Current and upcoming Arts and Culture events in and around Waterford. If you have an event that you feel could be included, click here.
FESTIVALS:
Apply for Festival Funding
Waterford City & County Council serves as the primary authority for administering and allocating funding for a diverse array of local and county-wide festivals.
Through www.waterfordfestivals.ie, festival organizers gain access to a streamlined platform where they can register, submit applications, and manage their funding requests efficiently.
This online portal not only facilitates the application process but also provides crucial information for planning future submissions, ensuring transparency and accessibility in the allocation of resources for enriching the cultural landscape of Waterford. The resources will walk you through topics such as “Health & Safety”, the “Roles and Responsibilities” of festival organisers and “Child Protection”.
Waterford Walls
Waterford Walls is all about creating spaces for artists and communities to thrive. Ireland’s largest street art festival celebrates creativity and community. Every summer Waterford Walls celebrates of 10 days of live art, music, workshops, guided tours and much more as artists from around the world celebrate the diversity of life, community and culture in Waterford.
Winterval
Celebrated every year since 2012, Winterval is Ireland’s largest Christmas festival. As Christmas approaches, Waterford is transformed into a winter wonderland for Santa and his elves. Featuring a range of magical delights including a Christmas market, music, theatre, lightshows an traditional fairground rides, Winterval has become synonymous with Christmas in Waterford.
Waterford Harvest Festival
Celebrating Waterford’s buzzing culinary and creative scene, Waterford Harvest festival showcases the very best of local Irish food and produce. During weekend-long celebration, the city comes to life with markets, music, special dining events, panel discussions and plenty more.
Spraoi
First held in 1993, Spraoi is Ireland’s premiere free summer street party which showcases the very best of street theatre from around the globe. Every August, the streets of Waterford transform into an imaginative wonderland as the city welcomes performers and audiences from around the world for a breathtaking weekend of theatre, dance, music, dance and magic .
West Waterford Festival of Food
West Waterford Festival of Food has been running in Dungarvan and West Waterford annually since 2008. Featuring an eclectic mix of food markets, masterclasses, street events, workshops and foraging trails, it has become synonymous with fabulous food, fantastic family events and, most importantly, lots of fun.
Imagine Arts Festival
Imagine Arts Festival captures the essence of Waterford’s burgeoning artistic community, giving it a national platform and a bigger audience. The festival features the best of national and international artists, inspiring new ideas and thought within the local community through an eclectic programme of activities that evoke and engage on a multi-sensory level.
Imagine Arts Festival likes to capture the essence of Waterford’s burgeoning artistic community and give it a national platform and therefore a bigger audience.
Blackwater Valley Opera Festival
Every year, Blackwater Valley Opera Festival fills the summer air with the beautiful tones of world-class performers. Ireland’s summer opera festival is an exhilerating week of events including opera, recitals concerts and dining experiences at beautiful locations steeped in history and character. Free open air recitals and education programmes made the festival truly accessible to all.
1848 Tricolour Celebration
On the 7th of March 1848, Thomas Francis Meagher flew a Tricolour flag at the Wolf Tone Club 33 The Mall, Waterford City, where it flew continuously for eight days and nights before being removed by the authorities. The 1848 Tricolour Celebration is a three day event celebrating the Irish Tricolour flag and its rich history.
Vitamin Sea Festival
Every September, the Vitamin Sea Festival fills the streets and promenade of Tramore with a mix of food stalls, live music, tasting sessions, workshops and beach events. Celebrating the joys of life by the sea, through food and the outdoors, the festival has something for everyone.
Samhain in Waterford
At Halloween, Ireland’s oldest city celebrates Samhain, the ancient Irish festival which marks the end of the harvest and the beginning of the darker half of the year. Traditionally a time when spirits walk abroad, and things ae not always as they seem Samhain in Waterford is a spooky mix of theatre, live music and magic and more.
Waterford Viking Marathon
Now in its twelfth year, the Viking Marathon offers an unforgettable race day experience. Featuring a quarter, half and full marathon, participants follow in the footsteps of the Vikings in Ireland’s oldest city where history, beauty, and adventure converge in essence of Waterford.
Waterford Writers Weekend
Dedicated to writers and those who love the work of writers, the Waterford Writers Weekend features a jam-packed programme with a broad and engaging range of events and workshops to suit all ages and all genres. Whether you’re an established or aspiring writer, poet, artist, or someone who simply loves to lose yourself in a good book, the Waterford Writers Weekend is a must on the artistic calendar.