Winterval Waterford 2026: Events and Visitor Guide
Planning a Christmas visit to Waterford? Winterval starts on Friday 13 November, with festival events on selected dates until 23 December 2026. Some individual attractions continue beyond those dates.
Use this guide to explore Winterval events on Waterford In Your Pocket. Each listing explains whether admission is FREE or TICKETED, where to go and how to book where needed.
Winterval Events in Waterford
Choose an event below for its individual dates, times, admission details and official information. Series listings run on selected dates, so always read the full schedule before travelling.
City Square Shopping Centre
Fri, 13 Nov
FREE. Can your family find all twelve Viking Elves hiding around City Square Shopping Centre? Collect a trail map from…
Arundel Square
Fri, 13 Nov
FREE entry. Purchases cost extra. Gingerbread cookie workshops are €15 per person. Explore the Polish Christmas Village in Arundel Square…
City Square Shopping Centre
Fri, 13 Nov
FREE to take part. Make a Christmas decoration and bring it to the Giving Tree at City Square Shopping Centre.…
Medieval Museum
Fri, 13 Nov
TICKETED. Adult Freedom Pass €23. Children under 16 go free when accompanied by an adult with a pass. Looking for…
Cathedral Square
Fri, 13 Nov
FREE. Make your way to Cathedral Square in Waterford’s Viking Triangle for Winterval Illuminates. Christmas animation is projected onto the…
Gladstone Street
Fri, 13 Nov
TICKETED. €5 per person, purchased at the Gladstone Street depot. No online booking link is provided. Hop aboard the Winterval…
The Quay
Fri, 13 Nov
TICKETED. Children €18, adults €20, family of three €48 and family of four €64, plus €1.50 booking fee per person.…
Waterford City Centre
Fri, 13 Nov
FREE entry. Purchases and paid attractions cost extra. Take a Christmas stroll through Waterford city centre and browse stalls selling…
The Apple Market
Fri, 13 Nov
TICKETED. €6 per person. Tickets purchased at the event. Climb into Santa’s sleigh lodge in the Apple Market for a…
Broad Street
Fri, 13 Nov
FREE. No tickets required. Gather on Broad Street and around John Roberts Square for the start of Winterval in Waterford.…
Michael Street
Fri, 13 Nov
TICKETED. €2 per person. No advance booking needed. Fancy a snowball fight without getting cold and wet? Step inside the…
Waterford City Centre
Fri, 13 Nov
TICKETED. Individual rides are paid attractions. Check prices at the attraction. Add a fairground stop to your Winterval visit. Attractions…
The Apple Market
Fri, 13 Nov
FREE. Bring your letter to Santa to the giant postbox in the Apple Market. As well as collecting Christmas wishes,…
The Reg
Fri, 13 Nov
FREE admission. Food and drinks cost extra. Take a break from exploring Winterval and settle in for Home Alone on…
WCQ Community & Cultural Hub
Sat, 14 Nov
TICKETED. €10. Booking essential. Build Santa, reindeer, snowmen and elves at a Festive LEGO Workshop in WCQ on O’Connell Street.…
Medieval Museum
Sat, 14 Nov
TICKETED. €26 per child plus online booking fee. Up to two adults at no charge. Booking essential. Santa is returning…
House of Waterford
Sun, 15 Nov
FREE. Optional donations support LauraLynn, Ireland’s Children’s Hospice. Watch out for Santa crossing Rice Bridge on the Santa Truck before…
Dr Mary Strangman Large Room – City Hall
Sat, 21 Nov
TICKETED. €8 per person at the door. No booking needed. All proceeds support the Irish Red Cross Waterford City Branch.…
Garter Lane Studios
Sat, 21 Nov
TICKETED. €40 for one parent and up to two children. Extra person €15. Booking essential. Spend some time together painting…
Bolton Street Car Park
Sat, 28 Nov
