'Winterval' Festival

Jason Todd

I know we always say there should be more festivals and the like in Waterford, here's one... sounds decent too. Should help local shops at Christmas time boost sales even more if all goes to plan. Stuff planned includes:

3D Audio Visual show @ Cathedral Square
Winterval Marketplace
'A Taste of Christmas Past' food experience @ Bishops Palace
Carousel @ Red Square
Santa's Grotto
Transformation of Waterford Crystal on the Mall to 'Crystal Christmas'

Like I say, sounds good, more info here

ziedth

Great idea,

Should in theory bring in families from all over into the city centre.

ex_infantry man

we,re only heading into july man calm down!!!!!

abouttobebanned

But Santa is busy downloading all the drivers etc for all the kid's Xmas presents!

Not The Real Scarecrow

Not a summer person at all so actually looking forward to it. Used to love the spread they did over in Edinburgh for december, hopefully this will be similar enough.

Professey Chin

Sounds really nice. Especially the taste of christmas past part.
Mmmmmmmmm food

fricatus

Hehe, not much in that website, but the idea looks deadly. I love that time of year - as long as it's not raining! Maybe we're getting the rain out of the way now?

tombliboo83

Looks good but here's hoping the council don't hike up the parking costs around that time! In all seriousness it does look decent but they really need to do something like have free parking in Ballybricken throughout December if they really want to attract people back to the city centre
for things like this.

Jason Todd

yeah, if the numbers come to the City that are hoped for, then parking may be an issue one way or another.

BBM77

tombliboo83 wrote: »

...do something like have free parking in Ballybricken throughout December...

It is hard enough for residences in Ballybricken to get parking there at Christmas without it being free of charge for all in-sundry. Contrary to popular belief charging for parking on streets in the inter city is not all about collecting money, it is also about regulating the parking so people don’t leave their car there all day and not give others the chance to park.

tombliboo83

BBM77 wrote: »

It is hard enough for residences in Ballybricken to get parking there at Christmas without it being free of charge for all in-sundry. Contrary to popular belief charging for parking on streets in the inter city is not all about collecting money, it is also about regulating the parking so people don’t leave their car there all day and not give others the chance to park.

Yeah not about the money at all. Recieved a parking fine whilst purchasing our Christmas tree in Kervicks last December, I was less than ten minutes..hardly entices me to repeat my purchase this year..apparently there's no longer a grace period in which to even get change for the parking meter now.:rolleyes:

BBM77

tombliboo83 wrote: »

Yeah not about the money at all. Recieved a parking fine whilst purchasing our Christmas tree in Kervicks last December, I was less than ten minutes..hardly entices me to repeat my purchase this year..apparently there's no longer a grace period in which to even get change for the parking meter now.:rolleyes:

Well I don’t know about the rights and wrongs of individual parking tickets issued.

Just because you got a ticket and felt hard done by does not prove that a system is all about money.

I am old enough to remember before disc parking started in the Ballybricken area. The streets used to be jammed with cars from about 8 to 6 every week day. It is often like that at Christmas now; you could be driving around the whole area and not find a space. I think the residence of the area have greater cause to feel hard done by in that case.


PS: I don’t see why you would not give Kervicks your business again this year because a completely separate organisation gave you a parking ticket. Why take it out on Kervicks or the other businesses in the area.

tombliboo83

Not taking anything out on Kervicks but it hardly entices custom in ballybricken when you get a ticket under 10 mins. Kervicks are among the most expensive trees at xmas, I was merely trying to support a local business which I and many others will think twice about.

Professey Chin

I actually don't even bother trying to find parking near where I live at times around christmas. Not worth the hassle. Usually just leave it at a relations and collect it when its quieter

jennygirl

I Was at the info night for Winterval -
it was great -
about 80 or so people - amazed at some of the ideas -
the undercroft as santas grotto -
a mini train with elves to bring the kids around the christmas trail -
greyfriars as a viking village
black friars as an eastern European market
loads of events for 23 days - an expected 1/2 million visitors
and the unbelievable wingers on boards are whining about parking spaces -
are ye mf's ever happy????????????

