Jingle Bells Cycle, Waterford

The Jingle Bells Cycle sets off from Hanover Street in Waterford city on Thursday 10 December 2026 at 7:15pm, a festive evening cycle that forms part of the Winterval programme. Riders are encouraged to decorate their bikes with lights and tinsel for the ride, giving the event a lit-up, family-friendly feel as it moves through the city after dark in the run-up to Christmas. Entry is free but registration is required beforehand, and the event’s charity partner is Tintean Housing Association, a Waterford organisation working to prevent and respond to homelessness, with cyclists and spectators encouraged to donate on the night rather than pay a fixed entry fee. The cycle sits alongside Winterval’s other free community gatherings, such as the Truck and Tractor Parade and the Blue Light Parade, as one of several festive processions the festival runs through the city centre in November and December, each with its own route and focus but a shared aim of drawing crowds out into the city after dark during the Christmas season.

What to expect

A festive evening cycle setting off from Hanover Street at 7:15pm, open to riders of all ages with an emphasis on decorated bikes and Christmas lights rather than speed or distance. Registration is required in advance and is free. Donations on the night support Tintean Housing Association, the event’s named charity partner, though the cycle itself is not a sponsored fundraising ride in the traditional sense.

Getting there

Hanover Street is in Waterford city centre, close to the quays and within walking distance of the main shopping streets. Cyclists arriving by car can use the public car parks nearby, and the street is well served by city bus routes for anyone dropping off equipment beforehand. Riders coming from outside the city should allow extra time to get bikes and lights ready before the 7:15pm start.