Nothing brings a Canadian Christmas together like a good round of Christmas toasts . Whether you are raising mulled wine in a downtown Toronto condo, cracking a craft beer after a backyard rink game in Calgary, or clinking champagne flutes at a réveillon table in Montreal, the right words turn a meal into a memory. Canada celebrates Christmas from coast to coast to coast, and every province adds its own flavour: a Santé! in Quebec, a nod to the toque in the Prairies, a salute to minus-20 weather in Winnipeg. This collection gives you 45 original Christmas cheers written for Canadian tables, parties, and calls home. Below you will find five categories to fit any moment: classic toasts for the formal dinner, funny cheers for friends, one-liners for quick clinks, dinner-table toasts for the cook, and New Year-forward cheers to close the year. Pick one, make it yours, and raise your glass high. Last updated: October 3, 2026 Jump to: Classic Christmas Toasts | Funny & Lighthearte...
Christmas in Waterford is pure Irish magic. Ireland’s oldest city — founded by the Vikings more than a thousand years ago — turns into a twinkling winter wonderland every December, and at its centre stands Winterval, Ireland’s largest Christmas festival. From November 13 to December 23, 2026, the historic streets, squares and quays fill with market stalls, light shows, music and the happy hum of the festive season, earning Waterford its proud title of the European City of Christmas.
If you are planning a Christmas in Ireland trip this year, Waterford deserves a top spot on your list. The festival blends medieval atmosphere with modern spectacle: you can glide across an ice rink beside the River Suir, meet Santa in 12th-century underground vaults, watch 3D projections dance across historic stonework, and warm up with mulled wine and artisan treats from dozens of craft stalls. As locals say, Nollaig Shona — Happy Christmas — and nowhere in Ireland says it louder than Waterford in December.
This guide brings you the 15 best things to do at Christmas in Waterford, from the headline Winterval attractions to the festive landmarks, food, shopping and family events that make the city special. We also cover practical planning tips for families, couples and budget travellers, plus answers to the questions visitors ask most. Dates and ticket details below are based on the official Winterval 2026 programme — always check winterval.ie before travelling, as times can change.
Last updated: October 3, 2026
Jump to: Winterval Highlights | Festive Sights & Landmarks | Food, Drink & Shopping | Family Fun & Events | Plan Your Visit | FAQs
Winterval: The Heart of Christmas in Waterford
Winterval is the reason most visitors come to Waterford at Christmas. Running on weekends from November 13 to December 23, 2026, this 14th edition of Ireland’s biggest Christmas festival packs more than 60 attractions across the city centre. Many highlights are free — the market, the light shows and the trail — while ticketed experiences like the ice rink and Santa’s grotto are worth booking early. Here are the five must-do Winterval experiences.
1. Watch the Winterval Illuminates Light Show
Every evening of the festival, Cathedral Square in the Viking Triangle becomes an open-air theatre as Winterval Illuminates projects festive 3D animations across historic stone facades, set to music and light effects. It is completely free, needs no booking, and is the single best-value Christmas moment in Waterford. Arrive around dusk and stand in the centre of the square for the full panoramic view.
2. Skate at Waterford on Ice
The quayside ice rink returns to The Quay beside the River Suir, with penguin skating aids for young children and sessions for all skill levels. Skating with the Christmas lights of Ireland’s oldest city reflected on the water is genuinely special. Tickets start from around €18 for children, and weekend slots sell out fast — book at least two or three weeks ahead through the official festival site.
3. Ride the Port of Waterford Eye
Towering over the River Suir, this 32-metre observation wheel offers sweeping views across the festive city, from the Viking Triangle rooftops to the glowing market squares below. Time your ride for just after dusk, around 4:30 in December, when the city lights switch on beneath you. No pre-booking is needed — tickets are available at the quayside kiosk.
4. Wander the Christmas Market at Winterval
The free-entry Christmas market spreads through the Cultural Quarter — John Roberts Square, Arundel Square, Georges Street, Gladstone Street and O’Connell Street — with dozens of artisan stalls selling Irish crafts, festive gifts and seasonal street food. Open Thursday and Friday afternoons and all day on weekends, it is the beating heart of the festival. Weekday afternoons are calmest; Saturday evenings buzz with live music from the Winterval Snowball Stage.
