25,000 visitors expected at 50th edition of Chassepierre street arts festival

Around 25,000 visitors are expected this weekend in Chassepierre, a district of Florenville in Luxembourg province, for the 50th edition of the International Street Arts Festival.

Chassepierre is one of the biggest and oldest street arts festivals in Europe. Every year, on the third weekend in August, the village welcomes Belgian and international artists from about 50 companies. They offer many kinds of street arts, including theatre, dance, circus, music, puppet shows, juggling and plastic arts.

This year, the festival celebrates its 50th edition. It began in the 1970s, when residents came together to oppose the construction of a dam that would have submerged the village under the Semois river.

About 200 performances are on the programme this weekend. There will be companies from Belgium, France, Switzerland, the Netherlands, Germany, Austria and Spain. The anniversary edition will feature a number of artists who have left their mark on the festival's history.

These include Les Commandos Percu, the French company that began its career outside France thanks to Chassepierre, and Claire Ducreux, who will be presenting her final show, Fleurir les abîmes. Other important names are Les P'tits Bras, Les Six Faux Nez, Irrwish, Teatro Pavana, Les Quatre Saisons and Daniel Daniel, author of the posters advertising the festival from 1986 to 1988.

^{The 2023 Chassepierre street arts festival © PHOTO BELPRESS}