The 11th annual Waterford Winterval Festival concludes today (December 23rd) and the team cites this year’s festival as a ‘record-breaking festival year’.
Commencing on November 18th and running for six weeks the festival has seen an increase in footfall on the record-breaking figures of last year when 600,000 people enjoyed a visit to Waterford and an increase in ticket sales to the variety of Winterval Festival events.
Festival Directors John Grubb of EveryEvent and Trevor Darmody of WAMA say, “It has been a phenomenal festival year for Winterval. The festival has had its busiest year yet and while we are awaiting the final exact footfall calculations, the number of tickets purchased for our ticketed events is up by 10% on 2022 and we know that it has certainly been the busiest festival to date.”
Waterford and the Winterval Festival also received the news on December 14th that it has been named the 2024 European City of Christmas after an international jury described it as an “extraordinary jewel of harmony and aesthetics”. European Capital and City jury said: 'Waterford represents the ultimate expression of creative culture thanks to the great work done with its illuminations and markets’
Trevor and John say that the news is very exciting and came at a great time too, “We were able to share that Waterford had won the ‘European City of Christmas 2024’ in mid-December and it has certainly helped to further shine a light on our wonderful City and Christmas Festival. It also means that the 2024 Winterval Festival is certainly not to be missed, and new events, plans, and concepts are all underway even before this year’s festival closes.”
Mayor of Waterford City and County Cllr Joe Conway says, “Winterval turns Ireland’s oldest City into a Winter wonderland each year and this year, it is plain to see that it has been the most vibrant, fun-filled and busiest festival yet. The festival delivers on an enormous scale for our City and it will be very exciting to see the plans develop and Waterford turned out as Europe’s City of Christmas 2024.”
The festival directors and all of the Winterval Festival team want to extend their thanks to the local business community, to the festival sponsors, to Waterford City and County Council, to the people of Waterford and all of the festival’s visitors for their support, and their joy in celebrating the festival.
Some Winterval Festival events will remain open and on offer until (January 7th) before children return to school, including, the Ice Rink, The Port of Waterford Eye, and the Quayside fairground. The Winterval Express Train will be on offer until the 31st of December. For details see www.winterval.ie
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