The 12th annual Winterval Festival Announces its Charity Partners for 2024

The 12th annual Winterval Festival Announces its Charity Partners for 2024

The 2024 Winterval Festival is aiming to ‘give back' as much as it can to those in need in Waterford. The festival has a number of particular events planned in association with Waterford-based charities and has created donation opportunities for the charities The Waterford Food Bank, Tintean Housing Association, Waterford Rotary, The Red Cross and Junior for Juniors. 

During festival dates from November 15th onwards, you can visit the Elves Workshop where you will help the elves make cookies in Mrs. Claus’s kitchen, do some arts and crafts, and help the busy elves prepare Santa’s Christmas list in the workshop. Open each Friday, Saturday and Sunday over Winterval. The workshop is located in George's Court Shopping Centre, Waterford, tickets are 5.00 and proceeds will go to the Redcross Waterford City branch. 

The Blue Light Showcase is set to take place on December 1st Blue Light Showcase will be on offer in the city from 3 pm to 7 pm. Groups participating include The Irish Coast Guard, Waterford City Fire Service, RNLI, Waterford Marine Search and Rescue, An Garda Sionchana, The Ambulance Service, Irish Red Cross, Order of Malta, South East Mountain Rescue Association, Waterford First Responders, Waterford CRBI and the Civil Defence. All the groups are going to show off different manoeuvres such as the fire service putting out fires and rescuing from the river and other simulated exercises. There will be sirens and lights of Waterford’s emergency services. These rescue vehicles and the heroes who man them will have a treat for the Winterval visitors by giving families a chance to get up close and hop aboard the rescue trucks, bikes, cars, boats, engines and much more. 

Next up on December 6th is the Jingle Bells Cycle. locals and visitors alike are invited to join the Winterval team on their bicycles as they take to the streets from 7.15 pm for the Jingle Bells Cycle beneath the twinkling lights of the City. Participants are encouraged to get out the tinsel, the fairy lights and the Christmas jumpers; this is a short 2km family-friendly cycle route suitable for ages 10+. Those who wish to part are asked to make a donation on winterval.ie to Tintean Housing Association. 

On Sunday, December 8th the Winterval Tractor Parade in aid of Tintean Housing will take to the Quays of Waterford and culminate at the waterside Carpark where kids can peer at a Deere, or aspire to be as classy as a Massey from 6 pm until 7.30 pm. This is a free event but we ask that those who take part in the parade, or who come to watch, make a donation of any value to the homeless charity Tinteán Housing Association. 

On December 23rd BuskAid will fill the streets with music and song with the goal of raising much-needed funds for Tinteán Housing, a Waterford-based homeless charity. BuskAid is Ireland's city-wide busk for charity in aid of the homeless. Based in Waterford City, it aims to raise funds and awareness for local homelessness charity Tinteán Housing, through music and volunteering. Donation buckets will be all around Winterval on the day. Special guests will appear throughout the day.

In addition, throughout the festival, Glenveagh Homes will be supporting the Jack & Jill Foundation through their sponsorship of the Glenveagh Christmas Market at Winterval.

The festival organisers are asking people to please consider making a donation, “You can donate to one of the bucket collections on the day to support our charity partner - Tintean Housing Association. They do incredible work in the provision of accommodation with support, in a safe environment, to women and families who present as homeless. You can also choose to donate online at any point during the festival via www.winterval.ie"

The 12th annual Winterval Festival opens on November 15th and runs on weekend dates until December 23rd.  The City will be transformed into a land of magical festive entertainment with a festive Fairground and Winterval on Ice, magical Christmas shows, an amazing Winterval Illuminates light show, a Viking Yule Settlement where you can hark back to how Christmas was celebrated in the Viking City. 

You can enjoy the Port of Waterford Eye, the Winterval Mini Express train, Glow Gardens, a virtual ride in Santa’s sleigh, a miniature model Circus showcase and of course, Santa Claus will be in the City’s medieval caverns beneath the Medival Museum and there is even a gigantic talking postbox plus there is an abundant programme of music and theatre events and live performances on the main stage which is right in the heart of The Glenveagh Christmas Market At Winterval which features over 100 food and craft producers.

There are over 50 events to celebrate at the Winterval Festival and Waterford’s title as European City of Christmas and over half of those are free - check out the full Winterval Festival programme of events at www.winterval.ie