Happy Christmas to all ye sad negative boardsies -

RANT OVER!

Jason Todd

jennygirl wrote: »

I Was at the info night for Winterval -
it was great -
about 80 or so people - amazed at some of the ideas -
the undercroft as santas grotto -
a mini train with elves to bring the kids around the christmas trail -
greyfriars as a viking village
black friars as an eastern European market
loads of events for 23 days - an expected 1/2 million visitors
and the unbelievable wingers on boards are whining about parking spaces -
are ye mf's ever happy????????????

Happy Christmas to all ye sad negative boardsies -

RANT OVER!

Hi Jenny, where & when was the info night? Thanks.

Psychedelic

jennygirl wrote: »

I Was at the info night for Winterval -
it was great -
about 80 or so people - amazed at some of the ideas -
the undercroft as santas grotto -
a mini train with elves to bring the kids around the christmas trail -
greyfriars as a viking village
black friars as an eastern European market
loads of events for 23 days - an expected 1/2 million visitors
and the unbelievable wingers on boards are whining about parking spaces -
are ye mf's ever happy????????????

Happy Christmas to all ye sad negative boardsies -

RANT OVER!

Sounds good. Any idea why they are marketing this at the height of summer? Obviously plans need to start now but why are there press releases in the papers and signage up in shops (on the Quay anyway)?

fricatus

jennygirl wrote: »

I Was at the info night for Winterval -
it was great -
about 80 or so people - amazed at some of the ideas -
the undercroft as santas grotto -
a mini train with elves to bring the kids around the christmas trail -
greyfriars as a viking village
black friars as an eastern European market
loads of events for 23 days

Sounds savage!

jennygirl wrote: »

an expected 1/2 million visitors

:eek:

jennygirl wrote: »

and the unbelievable wingers on boards are whining about parking spaces -
are ye mf's ever happy????????????

Happy Christmas to all ye sad negative boardsies -

RANT OVER!

LOL, I'm with you there... if we hosted the Olympics there would be people on here complaining about parking! Funny how I also live in Waterford and have never had any problem finding parking in town (with the exception of a day or two before Christmas) yet there are all these people who can never find a space.

deisemum

The website has been launched and looks good, plenty of things to choose from.

http://www.winterval.ie/events

Max Powers

fricatus wrote: »

LOL, I'm with you there... if we hosted the Olympics there would be people on here complaining about parking! Funny how I also live in Waterford and have never had any problem finding parking in town (with the exception of a day or two before Christmas) yet there are all these people who can never find a space.

Nice one, ridiculous isnt it, cost of parking, traffic, queues in shops, lack of space in shops, rude assistants, its all a disgrace. Its about bloody time the council done something about the cold weather around the city in December too, this is exactly the reason why i didnt pay my household charge bla bla bla.

Seriously, it looks great and if people stopped their whining and left their local to get in and support the city centre, we would all be better off.

thomasm

Looks great, fair play to all involved

KevIRL

Well now that looks just fantastic. A big well done to everyone involved in putting it together and running, loads of stuff to see and do. some nice dry weather now please!

fiesty lady

Think it sounds brill ok, but was talking to one of the organising committe the other day and he was telling me about the santa's grotto which sounds fantastic, with a toy museum santa 's elves, and a present but the cost will be 15 euro per child. Thought that was a bit steep!

Smell the glove

Looks absolutely fantastic, my only gripe is that certain things are a bit pricey.
Santa's grotto and the train spring to mind, but, overall I'm looking forward to this.

jennygirl

web site launched
www.winterval.ie

wmpdd3

The reptiles and animals in the city centre will go down well with my toddler, very impressed with the website!

michellie

Looks great, really looking forward to this.

