As the countdown enters its final week, Luxembourg's largest funfair, the Schueberfouer, is getting ready to welcome visitors for its 686th edition. At Glacis square, workers are busy assembling the rides, stalls, and stands, making sure everything is ready for opening day.
While some attractions, like the rollercoaster, are already running empty test vehicles, most operators still have a great deal of work ahead before they can welcome customers. High temperatures, with the mercury regularly climbing well above 30°C, have made the task more challenging this year.
In conversation with RTL, Schueberfouer organiser Laurent Schwaller from the municipality of Luxembourg City detailed the various challenges:
We cannot work from home, nor can we escape to air-conditioned rooms or avoid physical labour. I think those are all well-intentioned suggestions, but they don't apply to a fairground. Nonetheless, we are adapting, and so are our staff, whether they are partners or fairground operators. Of course, we are drinking plenty of water, taking breaks, and seeking out shade whenever possible. We do all of that. But ultimately, a fair has a deadline. My boss and my alderman want the Schueberfouer to open on 21 August. I want that too, and we will make it happen, despite the heat and any other challenges.
To cope with the heat, some businesses have shifted their working hours to the early morning, taking advantage of the cooler conditions to get as much done as possible.
At the moment, the Glacis is a vast construction site. As with any major build, the relevant authorities are checking that all safety and labour regulations are being followed.
According to industry veterans, these standards have become much stricter in recent years. Charel Hary, spokesperson for the fairground operators, recalls that in the past, you would show up, set up your stand, and if someone, like a student, offered to help, they would be allowed to pitch in and would be added to the team afterwards.
However, today, everything has to be above board; the rules are clear and must be followed.
This year, access to the site during setup and dismantling is more tightly regulated than ever. It is no longer possible to simply cross the construction area to the other side of Glacis at will, a measure that many see as sensible. Hary welcomes the new measures, adding that if something were to happen, it would be chaos.
While, according to him, there is still room for improvement, for instance, as staff also require a permit every day to enter, in general the measures fulfil their purpose.
From 21 August to 9 September, organisers expect between 1.5 and 2 million visitors, hoping the event will once again draw crowds from near and far.
