How to enjoy a weekend of free activities in Europe’s City of Christmas at Winterval

The organisers of Winterval in Ireland’s European City of Christmas - Waterford, have created a festival that can be enjoyed can be enjoyed on all budgets with a list of fun-filled activities available for free.

Free Events

A variety of 17 free events and activities are available between now and December 23 at Winterval.

Festival-goers can enjoy the Viking Elf Trail, where children need to seek out all of the Viking Elves hidden across the City Centre and George’s Court Shopping Centre, the magical GLOW Gardens sit prettily in the centre of Waterford City, offering a beautifully illuminated series of winding paths with its towering bunny feature in the centre.

Winterval Illuminates lights up in Arundel Square every half hour after dark and showcases a wonderful 10 minutes of animation and song with a surprise snow shower at the end.

In Blackfriars church, every Sunday, Deise Medieval showcases a Viking Yule Village where children can get into character and learn and take part in what would have been yule time Viking traditions, and if you’d like to take some comfort inside, then a trip to The Book Centre to enjoy free storytime with, Kitty Caboodle is a must.

Making your way towards the Apple Market you will enjoy the Gateway to Brno - An opportunity to share the festive spirit in Waterford with those in the European capital of Christmas in Brno city, alongside the gateway also sits the Winterval Infinity Bauble. 

In the Viking Triangle letters can be posted to the main man at the Giant Postbox and a visit to the Funfair and Circus Museum in City Hall is a must, an incredible collection of circus and funfair models by Pat Flynn, a collection he has built since he was just 12 years old.

Back in John Robert’s Square and running into the smells, sights and sounds of the Cultural Quarter the Glenveagh Christmas Market at Winterval can be enjoyed alongside the backdrop of the Winterval Snowball stage and the Winterval Olde Worlde Choir traversing the streets on foot.

Some free one-off events include the Lions Club Christmas Concert, the Tractor Parade, the Suir con Mini Comic Convention and BuskAid.

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Ticketed Events

For tickets under 10 euros and under, visitors can enjoy the Exploration Dome, the Red Cross Elves Workshop, Santa’s VR Sleigh Ride, Winterval Express Mini Train, the Winterval Snowglobe, the Toy Exhibition at Bishop’s Palace and the King of the Vikings VR experience at Waterford Treasures. 

For tickets at 20 euros and under, festivalgoers have a choice of enjoying the Trash Test Dummies show at Garter Lane Theatre, Winterval on Ice, Gingerbread Making Workshops, Lego Workshops with Bricks 4 Kidz and the Winterval Treasures Trail at Waterford Treasures Museums.

Festivalgoers can enjoy a visit to Santa, a trip to the Monster Stunt Show, a ticket to the Winterval Big Top Live or a Cruise with Santa on the Barrow Princess for 35 and under. If you’re feeling boujee a helicopter flight with Santa is available for €125 pp.

The full festival programme for Winterval can be viewed on www.winterval.ie