Festivals & Events
January - December
Flanders Festival International (second
week of January - second week of December) - Flanders is the largest
festival for classical music in Belgium with 445 concerts in historical
venues in and around Brussels, Antwerp, Bruges, Ghent, Kortrijk, Limburg,
Mechelen and Leuven. (Ghent, O-Vl, Belgium).
During its four decades, Flanders Festival has become a major forum for living
culture. Flanders’ cathedrals and belfries not only provide an
exceptional stage for musical events but also attractive sites for tourists,
which are further enhanced by the world-famous Flemish hospitality.
Every year, from May to the end of November, cultural-minded tourists
flock to the castles, historic churches and stylish venues of Flanders’
eight festival cities. Attending cultural events at the highest-level
while, at the same time, being able to relax in an attractive surrounding:
these are no doubt the main advantages of Flanders Festival.
April - October
Bruges 1468 - Go back time and experience
food, pageantry and entertainment from a by-gone era. ( Brugge, Belgium).
September
World Track Championships (last week
of September) - The Cycling World Track Championships could not have
wished for a better host. Every lover of the sport knows the Sportpaleis
and its six days cycle races (Zesdaagses). Many cycling legends have
done their rounds on the fantastic 250 metres long and 8 metres wide
wooden track. (Antwerp, Belgium).
Aalst Rockt
(last week of September) - This event features two segments with the
first being the On Air Party and the second one featuring live music.
(Jeugdcentrum Eendracht Aalst).
Hasselt Folkstagefestival
(last week of September) - Belgium welcomes you to take part in a musically
cultural event, with lots of folk musicians setting the stage with new
material and folksy melodies as well as activities for young and old
and memories that will make you yearning for next year's event! (Hasselt,
Limburg, Belgium).
September - October
International French Language Film Festival
(last week of September - October first) - Every year, 150 previously
unscreened films, exhibitions, conferences and various events based
on current issues are on the programme of this festival, held in the
capital of the Walloon region of Belgium. The festival welcomes more
than 500 industry members from France, the Maghreb, Africa, Switzerland,
the West Indies, Eastern Europe and North America. (Cinéma Caméo,
Cinéma Eldorado, Chapiteau Place St Aubain).
October
Flanders International Film Festival -
Ghent (first week - second week of October) - In January of 1974
a small group of film lovers from the University Film Club and the owner
of the Ghent art-house cinema came together to start up a small-scale
film festival. What has emerged is a true cultural maelstrom--the Flanders
International Film Festival!
The festival
sought to present films that had not found a place in the Belgian market
and as a result were found to be both controversial and provocative.
In 1985, the Flanders film festival became the only such festival in
the world to pay attention to the contribution of composers and musicians
to the art of filmmaking. Ever since, the festival has organized concerts
of music in film as a special feature to the festivities. Events this
year include the memory of cinema, world cinema today, a focus on Swedish
cinema and Jazzimation. (Ghent, Belgium).
Rock Ternat
(second week of October) - Come see what is considered one of the greatest
Belgian after-summer festivals. Last years line up included Golden Green,
Betty goes Green, Metal Molly, Liquido, Janez Detd, Therapy?, and Guano
Apes. [Ternat (Highway E40 - Exit 20) Assesteenweg].
Audi Jazz Festival
(second week of October - second week of November) - Join us for five
weeks and almost 70 concerts throughout Belgium, of jazz, fusion, R&B,
funk, world music, drum 'n' bass, arty cross over, contemporary adult
and more. This series of music celebrations will be held in Belgium's
leading concert venues. (Various venues throughout Belgium).
November
Pepsi Pop (second week of November) - This
is a new festival that's geared for the 10 to 15 year-old age group
and features a full afternoon, 4 to 10 p.m., of some 25 leading pop
stars in a play-back or sound-mix format. The show is broadcast in two
parts on the two leading television stations in Belgium. (Forest National).
Pay&Go Groove City
(third week of November) - The Brussels Kart Expo, a former truck factory,
will host the Techno Highway, the House Boulevard, the Drum 'n’
Bass Avenue and the Chill Out Road, in four different and groovy decorated
halls, featuring the world’s leading DJs. No less than 20 very
hot DJs will spin the decks from Saturday, 8 p.m. until Sunday, 5:30
a.m.
Pay&Groove City, is without a doubt one of the most hip urban dance events,
produced by the party builders of the Beach Beats Rock festival in Zeebrugge.
(Brussels Kart Expo,
Avenue Gossetlaan 11).
February
Aalst Carnaval (Oilsjt Karnaval) (second
week of February) - Since 1851, the Flemish town of Aalst celebrates
for three days in a row until Shrove Tuesday, the Aalst Carnaval or
Oilsjt Karnaval. About 70 groups and thousands of individuals start
preparing their contribution to this fest in September. Every year,
the parade must be original and never seen anywhere before. Therefore
it's imperative that the whole town of Aalst mobilizes its craftsmen
and women to present their theme as good as possible.
The highlight
of the carnival in Aalst are the Parades held on Sunday and Monday.
In these parades, about 3,000 people and more than 250 floats show you
the typical vision on local, national and international actuality. (De
Lodderoeigen, Tenon, Vrièt).
Binche Carnival (second
week of February) - During
the six weeks leading up to Lent, the good people of Binche actively
prepare for the three final days of the carnival itself: drum-beating
rehearsals, balls on the Saturday evening, and the night of the "trouilles
de nouilles" (the craziest night of the year).
The Sunday,
Monday and Tuesday are the high point of the festivity with their colorful
parades. Mardi Gras is the only day on which the "Gilles"
- farmers, Pierot and harlequins in their traditional dress - are allowed
out. Everyone wants to catch a glimpse of them in their enormous ostrich-plumed
hats, with bunches of tiny onions around the waist, and clogs on their
feet. The sound of their footsteps entrances the crowd following them.
The custom is for the Gilles to throw oranges at the spectators!
May
Belgium Lesbian and Gay Pride (first week
of May) - Plans are now underway for the 2002 celebration of gay pride
so check back early next year for further information. (Brussels, Belgium).
Mano Mundo festival
(second week of May) - This is a free world music festival with lots
of animation and workshops. With six stages and three villages, there
will be a lot to do and see. Welcome to Mano Mundo! (Domain De Schorre
in Boom, Kapelstraat 83).
Battle
of Lumecon and the Procession of the Golden Chariot
(St. George and the Dragon) (last week of May) - A morning procession
featuring a golden chariot commemorates the delivery of Mons from the
plague of 1349. Then, 31 men re-enact the legendary battle between St.
George and the dragon, Lumecon. The audience in the square joins the
fray as well, trying to grab the dragon's tail. The reenactment of the
Battle of Lumecon is the climactic event in a day that features processions
of 18th-century carriages, parades of richly costumed women and other
colorful events. (Main Square).
July
World Festival of Folklore (second week of July)
- You can see the world in Schoten. Each year the best representatives
of folk ensembles all over the world come to Schoten. In 2001, we are
celebrating our 43st edition. The celebration is an amateur festival,
open in the first place to non-professional folk art groups of a high
artistic standard. (Castle of Schoten).
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