It’s tempting to use a random day off mid-week to have a lie-in or get some chores done.
But why not do something more memorable that celebrates Luxembourg’s traditions – from the uncorking of the Moselle region’s first vintage wines from 2024 to the making of May wreaths.
There’s also plenty of live music from local bands and circus performances at the OGBL Labour Day celebrations in the capital or the chance to jump on the steam-powered train as the season opens at Minett Park.
There’s also funfairs, hobby and creator’s markets, a Japanese bookbinding workshops, and film screenings.
Fête du Travail – Neimënster Abbey
There will be live music, animations and activities for the kids and cuisine from around the world at this annual celebration for workers organised by the trade union OGBL in conjunction with ASTI and ASTM.
The day starts at 10.00 with a rally and welcome speech from OGBL president, Nora Back. From 10.45 you can enjoy swing, Latin and rock music from the 14-piece Big Music Band. In the afternoon catch raw, low-fi folk with Giacomo Lariccia & Trinidad and jam session Folklore Encounters.
Belvaux-born singer songwriter Joel Marques will be on stage at 15.45, whilst coverband Jukebox will conclude the festival on stage at 17.00.
Throughout the afternoon, metronomic sports musicians Quentin and Quincy will give you something to wake up your muscles and eardrums.
The colour of emotions is a show mixing clown and kamishibai to discover emotions (performances throughout the afternoon), whilst Reverie provide some musical juggling. The family can enjoy the award-winning 2-step mix, an electric circus by BP Zoom, at Salle Krieps at 15.00.
There’ll be dance, painting, pottery and graffiti workshops in addition to storytelling. You can find the full programme, including current exhibitions at Neimënster Culture Centre, here.
Proufdag – Domaines Vinsmoselle
Proufdag – or the traditional wine tasting in the cellars of Remerschen in Luxembourg’s Moselle region. You can sample new vintage wines from 2024 and enjoy music, food trucks and activities for kids.
It’s a great opportunity to discuss their work with winemakers from Les Vignerons de Domaines Vinsmoselle, Château Edmond de la Fontaine, Vignum and Poll-Fabaire, with 10% discounts on orders of crémant and wine, if you’re looking to stock up.
Entry costs €20 (wine and crémant but not lunch which must be ordered separately) and it starts at 10.00, finishing at 19.00, with more information here.
Make a Meekranz wreath
A Luxembourg tradition on the first day of May is to make a wreath from fresh spring branches and flowers to hang on your door.
You can find more about this tradition in the article below and you can take part in local ones at the Remich school and sports centre, Fensterdallerbësch in Helperknapp and with the scouts in Niederkorn (at Chalet Hondsbësch).
Check your local commune website to see if they are organising a Meekranz walk in the woods to gather branches.
Also read:Make a Meekranz wreath on the first day of May
All the fun of the fair
Games, music and a funfair organised by the City of Differdange in collaboration with the fairground traders’ association and held at the Hauts-Fournaux parking lot from 25 April to 11 May. You can buy food from 12.00 and the rides, which include a big wheel and bumper cars, start each day at 14.00.
Remich esplanade will have rides, stalls, and family entertainment from 10.30, organised by the LCGB, with park and ride available from the swimming pool.
Creator and hobby markets
Head to Fond-de-Gras and Lasauvage for the festival opening of the season at Minett Park, which will also host a creator’s market for the first time. Local artisans and renowned artists will showcase fashion, jewellery, cosmetics, illustrations, wood art, textile crafts, paintings and ceramics. There’ll also be regional delicacies to eat and drink.
You can hop aboard the Train 1900, powered by steam locomotive ‘Energie 507’ with departures from Petange to Fond-de-Gras from 11.00 to 18.00 and in reverse from 10.25 to 18.20.
There’ll be tours of the Minièresbunn mining train to discover the fascinating history of the region’s mining sector (taking place at 15.00, 16.00 and 17.00). Families can go on a fun and educational treasure hunt with their smartphone or listen to live music.
You can find full details and book tickets here.
Head to Niederpallen’s May hobby market to browse the stands for art or crafting and hobby activities in this May Day festival now in its 11th year, with kids’ animation and live music from duo Wa-Ta-Touille. There’ll be activities, food and drink and entry is free. Starts 10.00 and finishes at 18.00.
Japanese bookbinding workshop – Konschthal Esch
From 11.00 to 18.00, teens, adults and children from six years accompanied by a parent can drop by at this free workshop on bookbinding and risography, part of the exhibition on collagist Bert Theis.
In it, you can discover Japanese bookbinding, a technique where sheets of paper are stitched by hand. You can then personalise your book with a risograph print. All materials are provided by the art gallery, with more information here.
A day in nature
Join natur & ëmwelt for a leisurely hike to discover the local flora and fauna, from 9.30 to 14.00. Wear sturdy shoes and bring a picnic. You must register for this event and details of the meeting point will be communicated once you have. You can register for this event and several others here.
Also read:Blooming marvellous – catch spring flowers at these gardens and trails
Catch two episodes of Dekalog at Cinematheque
Krzysztof Kieslowski’s obsession with chance and fate played a major role in his films Blind Chance and The Double Life of Veronique, but he explores it in depth in Dekalog, a made for Polish TV, series of ten, one-hour films inspired by Christianity’s Ten Commandments.
Set in a city tower block each episode portrays a different protagonist struggling to make sense of their lives and find meaning and structure. Shown at Cinematheque in groups of two episodes, you can watch the first and second (one hour each with English subtitles), at 18.30 on 1 May.
In the first, a university professor and atheist trains his 12-year-old son in the use of reason and scientific method but is confronted by the unpredictability of fate. In the second, a married violinist faces a dilemma involving the diagnosis of her sick husband.
Some family places open on 1 May
• Giant interactive science playground
• Butterfly explorations
• Meerkats and sleeping giants (although this might be crowded)
• Learn about water inside a water tower.