Mid November to 23 December · Waterford city
Winterval: Ireland's Christmas festival, on our doorstep
Every winter, Ireland's oldest city becomes its most Christmassy. Winterval fills Waterford's medieval and Georgian streets with markets, lights, music, ice skating and Santa himself, and it has grown into the biggest Christmas festival in the country. Number Nine sits on Merchants Quay a few minutes from the middle of it, which makes us fairly popular in December. Book early.
- 5+ weeksof festive programme
- City-centre wideViking Triangle to the squares
- Family firstbuilt around children
- Much of it freemarkets, lights and music
What to expect
The programme changes every year, and part of the fun is what's new each season, but these have been the regulars in recent years. The full line-up is announced each autumn on the official Winterval website, and the big ticketed experiences go fast.
Christmas markets
Wooden chalets of crafts, gifts and festive food spread through the city centre streets and squares.
The lights
Illuminations and projections transform the Viking Triangle and the Georgian streets after dark. Bring the camera.
Ice skating
A real rink in the middle of the city has been a Winterval staple for years. Sessions are ticketed and popular.
Santa experiences
Winterval builds its programme around families, and the Santa visits are the hottest ticket of all. Book the moment they go on sale.
The Winterval Express
A festive road train that loops the city, beloved by small passengers and tired parents alike.
Music and street theatre
Carol singers, brass bands, choirs and roaming performers fill the squares on festival weekends.
This season's listings
Making a weekend of it
Book everything early
Winterval weekends are the busiest of Waterford's year. Rooms, Santa slots and the popular restaurants all fill well in advance, so lock in the important things the week the programme is announced.
Go midweek with small children
The lights and markets run all week and midweek crowds are a fraction of Saturday's. Little ones get the ice rink and the Winterval Express almost to themselves.
Dinner is part of the show
December tables go fast. Our Where to Eat guide covers the spots we send guests, all within a ten minute walk, and we will happily book for you.
Leave the car at home
Direct trains from Dublin and Kilkenny and buses from Cork land you a short walk from the festival. Our Getting Around page has live times, and everything at Winterval is walkable from Number Nine.
Frequently asked questions
When is Winterval in Waterford?
Winterval typically runs from mid November until 23 December each year, with the busiest programme on weekends. Exact dates and the full line-up are announced each autumn on the official Winterval website.
Is Winterval free?
Much of it is. Wandering the markets, the lights and the street entertainment costs nothing. Headline experiences such as Santa visits and ice skating are ticketed and regularly sell out, so book those as soon as the programme is released.
Where does Winterval take place?
Across Waterford city centre: the Viking Triangle, John Roberts Square, the Apple Market and the streets and squares between them all take part. Number Nine on Merchants Quay sits a few minutes walk from the middle of it.
Is Winterval suitable for young children?
Very. The festival is built around families, from the Winterval Express to the Santa experiences, and the compact city centre keeps little legs happy. Midweek visits are noticeably calmer than weekends.
Do I need a car to visit Winterval?
No. Waterford has direct trains from Dublin and Kilkenny and buses from Cork and beyond, and the festival is entirely walkable from the city centre. See our Getting Around Waterford page for live times.
Where should I stay for Winterval?
Somewhere you can walk everywhere. Number Nine is a boutique hotel on Merchants Quay in the middle of the city, so the markets, lights and shows are all a few minutes from the front door. Winterval weekends fill up early, so book ahead.
Stay in the middle of it
Number Nine is a boutique hotel on Merchants Quay, overlooking the River Suir and a few minutes walk from every square Winterval fills. Wake up in the middle of Ireland's Christmas festival, and let our trip planner build the rest of the weekend around it.