Visit Santa this Christmas
At Winterval Waterford 2021
A magical Christmas experience to share with your loved ones this year
Note: check SPAM folder for confirmation email
1 - Select
A date & time
to visit Santa
2 - Choose
How many children
will visit Santa
3 - Order Extras
A personalised Snow Globe or Christmas tree ornament
VIPSanta 2021 – The Experience
at Waterford Winterval
The Old Sorting Office on the Waterford Quays
Santa Claus and his Elves are coming to the Waterford Quays for 2021!
Santa, and his team of trusty Elves, are making the journey from the North Pole to the wonderful Waterford Winterval this festive season
Santa and the Elves cannot wait to meet all the wonderful children in the South East as they prepare for Christmas 2021
From the 19th November, Santa’s Grotto will be open every weekend from 11am to 6pm
Sit with
Santa
Sit with Santa at his Grotto to tell him about your Christmas wishes
A Free Photo With Santa
Bernard, the Head Elf, will take a photo of you & your family with Santa Claus
A Free
Adventure Book
Santa will gift each child a book:
“Oiche Nollag” written by Irish author Emma-Jane Leeson. Her books are 100% biodegradable and recyclable!
Extra Memories
Add Extras to your booking & the Elves will build a custom Snow Globe or Christmas Tree Ornament with your family’s photograph printed inside
Adults go Free
Adults go free to VIPSanta when accompanied by their children
(max 2 adults per booking)
Yuletide Café
While the Elves are busy printing your photo in their workshop, feel free to relax in our Yuletide Café; delicious festive treats will be on offer!
VIP Post Box
Have you written your letter to Santa Claus yet? Get creative at our letter-writing station, and pop your letter into our VIP Post Box*
*100% guaranteed delivery to The North Pole
Contact Us
Frequently Asked Questions
VIPSanta 2021 – Waterford Winterval
Do adults have to pay?
- Adults go free
- There is a maximum of 2 x adults per booking
- All children must be accompanied by an adult
Where is VIPSanta located?
VIPSanta is part of the Waterford Winterval, and is located within the Elfstival Festival Family Quarter (around Arundel Square)
Address: The Old Sorting Office, The Quays, Waterford City
View Map: Google Maps
How do I receive my tickets?
Your confirmation email is your ticket
Bring a smartphone device to display your confirmed ticket or a printout of email ticket and booking reference no. to validate entry
Please ensure to provide the correct email address when booking
I haven't received my confirmation email?
Please check your spam folder and any other sneaky email folders!
If it still isn’t there, then pop us a mail via the contact form on the site.
How much time should we allow for the experience?
Your visit will include a 5-7 minute private visit with Santa
This will begin at your scheduled booking time
Afterwards, we invite you to relax in our Yuletide Café for as long as you like after your visit with Santa Claus.
What if I am late / early?
Each family has their own unique booking with Santa Claus.
This is a sold-out event, so we cannot accommodate late arrivals, as this will delay other families’ bookings.
If you arrive more than 15 minutes early, you may be asked to wait outside the Grotto until your scheduled booking time.
Can I get a refund for my VIPSanta ticket?
No, unfortunately we cannot refund tickets in the case of no-shows, late arrivals, cancellations or refusal of admission due to late arrival
Will there be baby changing facilities available?
Yes
There will be toilets and baby-changing facilities at VIPSanta
Are prams / buggies permitted?
Buggies / Prams are welcome at VIPSanta
Can I bring edibles, fidget toys, headphones or other items that help my child/family member stay calm?
Of course!
We encourage you to bring any items that might make the experience more comfortable and enjoyable
Is VIPSanta wheelchair accessible?
Yes indeed
Please inform the box office of any mobility issues when reserving tickets – there is a tick-box on the booking form
I booked the wrong date; can I reschedule?
Unfortunately we cannot reschedule or move bookings once they have been processed through our system. Please double check all booking fields before proceeding to payment.
