Ireland's largest Christmas festival, Winterval, returns to Waterford, the European City of Christmas
Sarah Slater
Ireland’s largest Christmas festival, Winterval, is returning for its 12th year.
Waterford has been designated the European City of Christmas 2024.
Beginning on Friday, November 15th, the festival will run every Friday, Saturday and Sunday over the next six weeks before concluding on Monday, December 23rd.
The International Jury of the European Capital and City of Christmas 2024 competition was unanimously voted to award the European City of Christmas to Waterford last year.
As Ireland’s first dedicated Christmas festival, created by Waterford City and County Council in partnership with local stakeholders in 2012, year after year the festival has attracted on average 500,000 visitors throughout its six-week calendar.
More than 700,000 visitors are anticipated to visit the festival this year with over 60 events planned.
Tonight, Santa Claus will be stopping by Waterford City to officially launch the Winterval festival, with a little help from the Mayor of Waterford City and County, councillor Jason Murphy.
At 6pm, Santa himself will be on Broad Street to switch on the Christmas lights.
On Saturday, the Winterval Parade will take place in the city, and will feature some of the main attractions of the festival, such as acts from The Trash Test Dummies, the cast of Waterford Panto, and the delightful Waterford Viking Elves, 'old world' choristers, the Winterval Mini Express Train, visitors from the North Pole, Monster Trucks, Nutcracker Brass Band and fire performers.
One of this year's much anticipated events is the 'Gateway to Brno'- a live portal that will connect Waterford to the Czech city of Brno, a fellow European City of Christmas. The portal opening will take place at noon on Sunday, in the Apple Market.
Co-directors of Winterval, John Grubb and Trevor Darmody said: ”It is the first year of the celebration of our European title and while that has certainly added some pressure on us at Winterval to deliver more, it was a task that we relished.
“We took a look at what was happening at other festivals globally but also at what our beautiful ancient city could offer, and we have come up with a programme that brings the two together."
Some road closures are in place and will remain until January 5th next year.
