Luxembourg's largest book fair, the "Walfer Bicherdeeg", will return to Walferdange on Saturday 19 and Sunday 20 November 2022.
Centred around the theme "From new shoots to deep roots" (Des nouvelles pousses aux racines profondes), the 27th edition of the Walfer Bicherdeeg will take visitors on a journey of discovery into the world of books and nature. Trees will be at the heart of this edition.
Publishers and authors will present their latest publications in Hall 2 at Maison Dufaing, where visitors may exchange with them and have their books signed. Hall 1 will host the second-hand book market and children can also immerse themselves in their own imaginary world in the context of "Books for Kids". Readings, performances, exhibitions and music are also on the agenda.
A brand new central outdoor stage will be decorated according to this year's theme and literary performances will invite visitors to immerse themselves in textual universes. Under the slogan "Walfer sessions. Literature meets music", this year's writers-in-residence, Nora Wagener and Antoine Pohu, will present the public with texts created especially for the occasion. They will be accompanied musically by Pol Belardi and Arthur Possing. The Walferdange writers' residency has been organised for five years in collaboration with Les Cahiers luxembourgeois. In its November edition, the literary review will also present the two texts in printed version.
Author Yorick Schmit and researcher-teacher Sébastian Thiltges will perform another literary performance as they read excerpts from a poetic story in which a father introduces his son to his family history during a walk in the forest. Their readings will be accompanied by sound effects that will give a new dimension to the texts.
In collaboration with the SCRIPT and the Zenter fir d’Lëtzebuerger Sprooch, a stage reading of Michel Rodange's "De Reenert", which celebrates its 150th anniversary this year, will be organised on the Sunday morning. Marc Limpach and Jeff Thill will read excerpts in Luxembourgish and English.
For younger listeners, Potty Lotty will tell the story of the children's book "De Bam, deen anescht war" (the tree that was different) by Atelier Kannerbuch. In addition, the Zaltimbanq circus school will take over the outdoor stage on several occasions.
Two photo exhibitions will present trees in their many facets. On the one hand, the Walfer Foto-Frënn will take visitors under the thick foliage of this mystical world in the Kaffisstuff. On the other hand, Véronique Kolber has captured with her camera four specimens listed as "remarkable trees" on the territory of the municipality of Walferdange: ancestral willows, oaks and limes that all seem to have their own character. Her fifteen photographs will be on display in front of Maison Dufaing.
Several readings will also be organised at Maison Dufaing in collaboration with the Centre National de Littérature (CNL) and the Lëtzebuerger Bicherediteuren. The authors will form a tandem or a trio and will start a discussion after their performances. Moderation will be provided by CNL staff. In total, nine readings by 20 renowned authors await literature lovers in this historic house.
New this year will be a literary cafe set up in Hall 2. This serves as a meeting place where visitors can sit and have a chat.
Moreover, four food trucks as well as drink stands run by local organisations will be set up in front of the halls and, in collaboration with COOPERATIONS asbl, there will be live piano music in the Kaffisstuff.
The Walferbicherdeeg will run from 10:00 to 19:00 on Saturday 19 November and from 10:00 to 18:00 on Sunday 20 November 2022.