Credit: VdL
The City of Luxembourg (Ville de Luxembourg - VdL) has confirmed that the traditional Christmas lights will once again adorn the streets of Luxembourg, from Friday 24 November 2023 to Sunday 7 January 2024.
Christmas markets spread over several sites will offer hot drinks and sweet or savoury treats. A total of 100 wooden chalets (six of which are for solidarity with various charitable causes) will offer decorative items, toys, jewellery, clothing, sweets and more. This year, there will be five Christmas market sites: the "Lëtzebuerger Chrëschtmaart" in Place d'Armes, "Wantermaart" in Place de la Constitution, "Niklosmaart" in Place de Paris and "Wanterpark" with its Kinnekswiss ice rink, as well as "Winterkids" in Place Guillaume II. Christmas trees over ten metres tall, children's rides, trampolines, the giant pyramid and the Ferris wheel will be present.
Various workshops, concerts, exhibitions, Christmas-themed films and theatre and dance performances are on the agenda. In Place Guillaume II, the "Winterkids" space (creative workshops, reading sessions, puppet shows, etc.) will offer entertainment for children. The theatres, museums and the Cinémathèque will complete the cultural programme with a diverse offering. Saint Nicholas will tour the city during the traditional "Kleeschen on tour" on Sunday 3 December 2023.
Christmas markets
Lëtzebuerger Chrëschtmaart
The Lëtzebuerger Chrëschtmaart in Place d'Armes features a fourteen-metre-high fir tree decorated with light garlands and red baubles, the traditional nativity scene installed this year at the kiosk, the “Le Chahut des contes” ride, the magical "Wanterzuch" train as well as 37 chalets will welcome visitors.
A "Wanterchalet" will be integrated into the Lëtzebuerger Chrëchtmaart: it is reserved for private individuals and associations respectively for the sale of artisanal creations and handmade products (jewellery, knitwear, regional products, etc.) and for information and awareness of the public regarding their actions and missions and fundraising.
Opening hours: from 24 November 2023 to 7 January 2024 (except 25 December 2023), Sunday to Thursday from 11:00 to 21:00 and Friday and Saturday from 11:00 to 22:00. On 24 December 2023, it will be open from 11:00 to 18:00.
Wantermaart
This year, 41 chalets will be installed at the foot of the Gëlle Fra (Golden Lady) to which will be added the thirteen-metre golden fir tree, decorated with garlands of fireflies and gold baubles, the giant pyramid, the 32-metre Ferris wheel, trampolines, two rides (“Jungle Tour”, “Mon Beau Sapin”) as well as panoramic café-restaurants with a view of the Pétrusse valley and the Adolphe bridge.
Opening hours: from 24 November 2023 to 7 January 2024 (except 25 December 2023), Sunday to Thursday from 11:00 to 21:00 and Friday and Saturday from 11:00 to 22:00. On 24 December 2023, it will be open from 11:00 to 18:00.
Wanterpark
The open-air ice rink is back this year in the heart of the municipal park. From Avenue Amélie, a giant heart indicates the path to follow and from the Schuman roundabout or Avenue de la Porte-Neuve, simply follow the “alleys of hearts” to access the temporary ice rink of almost 800 m2 (including 500 m2 covered) and its gastronomic village (five chalets).
A musical programme with more than 30 performances by DJs on stage will be running at Kinnekswiss in the “Wanterpark” from Tuesday to Thursday from approximately 18:00 to 21:00 and Friday and Saturday from approximately 18:00 to 22:00.
Opening hours: from 24 November 2023 to 7 January 2024 (except 25 December 2023), Sunday to Thursday from 11:00 to 21:00 and Friday and Saturday from 11:00 to 22:00. On 24 December 2023, it will be open from 11:00 to 18:00.
Niklosmaart
The Niklosmaart will return this year on the Place de Paris with thirteen chalets: gastronomic stands offering sweet and savoury foods (mulled wine and other seasonal alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks, hamburgers, Gromperekichelcher, soups, Grillwurscht, waffles, churros, pancakes, pretzels, etc.), handmade Advent wreaths and many other decorative items, textiles and games, as well as the “Flying Reindeer” ride will await visitors there. The “Niklosbam”, a 22-metre tree with colourful decorations, made up of 350 fir trees, 51 giant candles and 285,000 LED light points, will create a festive atmosphere.
Furthermore, Saint Nicholas will welcome children into his house (“Dem Kleesche säin Haus”) at the foot of an old fireplace with real smoke on 25, 26, 28 and 30 November and on 2 December 2023 from 15:00 to 17:00.
Visitors to the Niklosmaart can discover a rich musical lineup comprising over 80 events, from Tuesday to Thursday from around 17:00 to 21:00, from Friday to Saturday from 17:00 to 22:00 and Sunday from around 17:00 to 22:00.
Opening hours: from 24 November 2023 to 7 January 2024 (except 25 December 2023), Friday to Saturday from 11:00 to 22:00 and Sunday to Thursday from 11:00 to 21:00. On 24 December 2023 it will be open from 11:00 to 18:00.
Winterkids
After the success in 2021 and 2022, the Winterkids, a special Christmas market for children and their families, will be back this year, in Place Guillaume II.
Cooking and gift creation workshops, puppet theatre shows, singing and music, as well as reading sessions will be organised there, allowing children and parents to immerse themselves in a creative and festive atmosphere. In addition, Place Guillaume II will host a historic acrobat (from 24 November 2023 to 7 January 2024, every day from 11:00 to 21:00; on 24 December 2023 from 11:00 to 18:00; closed on 25 December 2023), an igloo, an open fire and four gastronomy chalets.
Opening hours: from 8 December 2023 to 30 December 2023 (closed on Monday and Tuesday and 24 December 2023), open from Wednesday to Friday from 17:00 to 20:00 and from Saturday to Sunday from 15:00 to 18:00.
Sale of Christmas trees
The sale of Christmas trees will take place from 24 November to 24 December 2023 at the latest at the following locations: Place Jean Heinisch / Rue du Fort Elisabeth; Place Léon XIII, Bonnevoie; Glacis; Merl Park; Boulevard P Dupong. The fir trees on sale all come from Luxembourg and the maintenance of the fields on which the fir trees are grown is provided exclusively by sheep.
The full Winterlights programme and more practical information are available at: www.winterlights.lu.
