Preparations are already under way for the annual Winterval festival in Waterford, which has been named the European City of Christmas for this year.
Santa has made preliminary visits to Ireland’s Christmas festival to ensure his elves are preparing for his return to the stunning 12th-century caverns that lie beneath the city’s Medieval Museum in the Viking Triangle. The magical space will be transformed for the official grand return of Santa at the 2024 Winterval Festival, which will take place in Waterford for the 12th year this November 15 to December 23.
Tickets for Santa Claus are now available for purchase at www.winterval.ie - where a band of merry elves will lead little ones to a seat in Santa's magical grotto and families can enjoy the photo stops and arts and crafts along the way. 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.
Santa will host little guests all the way through the festival until December 23. He will arrive in Waterford on November 15, and will join the Mayor of Waterford to switch on the Christmas lights and kick off the festive season in style.
Waterford has been named the European City of Christmas 2024, and Winterval will be celebrating this prestigious title with an expanded programme filled with new events and old favourites. Festival directors John Grubb and Trevor Darmody promise a line-up that will delight attendees and capture the spirit of the season.
This year's festival will include firm favourites such as the Winterval Ice Rink, fairground set for the city’s quayside, and the wonderful Winterval Illuminates light show. This year's festival will also feature a show, Trash Test Dummies from the award-winning Australian comedy group Dummies Corp, with tickets on sale already. Prepare to never look at the humble household wheelie bin in the same way again.
Three dexterous dummies will take you on a journey into their limitless imaginations, with the humble household wheelie bin as their transformational muse. With a little imagination, the bins become cars, hideaway trenches, chariots, rocket ships, musical instruments and equipment for circus madness. There's music, dance and epic immersive action!
Visit www.winterval.ie for more information and to secure your tickets.
