The Place de la Constitution will host part of the festivities, with its traditional Ferris wheel. (Photo: Shutterstock)

The Place de la Constitution will host part of the festivities, with its traditional Ferris wheel. (Photo: Shutterstock)

The City of Luxembourg has unveiled the programme for its 2021 Winterlights festival, which will be organised under the CovidCheck regime, with ice rinks, rides, entertainment, crafts and winter specialities on offer to chase away the winter blues.

To access the major sites of the capital's Christmas market, visitors must be vaccinated, recovered or tested negative for the coronavirus, Luxembourg City mayor Lydie Polfer (DP), said during a press conference on Thursday.

“At the Christmas market, you can drink and eat, and, by definition, you don’t wear a mask,” she said, adding that being close is “part of the atmosphere” but requires precaution in light of the pandemic.

In total, five of nine sites will be subject to the CovidCheck regime, including the markets at Place de la Constitution, Place d'Armes and Place de Paris. In addition, the ice rink, which is being set up this year on the Kinnekswiss, and the “Wanterkids” market in the courtyard of the former library on Rue Notre Dame, dedicated to children and families, will also be organised under CovidCheck.

Upon showing a valid certificate, visitors will be given a wristband giving them access and valid for one day across different sites. Four security companies--Vigicore, Apleona, Groupe Securitas and GDL Security--will help scan certificates and check for bracelets.

The number of people admitted to the sites will not be limited, but the city reserves the right to temporarily close access in the event of overcrowding.

More than €3m in budget

“Some events will remain accessible without CovidCheck,” said alderman Patrick Goldschmidt (DP). These include the chalets near the fountain at the end of Grand-Rue as well as events hosted in the shopping street and Square Jan Palach, and a merry-go-round on Place Guillaume II. However, wearing a mask will be compulsory from the age of 6.

From 19 November to 10 January, the streets and squares of the capital will be lit up, with the return of the giant heart, installed this year in Amélie Park, a 20-metre-high "Niklosbam" on Place de Paris, a 45-metre-long enchanted arc of light on Place des Martyrs and a light curtain in Rue du Pont, not far from the panoramic lift, to name just a few.

In total, 633,000 lights and bulbs will illuminate the capital, representing more than 64km of garlands and 1,559 decorations. The total budget for these illuminations amounts to €1.25m, in addition to the budget of almost €2m dedicated to all the other festivities, said Polfer.

“We want to bring a real festive atmosphere to the city,” the mayor said. The festival marks the first Christmas market since 2019 after last year’s edition was cancelled because of the pandemic. 

This story was first published in French on . It has been translated and edited by Delano.