Waterford Blaa

Would you like to volunteer to be part of Winterval, Waterford's new Christmas Festival?
Come along to an open meeting on Wednesday, October 24th in Dooley’s Hotel on The Quay at 7p.m. Why not bring a friend with you! (volunteers must be over 18 years).
A few hours of your time during the month of December would help enormously. Enjoy the magic of Christmas by volunteering for some of the events that are planned from November 30th to December 23rd.

Everyone is welcome to the meeting. Contact Catherine (051 840011) or Michael (085 1899641) if you have any queries. If you cannot make this meeting and would like to get involved please drop in to the Winterval office at 127 The Quay (near Reginald’s Tower) which is open Monday to Friday from 11a.m. to 3p.m. This meeting is being hosted by the Winterval Committee and Waterford Volunteer Support Committee.

SPQRI

''A few hours of your time during the month of December would help enormously. Enjoy the magic of Christmas by volunteering for some of the events that are planned from November 30th to December 23rd''


Are these people really for real? Do ye live in the real f...... world?
'Enjoy the magic of Christmas by volunteering'
Is this the limit of the Waterford City Councils thinking?
I'll assume 'you' are asking people to donate their time to promote Waterford City for absolute nothing??
There are both enough idiots volunteering & more than enough councils literally taking advantage of people by using them without payment using the excuse of limited funding.

Anyone who volunteers for this needs their heads examined...
Wait....maybe B.... will be at the forefront or will he be doing his shopping in Kilkenny!!!

bradknowell

SPQRI wrote: »

Anyone who volunteers for this needs their heads examined...
Wait....maybe B.... will be at the forefront or will he be doing his shopping in Kilkenny!!!

Couldnt disagree more. If someone wants to volunteer then why not? Its no skin off any of our noses. Fair play to whoever volunteers. If I was able to volunteer I definitely would.



whats with all the bold writing anyway?

ziedth

SPQRI wrote: »

''A few hours of your time during the month of December would help enormously. Enjoy the magic of Christmas by volunteering for some of the events that are planned from November 30th to December 23rd''


Are these people really for real? Do ye live in the real f...... world?
'Enjoy the magic of Christmas by volunteering'
Is this the limit of the Waterford City Councils thinking?
I'll assume 'you' are asking people to donate their time to promote Waterford City for absolute nothing??
There are both enough idiots volunteering & more than enough councils literally taking advantage of people by using them without payment using the excuse of limited funding.

Anyone who volunteers for this needs their heads examined...
Wait....maybe B.... will be at the forefront or will he be doing his shopping in Kilkenny!!!

Retail in Ireland is really running on fumes and without a big Christmas I fear we are going to see allot of places go under. If this gets a few hundred people into the city who might have gone elsewhere then it might make all the difference. You can't seriously expect people involved in these kind of thin .to get paid do you? If that we're the case the likes of Sproai, Tall Ships, Marathons, St. Patricks Day would never happen. Fair play to anyone who volunteers a young family means I definitely can't but it's something I'd Love to do.

Jason Todd

SPQRI wrote: »

''A few hours of your time during the month of December would help enormously. Enjoy the magic of Christmas by volunteering for some of the events that are planned from November 30th to December 23rd''


Are these people really for real? Do ye live in the real f...... world?
'Enjoy the magic of Christmas by volunteering'
Is this the limit of the Waterford City Councils thinking?
I'll assume 'you' are asking people to donate their time to promote Waterford City for absolute nothing??
There are both enough idiots volunteering & more than enough councils literally taking advantage of people by using them without payment using the excuse of limited funding.

Anyone who volunteers for this needs their heads examined...
Wait....maybe B.... will be at the forefront or will he be doing his shopping in Kilkenny!!!

Nice first post, you'll go far :rolleyes:

Cabaal

SPQRI, if people want to volunteer that's their business and its none of your concern, you appear to have some chip on your shoulder

stefan idiot jones

SPQRI, for your information, I have done some volunteering and it's not just about what you can give, it's what you get back in return i.e. a bit of satisfaction that you are doing something positive for your community. Enjoy your Christmas.

