Just because school is starting again, there’s no reason not to make the most of the last of the summer sun at these weekend activities.
September is awash with festivals – some for younger kiddies like TreeBoo, KLIK Klak and Kropemannsfest, others perfect for teens who like breakdance and street art (Ettelbrooklyn) or unusual Victorian jewellery and clothing (Steampunk).
There’s a night of culture in Esch, European Heritage Days tours and workshops across the Grand Duchy, and a chance to learn about different cultures – from India to China.
We’ve listed the highlights for this month, rather than activities organised on a regular basis, but if we’ve missed an important family-fun event, let us know.
Unless otherwise stated, events are free of charge to attend.
Steam Festival
Head to Fond-de-Gras for the annual Steam Festival on 6-7 September from 10.00 to 18.00 where you can not only hop aboard a steam train, but also experience the heart of the railway of yesteryear, with an impressive collection of miniature steam vehicles, and a small steam train for children. There’ll be full-size locomotives, steam tractors and even a steam balloon.
Families can take part in creative workshops, ride steam tractors and tour the restoration workshops, whilst the Minièresbunn mining train will exceptionally run on the surface on a unique loop route.
You can find more information about the two-day event here.
Where: Fond-de-Gras
When: 6-7 September
KLIK Klak Kopplabunz
A programme of performances, creative workshops and interactive tours awaits you on the first weekend of September at Casino Luxembourg.
An interactive exhibition – Hide and Seek City – invites you to explore building facades with a magic magnifying glass to see through the walls to discover the people hiding in the houses, in a whacky universe of curious inhabitants. There’s a sound installation with improvised performances during the day, and pop-in workshops and storytelling (in English at 16.00 on Saturday, 6 September).
The event is free and you can find more information here.
Where: Casino Luxembourg
When: 6-7 September, 11.00 to 18.00
Your Luxembourg Expat Day
Head to Neumunster Abbey on 7 September for the third edition of the Luxembourg Times Your Luxembourg Expat Day.
There’ll be plenty of events and activities for families, including live music, an urban run, karaoke, games for kids, plenty of cuisine to try and some 40 stands.
There’ll be a bouncy castle, a funfair-inspired derby track-racing game. Kids can also enjoy mind-and-motion activities, with a skeleton puzzle, reaction pods and a colour boomerang game.
You can find out more here.
Where: Neumunster Abbey in Grund
When: 7 September
Confucius Institute summer workshops
The Confucius Institute at the University of Luxembourg takes you on a journey to China with its summer workshops at Belval from 8-11 September.
Each day, children aged 6-12 years can try a Chinese language course and a different cultural activity, including making lacquered fans, martial arts, calligraphy and tai chi.
The workshops have a cost (which is cheaper if you sign up to the four days), and run from 13.30 to 17.30 each day, with more information available here.
Where: Campus Belval
When: 8-11 September from 13.30 to 17.30
Cost: €20 per day or €60 for four days
TreeBoo Festival
The first year of this new eco-conscious family festival in Kirchberg Amphitheatre promises live music, workshops for children, yoga classes and soulful activities, together with a market featuring local creators.
TreeBoo blends music and wellness, with sounds provided by All Reitz Reserved, Peter Power, Paulinska and Belongers, storytelling from Marielle, creative workshops with artists and early years educators, family fun and mama time yoga sessions with Little Sanctuary, cacao ceremonies, guided meditation and bio food trucks.
You can find the full programme and how to get tickets here.
Where: Kirchberg Amphitheatre
When: 13 September
Cost: €38.75 for adults and €20.05 for children aged 4-18 years
India Day
Head to Luxembourg City for a day of Indian music, culture, dance and food. Hear Punjabi Dhol drummers, and catch Indian dance performances.
There’ll be an array of food and handicrafts, clothing and jewellery, plus Mehendi or henna hand tattoos, artworks and a photo booth. The event is organised by the Indian Association of Luxembourg.
Dance performances at India Day in Luxembourg City © Photo credit: Steve Eastwood
The location this year is Place Guillaume II in Luxembourg City, and you can find out more here.
Where: Place Guillaume II
When: 14 September
Also read:Ganesh Festival kicks off Luxembourg’s Indian community celebration season
Natur Musée Festival
Immerse yourself in the world of science with interactive stands to explore the biodiversity and the museum’s projects, guided tours of labs and collections, educational workshops and games, and boat trips on the Alzette River.
The following workshops are in English:
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Build a dinosaur skeleton from real bones
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Dig for fossils and fish for extinct animals
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Discover owls and birds of prey
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Learn about healthy herbs
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Take a boat trip on the Alzette
You’ll find a full programme here.
Where: Natur Musée, Grund
When: 14 September, 11.00 to 18.00
European Heritage Days
This year’s theme is “Heritage and architecture: windows to the past, doors to the future”. The event runs for ten days, with guided tours, workshops and family activities that showcase the country’s local and national history.
Highlights include:
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An architecture workshop for young people through an exploration of the rejuvenated former blast furnace site in Belval – specifically for ages 8-12 years.
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A tour to take you back in time to explore the traditional architecture of the rural Moselle from the Possenhaus to the Wëttelsschapp at the A Possen Museum in Bech Kleinmacher. Families can use a game booklet filled with puzzles and questions about architecture and life in the past to earn a chocolate reward.
