Laurent Schwaller, who oversees the Schueberfouer for Luxembourg City, told RTL on Tuesday morning that organisers were pleased with the opening days of this year's fair.
For him, however, success is not measured by visitor numbers alone. "What matters first of all is that nothing happens, that everything runs smoothly and there are no incidents", he said.
Attendance has also been encouraging so far, according to Schwaller. While the weather has been somewhat mixed, Sunday benefited from good conditions and drew strong crowds, he said. Over the course of the fair's 20 days, Schwaller noted, organisers inevitably have to contend with a range of weather.
The ideal conditions, he said, would be temperatures of around 20°C to 25°C with a mixture of cloud and sunshine. Rain, however, does not necessarily keep visitors away.
"Luxembourgers go to their Fouer. They come even when it rains", he said.
Tuesday also marks the 21st edition of the Schueberfouer's traditional Mayors' Day.
A total of 54 mayors from across Luxembourg are taking part this year, serving customers at 18 restaurants and other establishments around the fair.
Schwaller said the event has developed into an established tradition, offering mayors an opportunity to meet both one another and members of the public in a more relaxed setting.
The number of participating mayors also highlights how far the Schueberfouer's appeal extends beyond Luxembourg City, he added.
All municipalities are invited to take part, although participation is voluntary. Some mayors are away on holiday at this time of year, while others deliberately keep the date free in their calendars so they can attend, he said.
Mayors are distributed among the participating establishments rather than being assigned through a draw, with organisers trying to keep the allocation balanced while also taking individual preferences into account, according to Schwaller.
Asked whether politicians always prove competent waiters, Schwaller joked that "what happens at the Fouer stays at the Fouer". The mayors receive some guidance before starting, he explained, while several already have experience in hospitality.
Their work also serves a charitable purpose, he said. Schwaller explained that fairground operators make a donation equivalent to the mayors' "wages", with the proceeds going to a charitable organisation each year.
Another long-standing initiative took place on Monday, when non-profit organisation Stëmm vun der Strooss brought people experiencing difficult circumstances to the fair.
Guests were invited by fairground operators to enjoy the attractions and were also treated to meals at two restaurants.
Similar visits involving other organisations take place throughout the 20-day event. According to Schwaller, around 500 people who might otherwise struggle to afford a visit to the fair will attend through such initiatives this year, with the costs covered by Luxembourg City and the fairground operators.
"It is very important to us as organisers that the Fouer is for everyone", he said.
Affordability remains a recurring topic at the Schueberfouer, particularly as food prices have risen. During the interview, examples of €6 for a Mettwurst and €7.50 for Gromperekichelcher – potato fritters – were raised.
Schwaller said each operator proposes their own prices, although the City monitors them to ensure they remain within a reasonable range. He also argued that rising prices were not unique to the fair but reflected broader increases also seen in supermarkets and elsewhere.
Visitors can find both more expensive and cheaper options, he said, including snacks for around €3 or €4, depending on the stall.
The fair also includes two family days offering reduced prices – one focused on attractions and another on food – as well as half-price offers on the final day, according to Schwaller.
He also pointed out that there is no admission fee and public transport to the fair is free.
"You can walk around the Fouer without spending anything. You can spend a lot, or you can spend very little", he said. "There is something for every budget and every taste."
The maximum fee charged by Luxembourg City for a pitch at the Schueberfouer is €2,250 for the full 20 days, with the precise amount calculated according to the size of the space occupied, according to Schwaller.
Those rates have remained relatively stable in recent years.
Schwaller cautioned, however, that the pitch fee represents only part of the cost faced by operators. They also have to pay for electricity and water, as well as contributions towards festivities, advertising, special events, and initiatives involving charitable organisations, he said.
Their overall costs are therefore considerably higher than the headline pitch fee, he noted.
Despite those costs, demand from operators remains high.
Schwaller said that the City receives around 600 applications each year for approximately 200 available places, meaning roughly 400 applicants are unsuccessful.
He explained that applications go through a formal assessment process requiring operators to submit the necessary documentation, including safety certificates. Eligible applications are then evaluated using a points system similar to those used at fairs in other European cities, he noted.
One criterion is seniority, according to Schwaller. Operators who have attended for years, complied with their contracts, paid their bills, and run their businesses without problems are rewarded for that track record, he said.
Schwaller said this also reflects the sizeable investments made by many operators, which cannot necessarily be recouped within a single year.
At the same time, organisers want the fair to continue evolving, he said. New attractions and concepts can therefore also earn points, allowing established favourites and newcomers to compete within the same system, according to Schwaller.
"The seniority and novelty criteria can balance each other out", he explained. "That means we have both classics and new attractions."
Safety measures at the Glacis are also regularly reviewed. Schwaller said the City has had a dedicated safety monitoring system and safety concept in place for years and works closely with specialists including the police and the Grand Ducal Fire and Rescue Corps (CGDIS).
Measures are reassessed annually and adapted as new risks or lessons emerge, he said.
Individual operators are responsible for safety within their own establishments or attractions, according to Schwaller. Restaurant operators, for example, must ensure emergency exits remain clear, while ride operators are responsible for the safe functioning of their attractions, he noted.
He added that daily checks must be carried out and recorded in dedicated logbooks.
Before the fair opens, rides, restaurants, and other installations are also inspected by conformity assessment and inspection group LuxControl to ensure they have been set up correctly and that operators know the appropriate procedures in the event of an emergency stop or evacuation, according to Schwaller.
The Schueberfouer typically attracts between 1.5 million and two million visitors over its 20-day run, and Schwaller expects numbers to remain within that range this year.
He said attendance has remained remarkably stable even when weather conditions vary. But organisers are not seeking ever-higher visitor figures for their own sake.
"We're not in a competition like Munich where we always need more visitors", Schwaller said. "We're happy with the numbers we have."
The priority, he added, is for everyone to be able to enjoy the fair, have a good time and, above all, for the event to pass peacefully and without serious incidents.
