Walk of the Dandelion Day

Step into a day of wonder, brought to you by Chichester Festival Theatre and Culture Spark, as Daniel – an 8ft, ethereal puppet – roams through the city. Along the way, he will be sharing gifts of dandelions, each with a message of positivity.

As you journey through the city, look out for the amazing floral displays outside shops and eateries as part of Chichester in Bloom, a free city trail organised by Chichester BID.  

You can also enjoy free sustainable drop-in activities and performances at locations across the city, including the Cathedral Green, Chichester Festival Theatre and Pallant House Gallery.  

Stop off at The Canopy on Crane Street for a morning of nature-inspired storytelling, music played on recycled instruments and then get your hands dirty with ‘Craft it, plant it and watch it grow’. 

The city will also welcome 150 Morris dancers from across the counties, filling the streets with lively music, colour, and energetic performances throughout the day.  

A magical day for all ages – come and be part of the adventure.

Timetable of Workshops & Walks: 

10am–4pm  

Walk of the Dandelion Workshops and Plant Sale, The Cathedral Green  

Enjoy free dandelion-making workshops and write your messages of positivity to share with Daniel as he makes his way around the city.

There will also be a Plant Sale on the Cathedral Green as part of the Festival of Flowers – look out for some of the spectacular floral displays in the Cloisters!

10am–1pm  

Storytelling and Music on Recycled Instruments, The Canopy on Crane Street 

Enjoy nature-inspired storytelling with Danyah Miller and music from Beats for 3 as they play your favourite tunes on recycled instruments.  

10.30am–2pm 

Family activities, Chichester Festival Theatre and Oaklands Park  

Step behind the scenes with the Backstage Playbox – an interactive space showcasing a selection of CFT costumes and props. Enjoy the lively atmosphere with a folk band performing throughout the day plus children can get creative with hands-on craft activities, making their own puppets from recycled material.  

Local food waste charity UK Harvest will also be there with some examples of foods that can be found within the community food hubs. Pick up some fresh ingredients to take home in exchange for a donation. Children can collect compost starter kits, and there’ll be cake tasters made from surplus food.

11–11.45am  

Walk of the Dandelion: Cathedral Green to Pallant House Gallery  

Walk 1: Walk with Daniel, an 8ft, ethereal puppet, as he follows the Chichester in Bloom trail from Chichester Cathedral Green to Pallant House Gallery.

11am–2pm  

Weaving Workshops, Pallant House Gallery 

Led by artist educator Laura Buckle, take part in two unique weaving activities inspired by their current exhibition and Haroun Hayward’s approach to combining textiles and imagery.

Create your own woven piece to take home using recycled fabrics, coloured card, ribbons, and foraged natural materials. You can also contribute to a large-scale communal artwork on a striking loom structure made from scaffolding – helping transform materials that might otherwise end up in landfill into a shared creative piece. Find out more >

1.15–2pm  

Walk of the Dandelion: Around Chichester Festival Theatre 

Walk 2: Join Daniel as he gently roams around Chichester Festival Theatre and Oaklands Park 

2–4pm  

Craft it, plant it and watch it grow, The Canopy on Crane Street 

Decorate and plant an eco-friendly flowerpot to take home with artist Vicky Brown and gardening experts Chloe and Natalie.

2.30pm 

West Sussex Sings Performance, The Cathedral Green  

Don’t miss a performance by West Sussex Sings community choir led by Emily Barden.  

3.15–4pm  

Walk of the Dandelion: The Cross to Priory Park 

Walk 3: Join the Town Crier, Daniel and a band of Morris Dancers as they follow the Chichester in Bloom trail down North Street and Crane Street towards Priory Park. 

4pm 

Morris Dancers, Priory Park  

Watch a final celebratory community dance with over 150 Morris dancers in Priory Park.