21/11/2014. FREE TO USE IMAGE. Santa Claus today (November 21) got Waterford City into the festive spirit as he arrived to open the Winterval Festival. Santa is a big fan of all things ‘Frozen’’ and he arrived onto The Mall sitting atop of a Gigantic Iceberg to greet thousands of boys and girls and assisted in the switching on of the City’s Christmas lights. The Winterval festival, which features a market of 60 cabins plus a trail of 32 different festive events, takes place across the City until December 23. Picture: Patrick Browne

Santa Arrives in Waterford atop of a Gigantic Iceberg to Open Winterval

Gift from North Pole for Waterford Crystal

Santa Claus today (November 21) will get Waterford City into the festive spirit as he arrives to open the biggest Christmas festival in Ireland – the Winterval Festival. Santa is a big fan of all things ‘Frozen’ and he arrives onto The Mall sitting atop of a Gigantic Iceberg to greet thousands of boys and girls and will assist in the switching on of the City’s Christmas lights. The Winterval festival, which features a market of 60 cabins plus a trail of 32 different festive events, takes place across the City until December 23.

The much-anticipated Winterval Festival is officially declared open by Santa as he arrives to parade through the streets of the City. Santa’s Iceberg which ‘floated’ from the North Pole to his arrival point at The Mall at 4pm then parades along Parnell Street turning on to John’s Street and through Michael Street where he finishes his route at the top of John Robert’s Square where he assists the Mayor of the Waterford Metropolitan District Lola O’Sullivan in the switching on of the City’s Festive lights at 5pm.

Setting sail on his Iceberg from the North Pole earlier in the week Santa was assisted by a crew of friendly Viking elves who steered Santa to Waterford, on arrival he is met by his hardworking Winterval Viking elves. Santa also brings a gift to Waterford as he arrives with a delivery for Waterford Crystal; a half ton block of ice towed from the North Pole is to be presented to the House of Waterford Crystal; the team there along with some professional Ice-Sculptors are set to create a wonderful set of Ice and Crystal Sculptures which will be unveiled at the Winterval Ice Rink on November 29th. They will form the centerpiece of the Ice Rink for the duration of the festival.

Commenting on his journey to Waterford Santa said, “I am delighted to meet all of the boys and girls at Winterval today, it is my favourite place to be in preparation for our busiest time of the year and I am very excited to see this wonderful North Pole Ice-Sculpture set to be created with the wonderful Waterford Crystal.”

Commenting on the festival opening CEO of Winterval Sinead O’Neill Hartery said, “We are thrilled to officially open the third annual Winterval Festival today. The people of Waterford have truly got behind this festival and into the festive spirit to make it the biggest Christmas festival in Ireland; last year we saw 250,000 people visit Winterval and we have been working hard to add new events and to increase the visitor numbers for 2014 so we are delighted to today open 32 festival events, 17 of which are free of charge and we look forward to welcoming lots of families to Winterval over the festive period.”

David McCoy House of Waterford Crystal said, “We are delighted to be working with the Winterval Festival. It is a great opportunity to create a new piece of artwork using Ice and Crystal for the first time, the sculptures will be wonderfully unique and will capture the festive season and the heritage of Waterford.”

The Winterval festival hosts a full offering of over 32 Winterval trail events; 18 of which are free of charge. Festivalgoers will enjoy the premiere of the wonderful 3D Lightshow commissioned especially for Winterval features the Grinch and his plot to ruin Winterval for all the boys and girls but fear not, Santa arrives just in time to save the day. The 3D show will be projected on to the front of the Old Deanery building running for free every half hour during the festival open days until December 23.

Some of the other highlights include a Helter Skelter, a Snow-Globe, the Hasbro Toy Museum, Penguins at The Palace, a free movie theatre showing ‘Frozen’, Storytelling at Reginald’s Tower, Craft making workshops, a giant Winterval Post Box, a South Pole Enchanted Garden and much more. For visitors wishing to get their skates on the huge Waterford on Ice is on the quayside again this year offering some ice-cold fun and for those wishing to journey through the City trail the Winterval Express and the Horse Drawn Sleigh Stations are the place to head to for a trail trip. For further details see Winterval.ie

ENDS – November 21, 2014.

Free to use images will be filed to the picture desks by Patrick Browne – 086 251 5700
For further information or comment contact Ann Power 086 3065588 or email ann@powerhousepr.ie