Luxembourg City to Switch On Christmas Lights for Reduced Hours from Friday

The City of Luxembourg (Ville de Luxembourg - VdL) has confirmed that it will switch on its traditional Christmas lights from Friday 18 November 2022; in a bid to limit energy consumption, the 100% LED lights will stay switched on for six hours a day instead of the usual nineteen hours.

From 18 November 2022 to 8 January 2023, the VdL's "Winterlights" will immerse the Luxembourg capital in a festive atmosphere, with various lights and decorations lining the streets and squares.

The traditional Christmas markets will once again be spread over several sites: the "Lëtzebuerger Chrëschtmaart" in Place d'Armes, the "Wantermaart" in Place de la Constitution, the "Niklosmaart" in Place de Paris and the "Wanterpark" in Kinnekswiss park. Visitors will be greeted with trees more than ten metres high, rides for children, trampolines, a giant pyramid and a ferris wheel.

Also on the agenda are many activities, concerts, exhibitions, Christmas-themed films and theatre and dance performances. In the courtyard of the old Athénée school building, the "Winterkids" programme with its creative workshops, reading sessions and puppet shows will caters to children, whilst marching bands will stroll through the various Christmas markets and theatres, museums and the Cinémathèque. Saint Nicholas will tour the markets during the traditional "Kleeschen on tour" on 4 December 2022 and the Lëtzebuerger Adventscircus will perform in Glacis in Luxembourg-Limpertsberg.

Christmas lights and energy-saving measures

From 17:30 on 18 November 2022 until 23:00 on 8 January 2023, the end-of-year lights will decorate the streets and squares of Luxembourg City. In the context of the energy crisis, the Christmas lights will be switched on for a shorter period than usual each day: six hours a day, rather than nineteen hours a day (as in previous years). They will be lit every day around 16:30 until 23:00, except on 24, 25, 26 and 31 December 2022 when they will remain switched on until 01:00. The chalets with their decorations on the Christmas markets will be lit up during the opening hours of the Christmas markets.

Moreover, no new light patterns have been added this year and the quantity of light decorations installed on the territory of the capital has been reduced: there are 265 fewer light decorations this year compared to 2021. A total of 1,146 light decorations will be set up across the capital. These lights are 100% LED.

Christmas markets

Lëtzebuerger Chrëschtmaart 

The Lëtzebuerger Chrëschtmaart in Place d'Armes features a 12 metre-high fir tree decorated with light garlands and red baubles, the traditional crèche, the carousel "Le Chahut des 4 elements", the magic train "Wanterzuch" and 38 chalets. Two "Wanterchaleten" (winter chalets) will be integrated into the Lëtzebuerger Chrëchtmaart; these are reserved for private individuals and organisations respectively for the sale of crafts and handmade products as well as for information and awareness-raising purposes.

Various marching brass bands (Dixie Boys Band, Magic Jazz Band, Weihnachtschaoten, etc.) will perform every Sunday in Place d'Armes, Place de la Constitution and the Kinnekswiss from 12:00 to 18:00 (12:00 to 15:00 on 4 December 2022).

Opening hours: from 18 November 2022 to 1 January 2023 (except 24-25 December 2022), Sunday to Thursday from 11:00 to 21:00 and Friday and Saturday from 11:00 to 22:00.

Wantermaart

The Wantermaart in Place de la Constitution comprises 41 chalets, installed at the foot of the "Gëlle Fra", as well as a 13 metre-high "golden tree" decorated with garlands of fireflies and gold baubles, a giant pyramid, a 32 metre ferris wheel , trampolines, three rides and panoramic cafe-restaurants with a view of the Pétrusse valley and the Adolphe bridge.

In addition, a "Käerzenatelier" (candle workshop) awaits the general public every day in the square, except from 23 November to 21 December 2022 on weekdays until 16:00 when the workshop is reserved for schools and after-school childcare facilities.

Opening hours: from 18 November 2022 to 1 January 2023 (except 24-25 December 2022), Sunday to Thursday from 11:00 to 21:00 and Friday and Saturday from 11:00 to 22:00.

Wanterpark

In the absence of the ice rink, due to energy-saving measures, the Kinnekswiss will host this year the "Wanterpark", a covered gastronomic village with six chalets as well as a stage for musical performances and family entertainment.

Workshops, events and concerts for children will be organised every Sunday from 14:00 to 17:00. From Tuesday to Saturday, DJs, live bands and cover band groups will entertain audiences of all ages from 17:30 or 18:00.

Opening hours: from 18 November 2022 to 1 January 2023 (except 24-25 December 2022), Sunday to Thursday from 11:00 to 21:00 and Friday and Saturday from 11:00 to 22:00.

Niklosmaart

The Niklosmaart is returning to Place de Paris this year with sixteen chalets. The 20 metre-high "Niklosbam" tree will immerse the square in a festive atmosphere.
In addition, Saint Nicholas will welcome children in his house ("Dem Kleesche säin Haus") at the foot of an old fireplace with real smoke on Tuesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays and Sundays from 19 November to 3 December 2022, from 15:00 to 17:00. A diverse musical programme is planned from Tuesday to Sunday (Tuesday and Wednesday from 18:00 to 19:30; Thursday and Friday from 18:00 to 20:30; Saturday from 17:00 to 22:00; Sunday from 14:00 to 18:00).

Opening hours: from 18 November 2022 to 1 January 2023 (except 24-25 December 2022), Friday and Saturday from 11:00 to 22:00 and Sunday to Thursday from 11:00 to 21:00.

Sale of Christmas trees

The sale of Christmas trees will take place from 25 November to 24 December 2022 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 other practical details are available at: www.winterlights.lu.