What date(s) is VIPSanta 2021? *
Fri 19th – Sun 21st Nov: 11am-6pm
Fri 26th – Sun 28th Nov: 11am-6pm
Fri 3rd – Sun 5th Dec: 11am-6pm
Fri 10th – Sun 12th Dec: 11am-6pm
Fri 17th – Thurs 23rd Dec: 11am-6pm
*Subject to change
How much are tickets?
Tickets are priced as follows:
- 1 Child (Max. 2 x adults free) = €27 (incl. €2 booking fee). Receives 1x photo & 1x gift book
- 2 Children (Max. 2 x adults free) = €44 (incl. €2 booking fee). Receives 1x photo & 2x gift books
- 3 Children (Max. 2 x adults free) = €61 (incl. €3 booking fee). Receives 1x photo & 3x gift books
- 4 Children (Max. 2 x adults free) = €79 (incl. €4 booking fee). Receives 1x photo & 4x gift books
- 5 Children (Max. 2 x adults free) = €95 (incl. €5 booking fee). Receives 1x photo & 5x gift books
Can we take photographs?
Our Elves will be taking your photo with Santa, and then printing this in their workshop for you
This will be available for collection at the end of your visit. This photo is included in your ticket price
You will also have the option to purchase a custom Snow Globe or Christmas Tree Ornament with your family’s picture printed and put inside it – we suggest to pre-order these during booking
Will there be parking facilities available?
Yes!
We are right across the road from the Clyde Wharf car park, and the IPairc Clock Tower car park is a 2-minute walk away
You can find more information on parking all around Waterford City at:
Finding us by Local Transportation
Our colleagues at Winterval have compiled an extensive list of parking facilities, public transportation, and e-car charging points: Winterval maps page
You can access the VIPSanta Santa’s Grotto from Parade Quay, and exit via Keizer Street
Is there a shop at VIPSanta?
Yes
The Yuletide Café will be open to all visitors, once they have seen Santa.
Festive snacks, gifts, tea, coffee and hot chocolate will be on offer.
We recommend visiting the café while the Elves print your photos in their Workshop, as this can take up to 15 minutes
In the event of government restrictions - Covid-19
All tickets purchased for a visit to VIPSanta will be refunded or rescheduled
However, any booking fees that are charged are non-refundable, as these fees are paid directly to credit card companies and ticketing providers
We can not recoup these fees unfortunately
Are service animals allowed into VIPSanta?
Yes
Terms & Conditions
VIPSanta 2021 – Waterford Winterval
Welcome to the VIPSanta.ie website
Below are the Terms and Conditions of your experience
By placing your order and paying for your VIPSanta tickets, you acknowledge that you have read, and agree to, these terms and conditions:
- Bookings are non-refundable and cannot be modified after booking
- VIPSanta reserves the right to change, modify or cancel events. In this situation, a refund or a new booking will be offered
- Email us if you have any questions at [email protected] or use our ‘Contact Us’ form
(office monitored 9-5 Mon to Fri only)
- Email us if you have any questions at [email protected] or use our ‘Contact Us’ form
- All prices are quoted in euro, and tickets must be used on the date and time purchased for
- Ticket prices:
- 1 Child (Max. 2 x adults free) = €27 (incl. €2 booking fee). Receives 1x photo & 1x gift book
- 2 Children (Max. 2 x adults free) = €44 (incl. €2 booking fee). Receives 1x photo & 2x gift books
- 3 Children (Max. 2 x adults free) = €61 (incl. €3 booking fee). Receives 1x photo & 3x gift books
- 4 Children (Max. 2 x adults free) = €79 (incl. €4 booking fee). Receives 1x photo & 4x gift books
- 5 Children (Max. 2 x adults free) = €95 (incl. €5 booking fee). Receives 1x photo & 5x gift books
- Tickets are non-transferable, and cannot be used for resale without our permission
- Tickets are not allowed to be used for competitions without consent from the organisers
- Tickets can be booked online by debit or credit card and once a transaction is completed, a confirmation email will be sent to you with details of your purchase and ticket information. This email accounts for your ticket, so please ensure that your email address is entered correctly to avoid the non – receipt of your ticket
- Please note that this is a live booking system and ticket availability will decrease accordingly, as they are booked
- Accessibility: please tick the box when booking if any member of your group has accessibility requirements. Feel free to outline what your requirements are, so that we can provide the best possible support