Max Powers

SPQRI wrote: »

''A few hours of your time during the month of December would help enormously. Enjoy the magic of Christmas by volunteering for some of the events that are planned from November 30th to December 23rd''


Are these people really for real? Do ye live in the real f...... world?
'Enjoy the magic of Christmas by volunteering'
Is this the limit of the Waterford City Councils thinking?
I'll assume 'you' are asking people to donate their time to promote Waterford City for absolute nothing??
There are both enough idiots volunteering & more than enough councils literally taking advantage of people by using them without payment using the excuse of limited funding.

Anyone who volunteers for this needs their heads examined...
Wait....maybe B.... will be at the forefront or will he be doing his shopping in Kilkenny!!!

Thankfully, this mentality is not common but is visible none the less, truly pathetic post, i can only assume the person is very young and very immature. Fair play to all involved in what looks like a great initiative

Luckycharms_74

SPQRI wrote: »

''A few hours of your time during the month of December would help enormously. Enjoy the magic of Christmas by volunteering for some of the events that are planned from November 30th to December 23rd''


Are these people really for real? Do ye live in the real f...... world?
'Enjoy the magic of Christmas by volunteering'
Is this the limit of the Waterford City Councils thinking?
I'll assume 'you' are asking people to donate their time to promote Waterford City for absolute nothing??
There are both enough idiots volunteering & more than enough councils literally taking advantage of people by using them without payment using the excuse of limited funding.

Anyone who volunteers for this needs their heads examined...
Wait....maybe B.... will be at the forefront or will he be doing his shopping in Kilkenny!!!

What a retarded post. You obviously have some serious chip on your shoulder. As Ziedth said if people never volunteered for various things in this City they wouldn't happen. I think anyone who donated their free time as volunteers should be commended not ridiculed. We gotta help get this city back on its feet. It's people like you that keep putting those hard working people down.

Sully

I have given this thread a small clean up to avoid it going completely off topic. Valid responses were fine but its gone a bit messy at this stage in the topic!

I think its best that the immediate replies to such are left at that, rather than to completely derail this thread. I have merged it with the existing thread also on Winterval.

Cabbage_Head

SPQRI wrote: »

''A few hours of your time during the month of December would help enormously. Enjoy the magic of Christmas by volunteering for some of the events that are planned from November 30th to December 23rd''


Are these people really for real? Do ye live in the real f...... world?
'Enjoy the magic of Christmas by volunteering'
Is this the limit of the Waterford City Councils thinking?
I'll assume 'you' are asking people to donate their time to promote Waterford City for absolute nothing??
There are both enough idiots volunteering & more than enough councils literally taking advantage of people by using them without payment using the excuse of limited funding.

Anyone who volunteers for this needs their heads examined...
Wait....maybe B.... will be at the forefront or will he be doing his shopping in Kilkenny!!!

They're not asking people to volunteer to pick up needles or do physical labour.. Looking for a hand to make the city a nicer place for families, children, residents, visitors. Will get some people out of the house, give everyone a sense of feel-good while in general adding to community spirit. I don't know what you have shoved up your ar$e but you should probably see a doctor about it

nkay1985

I'm going down there this evening anyway. See what they're looking for help with. I get the benefit of all the things that happen in Waterford, why not give something back?

Sully

Sully wrote: »

I have given this thread a small clean up to avoid it going completely off topic. Valid responses were fine but its gone a bit messy at this stage in the topic!

I think its best that the immediate replies to such are left at that, rather than to completely derail this thread. I have merged it with the existing thread also on Winterval.

