Winterval in Waterford: European City of Christmas

Waterford, once called the hidden gem of Ireland, is now a tourist destination known for its extravagant festivities.

Its annual harvest festival in September attracted upwards of 40,000 visitors.

The Samhain festival in October saw the City’s streets awash with a fusion of spooky, spectral, and fascinating events under the watchful eye of An Dearg Dua, a 2,000-year-old female vampire as the award-winning street spectacle creators, Spraoi produced a stunning shadowy procession and finale performance.

**Seven-year-old Molly-Mai Hearne in New Street Gardens during Waterford’s Winterval.**

But at Christmas time, the City goes all out with Winterval, which this year promises to be the biggest Festival ever hosted in Waterford, with over 700,000 visitors anticipated. This year, for the first time in Ireland’s history – following an extensive judging process and visits by the European Christmas Cities Network – Waterford was named European City of Christmas, a title it shares with the Czech City of Brno.

The ‘Gateway to Brno’ is one of the Winterval festival’s top features. It is a live portal that connects the two Cities of Christmas.

**Santa Claus and Hugh Cowman at Santa’s Grotto in the Medieval Museum.**

The Winterval festival opened on November 22 and is open every weekend through December 23.

A vast array of events, including the Winterval Illuminates Lightshow, the ice rink on the City’s Quayside, the vintage Ferris wheel, a vintage carousel, the Port of Waterford Eye, and the Winterval Mini Express train, the Elf workshops, Polish Christmas, Santa’s VR sleigh ride in Cathedral Square, helter-skelter and more, are on offer.

The Glenveagh Christmas Market, located in the City’s oldest streets and squares, has over 100 food and drinks producers and creators of Christmas craft stall featuring local, regional, and national products.

There is something for everyone; best of all, over half the program is free of charge.

While Santa takes center stage in the City’s medieval caverns underneath the Medieval Museum in the Viking Triangle, this year, a new after-dark program for adults, ‘The Winterval Big Top Live,’ will host a series of live performances throughout the Festival with artists like Gavin James, Mick Flannery, Stereo MCs, EMF, and 30 Years of House Music with Tasty Choons for Tasty People.