Credit: Commune de Pétange
The organisers of Esch2022 - European Capital of Culture recently announced that Pétange will be its "municipality of the month" from 22 March to 21 April 2022.
During a press breakfast earlier this week, Pétange, the fifth biggest town in Luxemburg, presented its Esch2022 programme.
Pétange, known throughout the Greater Region for its carnival parade which has been held every year since 1955, is preparing a huge European carnival parade this year. This 65th parade will bring together all the inhabitants from the coal mining area and beyond.
Nancy Braun, General Director of Esch2022, commented: "I am extremely happy that Pétange's European Carnival Parade is to be part of the European Capital of Culture programme. Through the involvement of the Pétange Municipality and with the help of countless volunteer do-it-yourselvers, tinkerers and artists, who have been bringing together people from all over Europe, this event has been inspiring the young and the not-so-young for many decades as it celebrates different cultures and strengthens ties between generations. The Pétange Parade is a symbol of inclusion and exchange through dance, music and traditions from all over Europe".
The carnival parade will start out from the WAX site in Pétange on 27 March 2022 shortly after 14:00 and unfold along an almost six kilometre-long itinerary. This project has been made possible by the collaboration between the KaGePe Association and the municipality of Pétange as well as the dedication and work put in by many societies and contributions from brass bands, gymnastics clubs, choral societies and dancers, among others. It also pays tribute to the medieval mid-lent parade tradition.
In the afternoon of Thursday 24 March 2022, there will be a Children's Carnival, organised together with Pétange's Maisons-Relais. Children will be able to create original masks, costumes and hats inspired by the Venice Carnival and they will hold their very own parade in the municipal park in Pétange. The festivities will close with a Children's Ball to be held under the heated Chapiteau in Place J F Kennedy.
The Chapiteau will also host two concerts: the Portuguese group Némanus and the Luxemburg folk group Schëppe Siwen will play on Friday 25 March 2022, and on Saturday 26 March 2022, visitors will be able to listen to the Luxembourg group Käpt n'Ändä and German group Dompiraten.
Visitors can also explore the "Déi Wëll danzen am Bësch" (the wild dance in the forest) project conceived and realised by artists Mara Daro and OleSchöne of the ARAMELO's Collective. It takes the form of a contemporary circus show, inspired and produced by pupils of schools in Pétange and Differdange. On 24 June 2022, professional circus and musical artists will invite members of the public to spend the day in the forest and discover the circus world in a different light and atmosphere. They will set out on their journey of discovery from the Titelberg near the Fond-de-Gras and on their way, they will discover artwork made by children, attend short shows given by professional circus artists, meet magic creatures and pass through catering points where they can take a break.
As part of the urban exhibition in Pétange and other towns in Luxembourg and in France, the artist Jessica Theis will ring the alarm bell to warn visitors against the consequences of consumer behaviour and throw-away society with her project "1001 tonnes"; the title refers to the estimated weight of litter found along Luxembourg's roads every year.
Pétange's Esch2022 programme will also highlight the town's steel industry past.