As above. Please stay on topic, rather than derail the thread any further. Not fair on the crew working on the festival!

beazee

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aO8wHqtTTek

YT description:
On Saturday the 31st of November, shoppers in John Robert's Square in Waterford City got a huge surprise when over 100 children broke into seemingly spontaneous festive song and dance where they expressed their love of Christmas and their excitement about Winterval, Ireland's Christmas Festival which will take place in Waterford for the month of December. For more details please go to www.winterval.ie

looksee

YT description:
On Saturday the 31st of November, shoppers in John Robert's Square in Waterford City got a huge surprise when over 100 children broke into seemingly spontaneous festive song and dance where they expressed their love of Christmas and their excitement about Winterval, Ireland's Christmas Festival which will take place in Waterford for the month of December. For more details please go to www.winterval.ie[/QUOTE]

Huh? That has to be Saturday 1st December...and as far as I know its still November.

beazee

well looksee, looksee

nkay1985

I just put the following status up on Facebook. I wonder if everyone else would do something similar? It really is looking like it's going to be great but, as the organiser said last night, it's now our job to make sure it's not Ireland's best-kept secret. Let's spread the word and get people here in their droves. I, for one, can't wait for the buzz that will surely be around.

I was at the trail walk for the Winterval festival (Ireland's Christmas Festival, as the branding goes) last night, led by the organiser, Barry Monaghan. Hearing him talk about the events that will be happening really brought home to me what an amazing festival this is going to be. Of the 27 events, over 20 are free and the paid events are very good value.

It ALL sounds great but highlights for me are the Hasbro Toy Museum, featuring toys from all over the world and from many decades, the Georgian Christmas at the Bishop's Palace, the Hot Chocolate and Movies at The Bowery where 'The Santa Clause' and 'It's a Wonderful Life' will play a few times a day and Waterford Illuminates, a 3D audio-visual show along the lines of what was done with Buckingham Palace for the jubilee celebrations.

Waterford is going to be taking taking full advantage of its amazing heritage with buildings hundreds of years old being used as venues for the various events.

Check out the details of the festival on the Winterval site which I've linked. If you're from Waterford, get out there and support this great initiative. If you're not from here, consider a day trip or an overnight stay - the hotels are doing great deals.

Spread the word (share this status if you like) and let's all do our best to ensure this is as successful as it deserves to be.

One final note, if any of you could give even a couple of hours of your time to volunteer it would help greatly. Winterval are looking for volunteers for the following activities: to help with the Toy Museum in City Hall, to steward the audio-visual show in Cathedral Square, to help with the story-telling (I think it's in Reginald's Tower) and to act as "welcome ambassadors" like we had during the Tall Ships, to ensure everyone has as good an experience as possible while they're here.

I don't think it's a lot to ask considering the potential benefits of this initiative.

wmpdd3

I think this is brilliant and an excellent use of money.

I'd love to help out but I work in retail!

I have spread the word and have relatives coming form Wexford for a 2 night stay.

deisemum

Who do you contact about volunteering?

nkay1985

deisemum wrote: »

Who do you contact about volunteering?

I'd say the easiest way is to give the Winterval office a shout on 051-856526 or, if you're in town, call in there. It's just down the Quay from Reginald's Tower.

You could also email them on wcityv@gmail.com. That's the email address I've gotten any correspondence from.

It'd be great if you could help out at all.

Max Powers

deisemum wrote: »

Who do you contact about volunteering?

im sure the winterval office on the quay near Jordans pub could put you in contact with right person/s. Think its open 11-3 most days

deisemum

Thanks, I've just sent an email to the above email address.

old gregg

I've just received an email from ALA Events in Dublin who are apparently managing the festival. I've no connection with event management but surely a local company would have been able to do this?

Psychedelic

old gregg wrote: »

I've just received an email from ALA Events in Dublin who are apparently managing the festival. I've no connection with event management but surely a local company would have been able to do this?

The Christmas market and the festival was always organised in-house by Waterford City Council, or they hired a local person. I think ALA are just managing the market, and not the whole festival.

I'd assume that the Winterval organisers thought they needed a big company to bring in more traders for the market (i.e. more money for the festival budget) than could be achieved locally, as presumably ALA would have more contacts and manpower to do so.