Whether you go with family, friends or with your partner, a trip to Waterford should be on your festive calendar this year
Christmas is big business – we know that. The commercialisation of the holiday is such that it starts as soon as the clock strikes midnight on Halloween and we are bombarded by sales, discounts, mega offers and ‘limited time only’ deals to get us to spend money we may not have on things we almost certainly don’t want or need.
But what if you stripped Christmas right back to what we all want it to be about? Fun, laughter, excitement, wonder, magic, good cheer…. Is that even possible?
Thankfully, the answer is yes, it is! There is a place where you can experience all those things in one location – Winterval in Waterford aka. The European City of Christmas! I had the pleasure of visiting this winter wonderland on the festival’s opening weekend and here are my recommendations.
What to do:
There is so much to do at Winterval that your first port of call should be the website to check out what events are on that day, the times and locations, and then plan your day accordingly. There is also a separate Free Events guide here.
When we arrived, the first thing we did was head for Winterval Illuminates in Arundel Square which is a gorgeous festive lights show set against a 12m high tower with excellent music and a surprise right at the end! From there, we headed to Glow at New Street Gardens which I absolutely adored. The small park has been transformed into a beautifully lit oasis with twinkling lights on every tree branch, corner and walkway that mesmerised everyone, young and old. With so many huge ‘Christmas Lights’ events around the country now, I especially liked that this one is free for everyone to enjoy.
Trash Test Dummies was not what I thought it was going to be. In fact, I knew nothing about them when I entered the theatre to watch the three Australian acrobats deliver a masterclass in slapstick comedy for children while simultaneously performing astonishing feats of physical strength. My mouth dropped open several times and the kids all around me were delighted, enthralled and entertained in equal measure for over an hour. Expect audience participation, chaos with a splash of adult humour thrown in for good measure – a must for families!
My husband and I are both six feet tall but that did not stop us climbing into the Winterval Mini Express Train that departs every 15 minutes for a journey through all the sights on offer at the festival, including Helter-skelter and the Carousel, The Winterval Christmas Market, The Port of Waterford Eye, Winterval on Ice, and Santa’s Giant Present. Also, the first song that played when we got in was Bill Nighy’s version of ‘Christmas is All Around’ so I’m convinced it’s for kids of all ages!
Apart from that, make sure to leave some time to walk through the streets to savour the incredible atmosphere, sights, sounds and smells from the wonderful markets lining the streets that are perfect for ticking things off your Christmas list, if you’re in the mood to shop.
Where to stay:
We stayed in the Granville Hotel and honestly, if you’re looking for cosy Christmas vibes, you could not ask for better than this place. I’m talking old-school, lush, red-and-green style decorations, huge Christmas trees in the lobby, set-your-Irish-Hallmark-holiday-film here, kind of vibes.
Apart from the warmth of the interiors, probably it’s biggest asset is it’s location. At the centre of Waterford city’s quay, you are literally just a couple of minutes walk away from the Ice Rink and Fairground. The bustling shopping district is right behind the hotel and the historic Viking Triangle is just a stone’s throw away!
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What to eat/drink:
If you’re on the go, there are lots of wonderful street vendors and food vans doing all manner of food including pizza, burritos, burgers, tacos and lots more.
However, if I was on my way back I would be going straight to No. 9 restaurant in The Stable Yard Foodhall to have the epic lunch I had all over again. In case you’re wondering, it was a delicious turkey, ham and stuffing roll on a warm, crusty fresh baguette from the bakery downstairs, served with homemade coleslaw and chips. Unreal. If I lived there, it would be my daily order.
The following day, I had the famous hot chocolate that I had been warned to get from Carter’s Chocolate Café – made with pure Belgian chocolate buttons and milk, nothing else. Oh my God.
Who to meet:
Santa, obviously! Tickets for ‘Santa At Winterval’ are available for all children coming to the festival for a visit to Santa Claus, where you can play in Santa’s magical grotto and families can enjoy the photo stops and arts and crafts along the way too. The all-new Winterval grotto offers free tickets for adults, and visitors to the main man will each receive a present and printed family photograph.
Oh, I also recommend saying hello and having a chat with Jamie, who drives the Mini Express Train. Legend.
What to read:
This might seem like a strange one, but stay with me. Do you remember Adam King from the Late Late Toy Show? Of course you do – who could forget that face and the iconic Virtual Hug? Well, now the 10-year-old has written his first book, Farron’s Adventure which was launched at The Book Centre in Waterford City ahead of festival’s opening ceremony and all proceeds from the book go to the charity Junior for Juniors.
The beautiful storybook sees Adam’s mischievous Viking elf Farron traversing through Ireland’s oldest city, Waterford, during one of Adam’s favourite festivals, Winterval. The book is a tale of an epic adventure featuring a friendly elf who is filled with sheer determination and joyous optimism as the ‘saving’ of Christmas sits firmly on his shoulders. I can confirm it is a joy from start to finish!
Here’s a snapshot of my weekend in Ireland’s biggest Christmas festival:
Why Waterford was made European City of Christmas and why Winterval is for everyone
Last December, the International Jury of the European Capital and City of Christmas 2024 competition unanimously voted to award the European City of Christmas 2024 title to Waterford City. The judging panel called it “an extraordinary jewel of Christmas harmony and aesthetics” and “the ultimate expression of creative culture thanks to the great work done with its illuminations and markets.”
Winterval became Ireland’s first dedicated Christmas Festival back in 2012 and it has grown, expanded and improved exponentially since then. It is now Ireland’s largest Christmas festival and is open every weekend until 23 December with over 50 events on offer, including the vast Glenveagh Christmas Market with over 100 food, craft and drinks producers and creators. Best of all, over half of the events are free of charge!
Firm favourites are back for the festival, including the Winterval ice rink and fairground, the wonderful Winterval Illuminates Lightshow, Gingerbread making workshops, the Glow Gardens with over 10,000 twinkling lights at New Street, a Wobbly Mirror installation at The Apple Market, the Port of Waterford Eye and one-off events like the Jingle Bells Cycle, carol concerts, a Light up Tractor parade and more. Of course, Santa will be available to visit in the 12th-century caverns that lie beneath the city’s Medieval Museum in the Viking Triangle where he will spread joy and holiday cheer to boys and girls of all ages.
New events this year include ‘Snow Play’ – an icy snow centre where the young and the not-so-young can enjoy some snow play & throw some snowballs; an Igloo Dome offering a 5D experience with audiences travelling through time inside; a Circus Museum at City Hall’s Large Room; ‘Trash Test Dummies’ by the award-winner Dummies Corp., the Australian leader in slapstick children’s comedy; a huge Monster Truck and stunt show in Ireland’s largest circus tent and lots lots more.
However, if you think you need to have children with you to enjoy Winterval, think again. The festival also has a new after-dark programme of events for adults! ‘The Winterval Big Top Live’ will host a series of events, artists and 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.
Find out everything you need to know at winterval.ie
