A cherished celebration of the working world, Sainte-Barbara—the patron saint of miners, firefighters, and artillerymen— is back in Esch. After a successful first edition in 2024, Kulturfabrik and the CNCI (Centre National de la Culture Industrielle) are joining forces once again to offer a festive and commemorative evening on Friday, 5 December.
Once celebrated across the mining basin, Sainte-Barbe is being reimagined for a new generation. This year’s edition honours the miners’ legacy with a fresh, contemporary twist mixing memory, creativity, and community spirit.
The evening begins at 5 p.m. with a festive walk around Kulturfabrik, followed by a programme featuring performances, music, and craft displays. Visitors can watch a live forging demonstration, enjoy music from the Harmonie des Mineurs, and experience the improvisation show Vexations Mécaniques 1.0.1 or the screening of the film 79 Jours, retracing the 1963 iron miners’ strike.
Inside, a vibrant creators’ market brings together artisans from across the Greater Region: jewellery crafted from reclaimed industrial tableware, engravings, porcelain, wood sculpture, handmade soaps, and more. Visitors can also jump into hands-on workshops, from lino-cutting to embroidery.
Food trucks, pop-ups, and the latest Wait & See microbrewery beer will be there to round off this warm, lively gathering.
