Winter wonderland: Here are Ireland's best Christmas experiences for the whole family
Is Waterford Patrick Winterval Drohan, Winterval Driver Browne Express Jamie Festival Train Pictured Photograph:
It began as a local initiative to boost festive tourism. A little over a decade later, and Waterford has been proclaimed Europe’s City of Christmas.
There’s even a portal — far less controversial than its Dublin counterpart — with Brno, the Czech Republic city that won European Capital of Christmas.
Both cities wave at each other via a live video feed, holding up written signs, mimicking each others’ dance moves.
The win is a coup for Winterval, and an honour well earned.
Waterford’s Christmas festival has many of the same offerings as Cork or Dublin, there’s an ice rink, the Eye ferris wheel and festive markets.
But the real joy is the size of the city. Everything is within walking distance.
You can stroll from the mini express train to a VR sleigh ride, pop over to Carters for their fabled hot chocolates (ask for Lisa), even get your photo in a life size snow globe — complete with swirling flakes.
There’s Glow, a fairytale garden lit with Christmas scenes, and of course Winterval Illuminates, a wall in the centre of town that’s showcased with music, animation, and a finale of falling snow.
Last but not least, there’s visits to Santa — so real we can tell he’s flown straight from the North Pole — deep in the vaults of the Medieval Museum, with a giant postbox for his letters just around the corner.
It’s as though the whole city has come together to get behind the festival. The marketing is top level, there’s signage everywhere, festive maps to guide you, and cheery staff in shops and cafes smiling and sending festive goodwill.
It’s as though Waterford no longer exists for six weeks every year. In its place stands Winterval.
Tina Darrer, owner of the long standing Dooleys, says the festival has transformed the city.
The hotel, in the family three generations, prides itself on home cooked food and traditional hospitality.
In the rooms towels are morphed into animal shapes for the sheer fun of it; and if you’re lucky on departure you might even head home with a blaa.
Before Winterval launched, the city was quiet — this December they’ll be struggling to keep up with demand.
Lisa from Carters' Chocolate Cafe echoes the sentiment. This is a city transformed.
Winterval is Waterford’s little stroke of genius, a taste of Lapland without leaving the country.
Planning to visit this Christmas? Don’t miss the Trash Test Dummies, an Australian dare devil show at Garter Lane Arts Centre.
Think slapstick comedy and daring acrobatics — at one point a good five minutes of the show is taken up with the cast and audience throwing bouncy balls at each other. Utterly madcap — and truly magnificent.
Winterval also offers 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, and more.
The Winterval festival is open every weekend from now until December 23. The festival programme has over 50 events, with half on offer for free.
Christmas wouldn’t be Christmas without a trip to the panto.
The spellbinding Cinderella is at the Cork Opera House until January 19 and promises fantasy, fabulous music and fun for all.
Family pass, from €145. Also in Cork, at The Everyman until January 12, is the timeless tale of Red Riding Hood.
In Dublin, The Gaiety sails to Neverland for a swashbuckling Peter Pan until January 19. Tickets from €21.50.
Limerick is spoilt for choice, with the egg-cellent Mother Goose at the UCH until January 12, family tickets from €80; while at the Lime Tree Theatre, a hair-raising Rapunzel runs until January 5. Family ticket, €105.
Most venues host relaxed performances on selected dates, check websites for details.
- Cinderella, see corkoperahouse.ie.
- Red Riding Hood, see everymancork.com.
- Peter Pan, see gaietytheatre.ie.
- Mother Goose, see uch.ie.
- Rapunzel, see limetreebelltable.ie.
On a Christmas shopping day out, a festive afternoon tea makes for a perfect pit-stop.
In Dublin, Anantara The Marker’s festive afternoon tea is the ultimate indulgence, and among the delights created by head pastry chef Sebastian Ritzen is a Battenberg with a twist, along with a host of sumptuous savoury and sweet treats.
- Festive Afternoon Tea, daily, 1-4pm until December 31, €65pp; €85pp/€100 with a glass of Bollinger Champagne.
If you’re in Cork, for a festive tipple with a side of hygge, the newly transformed Wild Winter Terrace at The River Lee Hotel’s River Club has specially crafted Killahora Orchards cocktails, perfect to sip and savour.
Cork’s Imperial Hotel wants us to relive the joy and magic of our childhood Christmas.
