RTL Today - Annual tradition: Luxembourg's mayors try their hand at serving Schueberfouer guests

On Tuesday evening, the Schueberfouer saw an unusual sight: instead of running council meetings, 53 of Luxembourg's mayors were busy pulling pints, balancing trays, and handling fried fish.

The annual Buergermeeschterdag – mayors' day – began with the mayors gathering at the fairground's main entrance at 5pm, before heading off on a short tour. From 7–10pm, they split across 17 restaurants where they rolled up their sleeves and joined the fairground staff.

This wasn't just for fun: the symbolic "salary" of €5,000 they collectively earned for their evening's work will be donated to the Luxembourg Red Cross.

For the restaurateurs, it’s a highlight of the fair. Mayors' day brings bustle, laughter, and curious visitors eager to see their local representatives behind the bar. "Some mayors turn up without the faintest idea how to pull a beer", one host joked, "but by the end they've learned, and next year they proudly say they learnt it here".

Not all tasks went flawlessly: There were tales of spilled sauces and plates dropped in the rush, but most took it in good humour. One mayor confessed he had upended an entire platter on his first attempt, while another said the best part was simply meeting people without the usual seriousness of politics.

Fairgoers loved it as well. Many said it was refreshing to see politicians in such an unguarded role, joking with customers and ferrying food. One visitor laughed that she hadn't even recognised her mayor until he appeared at the table with their drinks.

And then there were the little surprises. At one point, guests could appreciate Luxembourg City's mayor Lydie Polfer handing them plates of the fair's traditional fried fish. For a moment, civic ceremony and fairground flavour came deliciously together.

By the end of the night, it was clear that mayors' day had once again lived up to its reputation: a people-focused tradition that brings joy to the public and raises money for a good cause.

Mayors' Day at the Schueberfouer (26 Aug 2025)