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A beginner-friendly 10km bike ride along the Wiltz River to discover the remains of old traditional meadow irrigation systems and the renaturing of the region’s rivers.
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Take a tour of the city’s iconic Cercle Cité building on Place d’Armes, to learn about its cultural beginnings and a darker period of Nazi occupation, but also try a creative workshop to reinvent the building’s façade with your own vision.
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Join one of DKollektiv’s workshops inside VEWA at Dudelange to make your own apron, and watch a film by Catherine Richard that gives voice to the daughters and wives of local miners and steelworkers.
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A night walk through Larochette castle (in German and Luxembourgish).
You can find the full agenda of events, tours and workshops here.
Where: Across Luxembourg
When: 19-28 September
You can also discover Longwy as part of the European Heritage Days in France, with more information on events here.
Night of Culture in Esch forest
With a theme of Vertigo in Love, families can enjoy live concerts, open-air shows, creative workshops and traditional food at an event designed and led by local artists at the Bois du Clair-Chêne.
There’ll be African dance, sensory experiences with your hands, a sound installation featuring hopscotch, and line dancing, amongst other exciting things to watch or take part in. You can find a full programme here.
Where: Bois du Clair-Chêne, Esch-sur-Alzette
When: 20 September, 17.00 to 01.00
Gourmet market and walk for children
Head to the Maison Relais in Pontpierre for the annual gourmet walk in aid of the Cancer Foundation. Along a 6km route which is stroller/buggy friendly, you can taste the specialities of all the restaurants in town.
More information is available here.
Where: Maison Relais Pontpierre, 3b Rue de l’ecole
When: 20 September, 11.00 to 16.00
Ettelbrooklyn Street Fest
The hip-hop, breakdance and urban art inspired festival in Ettelbruck is the perfect hangout for teens.
There will be an indoor stage where breakdance meets Bach (this is a ticketed event), but also plenty of free performances, with acrobats, dancers, musicians and a bamboo climbing frame troupe, plus a late-night pop-up club with DJs and projections. You can find out more here.
Where: CAPE and outside areas throughout Ettelbruck
When: 27 September, 11.00 until 01.00
Apple picking
Apple picking season starts in September and the Fete aux Pommes in Steinsel, opens on 27-28 September. You can pick apples from the beautiful vergers, which offer 15 different varieties this year, and buy apple products.
Differdange also has an apple fair with face painting and other activities for children. You can take your apples to be pressed for juice too. You will find more in the article below.
Where: Steinsel vergers/ Differdange
When: 27-28 September, 10-18.00 in Steinsel, and 27 September, 11.-18.00
Also read:It’s wine festival and apple-picking season
Steampunk Convention
Teens will love this original festival at Minett Park at the end of the month, with unusual mechanical creations, artistic and musical performances, plus a whole lot of people dressed up in the unusual steampunk fashions.
There will also be Victorian market stalls offering unique clothing, jewellery and fashion accessories.
Unusual costumes and a Victorian market at the Steampunk Convention © Photo credit: claude piscitelli
Music will be provided by the Folk Dandies, the Swingin’ Hepcats and others, plus author readings and a puppet show. Families can also hop aboard the steam train 1900 to and from Pétange, and try some unusual steaming potions.
You can find more information here.
Where: Fond-de-Gras, Minett Park
When: 27-28 September, 11.00 to 18.00
LUGA Poppentheater Hoplabum
Part of the Luxembourg Urban Gardens programme, this show by Pit Vinandy starts when a small green Martian appears in the night to tell children how to manage waste by sorting and recycling. Pit also plays the park attendant. He improvises each show and has been delighting children with his puppet performances for almost 30 years.
The performance is free and in Luxembourgish, but you must reserve tickets. You can find more information here.
Where: Edouard André municipal park
When: 28 September, 15.00
Kropemannsfest
A Luxembourgish legend, the mythical Kropemann is a water spirit that lives in the village of Redange-sur-Attert and is considered to be a protector of the Attert valley. The annual festival is a great chance to meet him in person (well, someone dressed up as him) and also have some family fun.
There’ll be live music from Zero Point Five, Hunneg Strepp and the Spuerkeess Big Band, activities, games and plenty of stalls selling food and artisanal handicrafts. You can find more information here.
Where: Redange-sur-Attert
When: 28 September, 10.00 to 18.00
Redange’s mythical water spirit – Kropemann © Photo credit: Charlot KUHN
Knuet at Rotondes
Rotondes kicks off the new season with a fantastic toddler-friendly immersive installation that invites play and relaxation amongst the world of ropes that connect to things and people, or serve as ladders and swings. This playground is brought to life by three artists who encourage children to venture freely to explore its sounds, materials and movements.
Suitable for children aged 8 months to 2.5 years, with more information here.
Where: Rotondes Black Box
When: 30 September
Cost: Tickets for children cost €8
Schueberfouer continues
The annual fair at Limpertsberg remains popular despite price increases. There are six new rides including rotating gondolas, an 80m-high tower, a tilting Ferris wheel and a rapid river ride. Five new food stands add chocolate creations and corndogs to the usual fare available, and there are 20 children’s attractions.
Lämmy the mascot will appear with giveaways and free ride tickets on 2 and 4 September and on the final day, 10 September, rides will be half-price until 20.00.
Where: Champs de Glacis, Limpertsberg
When: Until 10 September
Cost: per ride or game
Also read:From opening hours to public transport: your Schueberfouer guide