Waterford is all set to host its 11th annual Winterval Festival from November 17th to December 23rd.
The festival will kick off with a programme of over 40 events for all of the family to enjoy. A primary attraction will be the annual Winterval Glenveagh Christmas Market and this year over 100 food, craft and drinks producers and creators are set to feature across the festival.
The Winterval Glenveagh Market will be set out in a series of attractive wooden cabins through the spine of Ireland’s oldest city into the cultural quarter; spanning the Viking city from George’s Street to Hanover Street and onto O’Connell Street and Gladstone Street, and all in the midst of the Winterval family fun attractions. Soak up the sparkly Christmas atmosphere and yuletide spirit, browse the many Christmas craft and food stalls and support local, regional and national producers, makers and creators this festive season.
The Winterval Glenveagh Market will include food and drinks from Farm Hog Roast, Rom’s Crepes, Natiual Gourmet Foods, Huckleberry Churros, plus a range of creations and gift options from Woodturning by Ian, Rosie’s Bags, Perfume Espana, Magda Webner Studios and Funky Geeks, to name but a few. In addition at the Waterford Cultural Quarter Crafts Market also on Hanover Street, there will be a vast variety of crafts and treats, from woollen products to wood carvings, paintings to driftwood creations and jewellery all produced by a range of diverse cultures, including African, Polish, German, Ukraine, Bulgarian creators. At Garter Lane Arts Centre the Waterford Crafts Market will also be on offer featuring over 40 individual members who produce a range of crafts from jewellery, art, candles, ceramics, soaps and lotions, leather ware, knitted ware, wood turning and much more. The all-encompassing market variety at Winterval will offer visitors a variety of over 100 food, drinks crafts and gift producers and creators.
The festival will officially begin on November 17th at 5pm with a gigantic Christmas Parade rolling through Waterford city on a 1km route from its Quayside to the top of John Robert’s Square. The parade will see the arrival of Santa Claus in a special and spectacular way where he will travel to the festival’s main stage for the switching on the City’s Christmas lights, marking the beginning of festivities in Ireland’s oldest City.
The Winterval Festival will take place until December 23rd with plenty to see and do for everyone in the family from the ice rink on the city’s Quayside to the vintage Ferris wheel at Arundel Square, a vintage carousel in John Robert’s Square, the Port of Waterford Eye and the Winterval mini Express train, the Elf workshops, Polish Christmas, a Gerbola Christmas Circus, Santa’s VR sleigh ride, helter-skelter, helicopter trips with Santa, a fantastical ‘Adventure of Narnia’ show which will be hosted at a mini Big Top in the heart of the City at Jenkin’s Lane and more. Santa will be taking centre stage at the festival in the city's heart on Michael Street. He will be ensconced in his candy-filled Gingerbread House in the city centre for Winterval.
The free events on the programme include a gigantic and magical talking postbox, a GLOW garden, an incredible Winterval Illuminates light show, a Viking Elf trail hunt, a Viking Yule Village by Deise Medieval, storytelling sessions, a free music stage, a model circus and fairground exhibition and lots more.
Winterval is supported by Waterford City and County Council and local, national and international businesses; including Bausch + Lomb, Glenveagh Homes, Expressway, City Square Shopping Centre and the Port of Waterford as named sponsors of the Port of Waterford Eye.
The full Winterval Festival programme is available to view and book online at www.winterval.ie
