Winterval in Waterford opens from November 21st and is open from Thursday to Sunday each week until December 23rd. The festival has over 50 events on offer, including the vast Winterval Christmas Market, and this year, over 100 food, craft and drinks producers and creators feature across the festival.
The Christmas Market at Winterval is set out in a series of attractive wooden cabins through the spine of Ireland’s oldest city into the cultural quarter, spanning the Viking city from Michael Street to George’s Street to Hanover Street and onto O’Connell Street and Gladstone Street, and includes John Robert’s Square, Arundel Square and Cathedral Square and Garter Lane all in the midst of the Winterval family fun attractions. Visitors can soak up the sparkly Christmas atmosphere and yuletide spirit, browse the many Christmas craft and food stalls and support local, regional and national producers, makers and creators this festive season.
Waterford Crafts and creations are to the fore with over 40 local makers featured at Garter Lane Gallery who produce a range of crafts from jewellery, art, candles, ceramics, soaps and lotions, leatherware, knittedwear, wood turned gifts and much more. There is beautiful tableware by Adele Stanley Ceramics to stunning breadboards and even bespoke skateboards by Copper Coast Woodcrafts to handmade silk and velvet scarves by Silks by Mauney, and handmade chocolates by Victoria’s Incredibel Edibles, to copper and enamel jewellery and crafts by Gwen Dunne and many more.
There is also an abundance of food and drinks from Rom’s Crepes, SugarMama Grills and BadBoy BBQ, Pipers Churros and Dinky Donuts, Oh So Chocolate with delicious gourmet hot chocolates and Papa’s Mulled Wines.
There is also a range of creations and gift options from Sperrins Country Wear and El Dragonfly woollen hats, scarves and gloves, Lismore Candles, Churchhouse Pottery, Native American Crafts, Becky selling handknits and handmade jewellery, and Gina Kinsella selling handknitwear and crochets and Real Image, who will create a bespoke Christmas decoration from your own photograph.
In addition, at the Waterford Cultural Quarter Crafts Market, also on Hanover Street, there is a wide variety of crafts and treats, from woollen products to wood carvings, paintings to driftwood creations and jewellery, all produced by a range of diverse cultures, including African, Polish, German, Ukrainian, and Bulgarian creators.
The festival officially opens on November 21st at 6 pm when Santa arrives to switch on the City’s lights with the Mayor. For all the details, see www.winterval.ie