Credit: www.visitluxembourg.com

The official programme for this year's Luxembourg National Day has been released; events will take place on 22 and 23 June 2018.

The festivities surrounding the birthday of HRH the Grand Duke will begin on the eve of the National Day, Friday 22 June, with the traditional changing of the guard in front of the Grand Ducal Palace at 16:00. At 21:20, following a concert played by the Luxembourg-Rollingergrund Municipal Band leading up to the arrival of the Grand Ducal couple, the torchlight procession will be held, followed by fireworks at 23:00 and several concerts across the capital. 

The torchlight procession will leave from the Puits Rouge on Grand-Rue and will then pass by the Rue du Fossé,Rue Notre-Dame, Rue de l'Ancien Athénée towards Boulevard FD Roosevelt, then by the Viaduc bridge before ending in Avenue de la Garefrom the station (groups on foot) and Boulevard d'Avranches (motorised tanks), respectively. The fireworks in honour of the Grand Duke will be fired from the Adolphe bridge, illuminating the sky for 17 minutes. The fireworks will be accompanied by a musical composition by Jacques Neuen.

As usual, many concerts and events will plunge the squares and streets of the capital into a festive atmosphere on the eve of the National Day.These include performances byBenny and the Bugs (18:00), Dëppegéisser (19:00), The Biggudies 20:30, Tëschegass 22:15, Schëppe 7 23:30 and De Läb Live Band 00:45 at Place Guillaume II. In addition, Place d'Armes, Rue du Saint-Esprit, the Corniche, Place de la Constitution, Place du Théâtre, Place Auguste Engel Square (Grund), Place Jean Heinisch, Place de Strasbourg and Grand Rue (corner of Rue des Capucins) will also be taken over by various Luxembourg and international musicians until late at night.

Regarding the National Day itself, the official programme will begin on Saturday 23 June at 10:00 with an official ceremony at the Philharmonie Luxembourg, followed by 21 cannon shots in honour of the Grand Duke at Fetschenhof at 11:00. The traditional parade and the military parade will then take place on Avenue de la Liberté from 12:00 and the Te Deum will take place at 16:30 at the Notre-Dame Cathedral in Luxembourg in the presence of members of the Grand-Ducal family.

As is the case every year, the Centre for Educational and Leisure Activities (CAPEL) of the Ville de Luxembourg will organise its traditional "Spillfest" from 10:00-18:00 on the "Kinnekswiss" (City Park). This Games Festival is for families, children and young people and always attracts a large number of visitors. Many unusual and informative games will be on offer, including a wheeled toboggan and a Speed ​​radar. The Luxembourg troupe "Ludoland", Austrian artist Hr.bert, Spanish troops "Toc de Fusta" and "Guixot de 8", German troupe "Cri-Cri" and French troupe "Festijeux" will also be on site. Participation is free and there will be small food stalls available on site. The "Péitruss-Express" (free shuttle) will run from 10:00-18:00 between the "Kinnekswiss" and the pirate ship- a large playground on Avenue Monterey.

Place d'Armes will also offer entertainment on the National Day with the "What the funk" group performing at 13:30, followed by "El Violon Latino" (15:30), "Garnisounsmusék" (18:00) and "Ginta Fiesta Orchestra" (20:00).

In regards to transport, bus lines 1-31 in the capital, as well as some RGTR lines, will be free of charge on 22 June from 18:00.