Ireland’s oldest City and Europe’s City of Christmas is set for its place in the spotlight this festive season as the details of the 2024 Winterval Festival which will offer a host of festivities in the City from November 15th have now been unveiled.
Santa Claus will be arriving just in time from the North Pole to switch on the Christmas lights in the city at a fun-filled ceremony on November 15th at 6 pm and declaring the festival open.
On Saturday, November 16th the Winterval Parade will take place in the City with a ceremony to officially declare the European City of Christmas title.
The parade will arrive at Parnell St onto The Mall, where a special effects display from the roof of the beautiful Bishop’s Palace will take place.
New events at Ireland’s largest Christmas festival 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 gigantic Circus Museum will be on offer at City Hall’s Large Room; what is sure to be a sell-out at Garter Lane is a new show titled ‘Trash Test Dummies’ by the award-winner Dummies Corp., the Australian leader in slapstick children’s comedy, there will be a huge Monster Truck and stunt show in Ireland’s largest circus tent and lots lots more.
In all, there is a programme of over 60 events on offer with at least half being free of charge.
Pictured at the launch of the programme for the 12th annual Winterval Christmas Festival and Waterford as the European City of Christmas is the Mayor of Waterford City and County Cllr Jason Murphy with Winterval Eleves Willow Kenny (8), Teddy Darmondy (5) Jack O’Neill (6) and Katelyn Darmody (8). Ireland’s oldest City and Europe’s City of Christmas is set for its place in the spotlight this festive season as the details of over 60 events for the 2024 Winterval were unveiled and events commence from November 15th - full details on www.winterval.ie - Photo Patrick Browne.
To attract new audiences to Winterval and scaling the festival up after dark is a brand-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 gig tickets available for sale on www.winterval.ie from today. Artists include Gavin James, Mick Flannery, Stereo MCs, EMF, and 30 Years of House Music with Tasty Choons for Tasty People.
The Jack & Jills Children’s Foundation Christmas Market at Winterval will span from O’Connell Street through the spine of the city onto George’s Street, into John Robert’s Square and connecting to Arundel Square offering a market of over 80 vendors with wares from wooden toys, to knitted wares, to hand-crafted candles, to art to wood turned bowls along with Gluwhenin and of course hot chocolate and delicious treats along the way.
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