, so come over and check it out.

3.30pm: Site clean-up begins

We’ll be making sure the Meadows are left clean and tidy, please help us with this by using the bins provided.

4pm: Meadows to Close

We have to completely vacate the Meadows by 4pm.

Getting Here

Wherever possible, we advise travelling by public transport – car parking on site is limited for blue badge holders only, and the surrounding roads are likely to be busy.

Arriving by Car

We recommend arriving from the south of the City via Wrexham Road from the A483 or the A55 if heading to the Meadows or alternatively from the East of the City on the A51 or the A5115.

Rafts need to be at the meadows before 10am ready for scrutineering at the race start.

Meadows

We have disabled parking on the meadows. The entrance to the Meadows parking can be found on the gated corner of Lower Park Road, Chester, CH4 7BB and Elizabeth Crescent, Chester, CH4 7AZ. This entrance is on the Handbridge side of the river, please be respectful of the local residents when passing through or parking here.

Groves

There is is limited parking at the Groves with a small blue badge parking area. Other nearby car parks can be found here – Nearby Car Parks

City Centre

We advise participants and spectators to leave with plenty of time as traffic can be very busy in the city centre

Arriving by Public Transport

Chester Park & Ride

There are 3 P&R routes currently running around Chester with Upton (PR3) in the North, Boughton Heath (PR2) to the East and Wrexham Road (PR1) to the South. PR1 stops at Pepper Street (4 minute walk to the Groves) and PR2&3 both stop at Foregate Street ( 7 minute walk). The P&R Buses run every 15 minutes in the city. Prices are £2 return for adults and an adult can take up to 3 children with them for FREE! All details can be found on the CWaC website

Bus

There are several buses that can be taken to the Chester City Centre, we advise any that stop on Pepper Street or St Georges Crescent in Handbridge. See the CWaC website for more details.

Train

Trains run regularly to Chester Station which is about 15 minutes walk from the Groves. See the Trainline website for more details

 

 

Donate

Support Chester Raft Race

Support local charitable causes

SHARE’S aims are simple – they support families in crisis and people who are homeless in North Wales and Cheshire and assist refugees fleeing for their lives, wherever they are in the world.
Chester Round Table are proud to support this great cause through the Chester Raft Race.

Donate