5. Visit Santa in the Medieval Museum Vaults
Few Santa experiences in Europe can match this one: children descend into 12th-century underground vaults beneath Waterford’s Medieval Museum to meet Santa amid ancient stone walls, festive games and activities. Each child receives a gift, and every family gets a printed photograph. Tickets cost €26 per child with two adults admitted free, and this is consistently the first Winterval event to sell out — book the moment tickets go on sale if you can.
Festive Sights and Landmarks
Beyond the festival programme, Waterford itself is a Christmas postcard. The city’s Viking heritage and world-famous crystal tradition give its festive season a character you will not find anywhere else in Ireland. These four landmarks are at their most beautiful in December.
6. Explore the Viking Triangle at Christmas
The Viking Triangle — Ireland’s oldest urban district — glows with festive lights woven between medieval towers, museums and narrow lanes. Start at Reginald’s Tower, the 800-year-old circular fortress that has watched over Waterford since the 13th century, and follow the illuminated trail through Cathedral Square to the Bishop’s Palace. The combination of ancient stone and Christmas sparkle is what makes Christmas in Waterford feel so different from any other Irish city.
7. Visit the House of Waterford Crystal
Waterford is synonymous with crystal, and December is the perfect time to visit the House of Waterford Crystal on the Mall. Watch master craftsmen cut and polish sparkling pieces — many visitors buy a Christmas ornament or decanter as a once-in-a-lifetime souvenir. The showroom takes on a festive dress-up in December, and a crystal bauble makes a uniquely Waterford gift.
8. Stroll the Quayside Lights Along the River Suir
The quayside between Merchants Quay and Adelphi Quay is one of Ireland’s loveliest evening walks at Christmas, with the riverside lights reflecting on the water and the festival’s glow spilling across the Suir. Pair it with the ice rink and the Waterford Eye for a perfect two-hour evening loop. Wrap up warm — the riverside breeze bites harder than the sheltered streets of the city centre.
9. Follow the Viking Elf Trail
This free, self-guided trail threads through the Viking Triangle, inviting children to hunt for hidden Viking elves among the historic streets. It is ideal for toddlers and younger kids who need a break from queues — quick, fun, and perfectly themed to Ireland’s oldest city. Pick up the trail map at the market or festival information points.
Christmas Food, Drink & Shopping
A Christmas trip to Waterford should taste as good as it looks. From the Polish Christmas Village’s hearty street food to the city’s artisan craft fairs and festive food tours, there is plenty to eat, drink and bring home. Here are three food and shopping highlights.
10. Eat Your Way Through the Polish Christmas Village
Tucked within the Winterval market in the Cultural Quarter, the Polish Christmas Village celebrates Waterford’s vibrant Polish community with steaming plates of pierogi, smoked oscypek cheese with cranberry, and warming festive drinks. It is one of the most distinctive food experiences of any Christmas market in Ireland — arrive hungry and try something you cannot get anywhere else.
11. Shop the Garter Lane Craft Fair
Just off the main market trail, the Garter Lane Craft Fair is a treasure trove of high-end Irish art, jewellery and handmade gifts that many visitors walk straight past. Entry is free, and the quality is a step above typical market stalls. For authentic, locally made Christmas presents, this is the single best shopping stop in Waterford.
12. Join a Tasteful Christmas Food Tour
New for recent festivals, the Tasteful Christmas food tours lead small groups through Waterford’s festive food scene — think mulled wine, artisan chocolate, seasonal bakes and local specialities, with stories from the producers behind them. If you prefer a self-guided version, graze the market stalls at your own pace and finish with a luxury hot chocolate, ideally in a reusable cup for a small discount at many stalls.
Family Fun and Events
Winterval is built for families, with a programme that runs from toddler-friendly trails to evening concerts. Beyond the ice rink and Santa’s grotto, these three events round out a perfect family day.
