Ambassador of the Czech Republic to Ireland Pavel Vošalík is to open Winterval 2024 at Waterford’s Apple Market at 3 pm on today, Firday November 22.
Waterford City has been designated the European City of Christmas 2024, celebrating alongside Brno, the Capital of Christmas, with a public event to open the “Gateway to Brno” on November 22nd.
The gateway will feature a live streaming portal designed to foster cultural exchange, connecting citizens of Waterford and Brno and promoting shared Christmas traditions.
The Winterval festival, running until December 23rd, includes 53 events such as light shows, ice skating, a vintage carousel, and various family-friendly activities, with many offerings available for free.
New attractions include a new Gingerbread Making Workshop event for the family, an Igloo Exploration Dome offering a 5D experience with audiences travelling through time inside; a gigantic Circus Museum will be on offer at City Hall’s Large Room; what is sure to be a sell-out at Garter Lane is a new show titled ‘Trash Test Dummies’ by the award-winner Dummies Corp., the Australian leader in slapstick children’s comedy, and for the adventure seekers and a ‘boys day out’ opportunity. There will be a huge Monster Truck and stunt show in Ireland’s largest circus tent.
A written statement from Winterval shared:. ““We have a new after-dark programme of events for adults, ‘The Winterval Big Top Live’ will host a series of events, artists and performances throughout the festival with artists like Gavin James, Mick Flannery, Stereo MCs, EMF, and 30 Years of House Music with Tasty Choons for Tasty People. We have a vast array of events including the Winterval Illuminates Lightshow, the ice rink on the city’s Quayside, the vintage Ferris wheel, a vintage carousel, the Port of Waterford Eye and the Winterval Mini Express train, the Elf workshops, Polish Christmas, Santa’s VR sleigh ride in Cathedral Square, helter-skelter and more. Santa takes centre stage of course, at the festival in the City’s medieval caverns underneath the stunning Medieval Museum in the Viking Triangle. There really is something for everyone, and best of all, over half of our programme is on offer free of charge.”
See www.winterval.ie