FREE. See fire engines, Garda cars, ambulances, rescue vehicles, lifeboats and bikes at Winterval’s Blue Light Parade and Showcase. Before…
Cathedral Square
Sat, 28 Nov
FREE. Take a stroll through Cathedral Square while the bells ring out for Christmas. Waterford Bell Ringers will be joined…
Waterford City Centre
Sat, 05 Dec
FREE. Listen out for Christmas carols around Waterford as the Winterval Olde Worlde Choir performs in traditional dress. Associated with…
Bolton Street Car Park
Sun, 06 Dec
FREE. Optional donations support Tinteán Housing. See tractors, trucks and farm machinery decorated with Christmas lights as they travel into…
St John’s Church
Sun, 06 Dec
TICKETED. Adults €27. Students, OAPs, unwaged and children under 12 €25. Prices include booking fee. Hear Bach’s Christmas Oratorio at…
Bishop’s Palace
Tue, 08 Dec 11:00 AM
Indoor event. This activity takes place inside the venue. Create your own Christmas cards, gift tags and keepsakes at Bishop’s…
Hanover Street
Thu, 10 Dec
FREE. Advance registration required. Decorate your bike, put on a Christmas jumper and join the Jingle Bells Cycle through Waterford…
Bishop’s Palace
Thu, 10 Dec 11:00 AM
Indoor event. This activity takes place inside the venue. Create your own Christmas cards, gift tags and keepsakes at Bishop’s…
The Hive at Winterval
Fri, 11 Dec
TICKETED. €35 plus booking fee. Blindboy comes to The Hive at Winterval for an evening of storytelling, humour and conversation.…
SETU Arena
Sat, 12 Dec
TICKETED. From €28 plus booking fee. Booking essential. Snow White comes to SETU Arena for a Christmas pantomime filled with…
The Hive at Winterval
Sat, 12 Dec
TICKETED. €25 plus booking fee. Booking essential. K POP Superslayers brings A Very K POP Christmas to Winterval, mixing popular…
Cathedral of the Most Holy Trinity
Sat, 12 Dec 04:00 PM
FREE admission. The Waterford Lions Club Christmas Appeal Carol Concert takes place on Saturday 12 December 2026 at 4pm in…
Medieval Museum
Thu, 17 Dec 07:00 PM
Indoor event. This activity takes place inside the venue. The Christmas Family – An Evening with Julian Walton takes place…
The Hive at Winterval
Fri, 18 Dec
TICKETED. €38.50 plus online booking fee. The High Kings bring Irish folk music to The Hive at Winterval on Park…
The Hive at Winterval
Sat, 19 Dec
TICKETED. €45 plus booking fee. The Boomtown Rats take to the stage at The Hive on Park Road during Winterval.…
The Hive at Winterval
Sun, 20 Dec
TICKETED. €30 plus booking fee. Mad Ferritt brings the sound of Oasis to The Hive at Winterval. Formed by musicians…
Waterford City Centre
Sun, 20 Dec
FREE. Donations support Tinteán Housing. Enjoy a day of live music around Waterford while supporting Tinteán Housing. BuskAid brings musicians,…
Park Road
Tue, 22 Dec
TICKETED. Adult and one child from €18. One child goes free with each full paying adult. Booking essential. Step into…
Franciscan Friary
Wed, 23 Dec
TICKETED. General admission €10, students and OAPs €6. Booking essential. Lumina brings Christmas carols, familiar songs and new and traditional…
The Apple Market
Wed, 23 Dec
FREE. Join Santa’s helpers under the Apple Market roof for the collection of the children’s Christmas letters. Performers from WAMA,…
Plan Your Visit
Make a day of it with our guide to where to eat in Waterford, local pubs and bars and shopping.
Allow time for food, shopping and a look around Waterford. Our What’s On guide is updated twice a week and includes other events taking place around the city.
For festival travel advice, parking information and the latest official updates, visit winterval.ie.
Keep WIYP Handy
Waterford In Your Pocket is a handy friend to have on your phone. Save the site before you visit and use it to find local businesses and things to enjoy while you are here.
