Winterval made €320k loss before council compensation in 2025
The post-event report said an expansion in traders ultimately led to quality becoming diluted. Photo: Joe Evans
Waterford’s Christmas festival ‘Winterval’ recorded a loss of €318,671 in 2025, according to the festival’s post-event report.
Figures show that the festival generated an income of €471,459 from sponsorship, events and concessions, while expenditure totalled €790,103.
Waterford City and County Council provided €300,000 as a direct contribution to the festival, while also directly paying €314,286 for security and plant hire.
While the festival itself made a loss, the report estimated that boosts in tourism and footfall generated €14 million for the city and county.
“The 2025 programme demonstrated a strong commitment to innovation, with the festival trialling new ideas, new dates, and new venues, while also forming partnerships with new organisations,” the report said.
“Despite consistently poor weather conditions throughout the festival period, Winterval 2025 was a resounding success, attracting over 1.4 million visitors to Waterford from across Ireland and internationally.”
The visitor figures were calculated by mobile phone data provided via a third-party network.
For the first time, Winterval expanded its street presence to include traders on Arundel Square and Michael Street. Despite netting additional revenue for the festival, the report highlighted issues with the expansion:
- The overall quality of traders was perceived as poorer compared to recent years.
- Presentation standards varied across locations. While Arundel Square performed well visually, Michael Street and O’Connell Street lacked cohesion and atmosphere.
- There were multiple traders selling similar products, reducing distinctiveness and perceived value.
- Traders located in lower-footfall areas—particularly Michael Street, and to a lesser extent O’Connell Street—reported poor trading outcomes.
The report suggested future trading to be concentrated in John Roberts Square, Broad Street and Arundel Square.
Keeping a layout involving Michael Street and O’Connell Street for future editions risks “trader dissatisfaction and reputational harm”, according to the report.
It was recommended that Michael Street return to an event space and that the cultural quarter be reserved for high-quality artisan goods.
The report said Winterval is currently in negotiations with the Local Enterprise Office (LEO) to sponsor traders on Georges Street as part of a year-round training programme.
The drone show, unveiled for the first time in 2025, is unlikely to continue. Due to budget constraints, plans for a parade were dropped in favour of the drone show.
According to the report, some spectators expected a longer viewing (the drone show was eight minutes in length) and anticipated a larger-scale spectacle equivalent to events in Dubai or China.
The drone show, which ultimately took place on November 22, was postponed because of poor weather.
“Committing a significant portion of the festival budget to an event that may be cancelled or postponed carries considerable financial exposure,” the report said.
It was recommended to reintroduce a parade, given its cost-effectiveness and logistical reliability.
“If budget allows, a fireworks display following the parade would create a high-impact, magical opening night experience while offering greater certainty of delivery,” the report said.
