Kaleidoscope Festival
Monday 7 July – Friday 11 July 2025
A weeklong celebration of neurodiversity, inclusion and the talents of those living with a disability.
Storyhouse, Exchange Square and across Chester
What is Kaleidoscope Festival?
Storyhouse’s hugely popular Kaleidoscope Festival returns this July with another exciting programme.
Kaleidoscope Festival is a weeklong programme of performances, events, workshops, and activities that are programmed specifically for and by the learning-disabled community.
This year’s festival kicks off with our annual Chester Disability Pride Parade on Monday 7 July, followed by a week of events and performances, including the first-ever Kaleidoscope Disability Awards ceremony.
Chester Disability
Pride Parade
Our annual parade is one of the UK’s only disability pride parades.
Each year we unite with disabled people, charities and businesses to raise awareness and promote positive change by inviting everybody to join us as we march through Chester City Centre!
The Chester Disability Pride Parade will return on Monday 7 July 2025 – join us on the street of Chester to celebrate our fifth year of this empowering and joyous event.
Kaleidoscope Disability
Awards 2025
New for 2025 – we’re launching the inaugural Kaleidoscope Disability Awards at this year’s festival to recognise and celebrate young people and adults living with a learning disability in Cheshire West, Wirral, Flintshire and Wrexham.
The award categories are now open for nominations, with each award named by our Kaleidoscope Focus Group, including:
The Shining Star Award, The Rising Star Award, The Sparkling Star Award and The Shooting Star Award
Find out more and submit your nominations for the awards here
Frequently Asked Questions
Kaleidoscope Festival is specifically programmed for and by the learning-disabled community. Our Kaleidoscope focus group help us decide how the festival is run and what events and activities we programme.
Many of our events are open to all and are designed to bring together people from right across the community. If you’d like any more information before joining us, get in touch with a friendly member of our team.
Most events at this year’s festival are Pay What You Feel starting from £0 – but please book your tickets in advance so we know to expect you.
Carers, support staff or other essential companions can access free tickets by signing up to the access register here.
For further support with your booking, please get in touch with us at hello@storyhouse.com
The festival will take place across a number of different locations.
Some events will take place in Storyhouse, including the Garret Bar and Theatre spaces, the cinema, and The Kitchen. Others will take place outside the building and across the city.
If you’d like more information about Kaleidoscope Festival or would like to ask about getting involved with the festival or other Kaleidoscope events in the future, you can get in touch with our Communities Manager at nicola@storyhouse.com
Yes – you can download an easy-read style poster of this year’s lineup by clicking here.
Yes – we’re always keen to work with local businesses who can help support the Chester Disability Pride Parade, one of the only disability pride parades in the country.
Click here to find out more about corporate sponsorship of the parade
This festival is co-curated with the community. This year we have been working each month with the social action group who meet at LIVE!
If you would like to be involved in the planning of future festivals, please contact nicola@storyhouse.com
Sponsors:
Full Kaleidoscope 2025 Lineup:
Events in this season
Kaleidoscope Club Nights