- Please ensure to bring the ticket for your visit either printed or displayed on a smartphone
- Please arrive at VIPSanta 5 to 10 minutes prior to your allocated time slot
- No-shows or late arrivals will be considered non-refundable cancellations
- Please allow extra travel time during bad weather and peak traffic times. If you arrive late for your visit, we regret to say that we cannot allow you to partake in the visit as it will affect other paying customers’ wait times. No refund will be issued
- All members of a group booked on the same booking/ticket will visit Santa as a group within the 5 minute slot. If you are accompanying another family or group, but would prefer your own family to meet with Santa, please make two separate bookings five minutes apart (one for each group wanting a private meet with Santa)
- Please book your slot per family as the photo is required. Grouping families into the one 5-minute slot (i.e. brothers, sisters, nephews, nieces etc…), will offer less time for photos, and less time for the children to speak with Santa Claus
../cont.
- The 5-minute window with Santa will be enforced in order to keep the time slots running smoothly throughout the event
- Children under 18 years of age MUST be accompanied by at least one adult, and there is a maximum allowance of two adults per booking. Accompanying adults get free admission to this event
- Parents must supervise their children at all times and we will not be responsible for any injury/s or loss sustained while at VIPSanta. Parents need to be aware that the experience is located using multiple buildings and, in places, multiple floors. It’s therefore imperative that parents supervise their children at all times
- We want your experience to be a happy and memorable one for you and your companions, however we cannot be liable for distress caused by circumstances beyond our control. For example, the weather or any part of the experience being closed due to circumstances beyond our control
- We cannot take responsibility for emotional distress or disappointment caused by the role playing of characters for any reason as a result of visiting VIPSanta
- The timing and sequence of the activities that make up the VIPSanta experience is at the sole discretion of our management
- This is an unlicensed event, therefore alcohol is prohibited and will not be sold onsite
- Smoking is prohibited at VIPSanta
- We will not accept any responsibility for loss or damage to personal belongings while you are visiting VIPSanta
- You must comply with all instructions from VIPSanta staff at all times, plus applicable health and safety rules, COVID-19 rules, and any security requirements in place
- In exceptional cases, our staff reserve the right to refuse entry to individuals to VIPSanta, or remove those who have already been admitted, if in their reasonable opinion, the presence of those individuals is likely to create any health and safety or security concerns, or considerably lower the enjoyment of other guests
- Video cameras are not allowed on the visit. We allow the use of cameras during the visit for the taking of photographs of children that are under your own supervision. Photographs taken of other children are strictly prohibited. We do not supervise the taking of non professional photography and we cannot be held responsible if you or the children under your supervision are in other customers’ photographs
- Management may carry out professional photography and videography recordings on some of the dates for future promotional purposes
- We cannot guarantee the availability of extras (ie. snow globes and christmas tree bauble) if it is not added to cart at the time of booking
- The VIPSanta Grotto and Workshop is indoors, but the food and beverage vendors and seating will be outdoors, and may be subject to weather conditions
- Covid-19 Protocol – The Management wishes to advise that all current government guidelines regarding Covid-19 safety will be implemented and adhered to throughout the VIPSanta experience. These are subject to change as per the government roadmap from 22nd October 2021
- Flashing lights – This is an immersive experience and will feature flashing lights and sound effects / music
- By clicking ‘Submit & Pay’ in live booking system, you also agree to the standard Terms & Conditions of sale and service