New owners the Fitzgerald family have brought one of their own family traditions to Cork in the form of a reconditioned sleigh, once housed at An Poitin Stil’ pub in Dublin, which will take pride of place in lobby with a miniature train display winding around the grand Christmas tree.
Also on offer is a sweet tin-inspired afternoon tea filled with classic treats like Quality Street and Cadbury Roses.
The menu includes the Bounty Bauble, Toffee Penny, Strawberry Dream Delight, Gingerbread Scone, and Imperial Tea Cake.
- This festive tea is priced at €49 per person and must be booked in advance.
- Anantara The Marker, see anantara.com/en/the-marker-dublin
- The Wild Winter Terrace at The River Lee, see theriverclubcork.ie
- The Imperial Hotel, see imperialhotelcork.com
Meeting Santa is where memories that last a lifetime are made. At Bunratty Castle in Co Clare, kids can have breakfast with Santa, which involves a festive feast, singalongs and a one-to-one with the man himself.
In Cork, kids are spoiled for choice. Cuskinny has The Cork North Pole Outpost Experience, an interactive, immersive theatrical journey that culminates in that all-important meeting with Santa, before choosing a gift in his Toy Shop —an ASD-friendly experience, December 13.
In Douglas Village, until December 23, Santa will be in residence by the fire in his Nordic tipi, ably assisted by his elves, who will be on hand to snap a photo of the kids’ encounter.
New to Emerald Park in Co Meath for 2024 is Jingle Fest, a fab festive family day out that includes a live show in the Big Top Tree Tent.
In Co Clare, the festive magic is under and over ground at Ailwee’s Santa’s Workshop, which this year includes a virtual reality experience. Adults, €23; children, €45.
- Breakfast with Santa, see bunrattycastle.ie/christmas
- The Cork North Pole Outpost Experience, see northpolecork.com
- Santa’s Nordic Tipi, see tsevents.clr.events or @santasnordictipi on social media
- Jingle Fest, see emeraldpark.ie/events/jingle-fest
- Ailwee’s Santa Workshop, see aillweeburrenexperience.ie/santas-workshop
Choo-choo-ing through a winter wonderland is Christmas magic at its best.
Believe at Clonakilty Model Village in West Cork has the Elf Express, an interactive experience featuring lights, music and a surprise.
The Believe ticket also includes storytelling in Mother Christmas’s carriage, an interactive Santa experience, gingerbread decorating in the elf kitchen, crafting, games, and activities — with ASD-friendly times, December 13 and 14. Adults €20; children, €25.
Other on-track train experiences include Co Clare’s Bunratty Polar Express, part of the Christmas Experience at Bunratty Castle, running until December 23; while at Palmerstown House Estate, in Naas, Co Kildare, Santa’s House Express returns with several exciting additions.
- Believe, see modelvillage.ie
- Christmas Experience at Bunratty Castle and Folk Park, see bunrattycastle.ie/christmas2024
- Santa’s House Express, see santashouseexpress.ie
A lights experience is now an unmissable addition to the Christmas calendar, bringing sparkle and mood-lifting joy to December nights.
‘A Journey Through Time’ is this year’s theme for the iconic Wild Lights at Dublin Zoo, a spectacular immersive experience that tracks history through the ages. Until January 5.
Back for 2024 is the ever dazzling Wonderlights, with installations in Cork and Dublin and an Alpine Food & Drinks Village in each location.
Cork’s Fota House and Gardens has Wonderlights’ The Magic of Winter, an incredible illuminated winter wonderland, with lit-up sculptures of Arctic animals, meadows of glowing flowers, and an awe-inspiring frozen forest.
In Dublin, ‘A Light Spectacular’ at Malahide Castle and gardens features huge light tunnels, a light installation and the much-loved Talking Tree, while Marlay Park by Night in Rathfarnham has golden animal sculptures and a Night Sky-themed light projection over the lake.
Standard tickets, €19.50. Corkmas’ Solas Lighting Experience, an interactive light installation, is on Grand Parade until December 22.
In Co Wicklow, Treetop Night Lights is again lighting up ‘Beyond The Trees’ in Avondale. Ticket holders can enjoy food trucks, craft markets, carnival rides and more as part of this magical adventure through the glittering forest. Until February 2.