13. Catch a Show: The Winterval Circus or Theatre Royal Panto
The Winterval Circus brings a traditional Big Top to Park Road beside the People’s Park, with acrobatics, festive comedy and live music in a fast-paced, all-ages show — a family ticket costs around €40. Prefer a classic panto? The Theatre Royal Waterford stages Sleeping Beauty through December, and Snow White runs at the SETU Arena. Book weekend shows well ahead, as family matinees sell out quickly.
14. Ride the Winterval Mini Express Train
The little Winterval Mini Express Train chugs through the festive streets from Gladstone Street, delighting under-10s with its lights and jingle. At around €5 a ride, it is one of the festival’s best-value ticketed attractions — and the nearby fairground at John Roberts Square, with its traditional rides and helter-skelter, keeps the excitement going.
15. End the Night with Music and the Drone Show
Winterval’s evening programme gives the festival an after-dark second life. The free Sky Spectacular drone show sends 150 illuminated drones dancing over the River Suir in festive shapes, while the new Hive venue hosts headline gigs — The High Kings on December 18, The Boomtown Rats on December 19 and an Oasis tribute on December 20. For couples and groups making a weekend of it, as the festival director puts it, the city sparkles differently after dark.
Plan Your Visit
A little planning goes a long way at Winterval, especially on December weekends when the city fills up. Here is how to shape your trip around who you are travelling with.
For Families
Book Santa’s grotto and the ice rink the moment tickets go on sale — both sell out on weekends. Aim for Thursday or Friday morning slots, which are far calmer than Saturdays. Build the day around free anchors (the Viking Elf Trail, Santa’s Giant Disco Postbox, the market) and one paid highlight, and keep coats and layers handy for the quayside.
For Couples
Waterford shines as a romantic Christmas weekend: an evening skate on the ice rink, the Waterford Eye at dusk, dinner in one of the city’s cosy restaurants, then the Winterval Illuminates show and live music at the Festival Club. Stay overnight in the city centre so you can enjoy the after-dark atmosphere — many hotels book up for December weekends by October.
On a Budget
You can have a wonderful Christmas day in Waterford for very little. The Christmas market, Winterval Illuminates, the drone show, the Viking Elf Trail, the quayside lights walk and the choirs are all free. Pack your own snacks or bring a reusable cup for discounted hot drinks at the market stalls, and choose a weekday visit to dodge the busiest — and priciest — crowds.
Frequently Asked Questions
When is Winterval 2026 in Waterford?
Winterval 2026 runs on weekends from November 13 to December 23, 2026, across Waterford city centre. The Christmas market opens Thursday and Friday afternoons and all day Saturday and Sunday. Always confirm dates and opening hours on the official winterval.ie site before travelling.
Is entry to Winterval free?
Yes — entry to the festival and the Christmas market is free. Many headline experiences are also free, including Winterval Illuminates, the drone show, the Viking Elf Trail and the live choirs. Ticketed attractions include Waterford on Ice (from about €18), Santa’s grotto (€26 per child), the circus and headline concerts.
Where can I park in Waterford during Winterval?
City-centre car parks fill quickly on December weekends — arrive before midday or use the park-and-ride options the festival promotes. Waterford is compact and walkable, so once parked you can reach every attraction on foot. Check the festival’s visitor information page for current parking and road-closure advice.
What is the best day to visit Winterval?
For the liveliest atmosphere, visit on a Saturday evening when the market, fairground and live music are in full swing. For a calmer family day with shorter queues, choose a Thursday or Friday. The opening weekend in mid-November and the final week before Christmas are the busiest periods.
Can I do Winterval as a day trip from Dublin or Cork?
Yes. Waterford is about 2 hours by car or direct train from Dublin Heuston, and around 1 hour 45 minutes from Cork, making a festive day trip very doable. Trains run regularly into Plunkett Station, a short walk from the city centre. For the full evening programme — illuminations, concerts and the after-dark market — consider staying overnight.
How do you say Merry Christmas in Irish?
Nollaig Shona — pronounced roughly “NULL-ig HUN-uh” — means Happy Christmas in Irish. You will see it on decorations and hear it everywhere during An Nollaig, the Christmas season, in Waterford. Try it on a market stallholder and you are guaranteed a smile.
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