In Co Meath, Slane Castle’s spectacular interactive Enchanted Kingdom sound and light experience runs until December 31.
- Wild Lights at Dublin Zoo, see dublinzoo.ie/wildlights
- Wonderlights, see wonderlights.ie
- Solas Lighting Experience, see corkmas.ie
- Treetop Night Lights, see beyondthetreesavondale.com
- Enchanted Kingdom, see enchantedkingdom.ie
Whizzing around on the ice — or just staying upright! — is not only great exercise, it’s wholesome fun for all ages and abilities.
In SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh in Cork, as part of Winterlee’s winter wonderland, which includes a winter village and a funfair, skate lovers will adore the Alpine Skate Trail, which runs through the north concourse of the fabled stadium until January 19.
On Ice has rinks in Dublin, Galway, Killarney, Limerick, Waterford, and at Cork’s Marina Market, if you fancy a skating session, while Wicklow on Ice is part of the magic of Treetop Night Lights, and runs until January 19.
- Winterlee Alpine Skate Trail, see iceskating.ie
- On Ice, see onice.ie
- Wicklow on Ice, see wicklowonice.ie
Make it a December to remember by buying local at a Christmas market. As part of Corkmas, the Christmas Market on Emmet Place is running every Thursday to Sunday until December 22.
After browsing stalls selling everything from hand-knits and jewellery to bratwurst and waffles, bring the kids to the Santa Experience, or head to Grand Parade for a ride on the fab ferris wheel, with its bird’s-eye view of the city spires until December 30.
At Dublin’s RDS, the fabulous ‘Gifted’ returns to its Main Hall from December 4 to 8.
This massive Christmas market showcases the best of Irish craft, design, independent brands, and artisan food producers.
Also in Dublin, Christmas at the Castle is at Dublin Castle until December 18, with craft and food stalls, a Spiegel-style marquee and a Neapolitan crib.
In Limerick, the Milk Market has a multitude of seasonal events, scrumptious festive foods, handmade crafts and gorgeous gifts right up until December 24.
- Corkmas Christmas Market Emmet Place, see corkmas.ie
- Gifted, see giftedfair.ie
- Christmas at the Castle, see heritageireland.ie
- Milk Market Limerick, see milkmarketlimerick.ie
If you adore a classical kick-off to your festive season, St Patrick’s Cathedral, Dublin hosts its annual performance of Handel’s Messiah on December 6.
Performed on period instruments by the Irish Baroque Orchestra with Chamber Choir Ireland in full chorus, it promises to be an authentic recreation of the 18th century masterpiece.
If you’re more into Mariah than the Messiah, get to Cork’s Everyman on December 8 for Sunday Songbook: The Ultimate Christmas Show for a nostalgia-filled songfest! Tickets, €31.
Staying in Cork, the 62nd Lord Mayor’s Gala Christmas Concert will be live at City Hall with Christmas favourites for all the family on December 7, from €15.
At the NCH in Dublin, helping to make it the most wonderful time of the year is Christmas at the Movies and Candlelit Carols, on December 15 and 16 respectively.
And in Cork don’t forget the now-iconic The Snowman from the Cork Youth Orchestra on December 14 and 15. Tickets start from €12.50.
- Handel’s Messiah at St Patrick’s Cathedral, Dublin, see eventbrite.ie
- To book Sunday Songbook or The Lord Mayor’s Gala Christmas Concert, see everymancork.com
- National Concert Hall events, see nch.ie
- To book The Snowman see tickets.ie
Looking for something a little different this Christmas? ‘Yule’ love these!
At Cork’s Marina Market, all the family, including the dog, can take part in an interactive adventure to Save Santa.
At the Shannon Aviation Museum in Co Clare, budding top guns can meet Santa and satisfy their need for speed in a Boeing 737 flight simulator.
Animal lovers should head to Co Wicklow for the K2 Alpacas Santa
Experience where kids can meet the resident alpacas and Santa too.
For grown-ups in search of festive glitz ‘n’ glam, the Drag Queen Christmas Spectacular is at the Theatre Royal Waterford on December 23 for its third year running.
- Save Santa, see save-santa.com
- Shannon Aviation Museum, see shannonaviationmuseum.com
- K2Alpacas Santa Experience, see k2alpacas.ie
- Theatre Royal Waterford, see theatreroyal.ie