2008 Brussels Flower Carpet

This bi-annual event takes place on the cobbled stones of Brussels’ Grand Place where some 800,000 begonias transform it into a vibrant sea of flowers from August 14-17, 2008.
The famous Carpet of Flowers covers 3200 square feet right in the center of the Grand'Place. This year, it's a traditional carpet: end of the Middle Ages. Begonias offer a wide range of vivid and glowing colors and easily resist the burning sun. After all, the craftsmen assemble them directly on the cobble-stones of the square without a layer of soil. The colored plant tapestry can be admired best from the balcony of the City Hall, which is open to the public for the occasion.
And as no novelty ever travels alone, the flower carpet will come alive every evening under the baton of Grégoire Dune. This new and original show, all in music and light, will be staged live as of the official inauguration, on 14 August at 22.00, then rebroadcast every evening at 22.00, 22.30 and 23.00
For more details, click here...

CHRISTMAS MARKET IN BRUSSELS

The Christmas Market is now open and the Winter Wonders have begun in Brussels. Gluehwein, frites & croustillons, tartiflette, you name it...at the Grand Place and St. Catherines.

Plenty of overpriced goods for you to puchase while you wait two hours in line to skate on the outdoor ice rink.

From November 30th through January 6th.

check website for details

Brussels Beer Fest

The BELGIAN BEER WEEKEND is organized by the Belgian Brewers and the Knighthood of the Brewers' Mashstaff in collaboration with the City of Brussels. The festival features over 400 beers from numerous regional brewers as well as many of the National brewers.
Entry is free and beer tokens are sold at a rate of 3 Euro for 4 tokens. Beers are served for a charge of 2, 3 or 4 tokens, depending on the beer.
Most stands are tended by the owners, brewers or employees of the respective stand. This allows for questions as to how the specific beers are brewed.

THE BEER PROGRAM

Friday 31st August from 6 till 10 p.m., Saturday 1st September from 11 a.m. till 10 p.m. and Sunday 2nd September from 11 a.m. till 8 p.m.!

Brussels Summer Festival

This used to go under the impossible name of Eu’ritmix. Seemingly, someone has sensibly suggested that less is more and the brand has become known as the Brussels Summer Festival August 10-19.
The free festival takes place in the main squares of the city – Grand’ Place included – and offers around 140 free concerts, theatre and children’s events.
This year celebrates the 50th anniversary of the Treaty of Rome and artistes from across the EU are piling into Brussels to take to the stage. Last year, over 250,000 people attended the events, so this is one to watch out for. A European village, close to Grand’ Place gives a heart to the proceedings. WEBSITE

Belgians like to Celebrate in these Queer little ways

Every summer the Belgians reinact an event that took place about four and a half centuries ago. The event was the visit from Charles the Fifth, the Holy Roman Emperor who dominated European politics in the 16th century, it's called the Ommegang procession.

The procession starts at the Sablon Church and goes to Grand Place. 600 people are in the cortege, every one can go along there way and watch. For the spectacle at the Grand Place (there are 1400 performers) you will need to buy a ticket.
The festival accommodates 3,000 seating places.
Reservation of tickets can be made via fax: (322) 548.04.44 or via email: mailto:annick.sas@brusselstourism.be
For more information on the Ommegang Pageant check http://www.ommegang.be/

Brussels Jazz Festival

Jazz fans can enjoy modern and trad jazz, blues and Latin, indoors and out during the annual Brussels Jazz Marathon. Local and international groups and artists fill the main squares, streets, bars and theatres of the Belgian capital.
Over 50 venues take part in the musical celebrations, which draw crowds from all over Belgium and beyond. An incredible 125 concerts are given by around 450 artists. Outdoor gigs are held on the three public squares: the Grand Place, Place du Grand Sablon and the Place Sainte-Catherine.New this year is a "European Jazz @ Brussels" stage on the Place d'Espagne, where you can discover groups from Hungary, Spain, Italy, Estonia, Holland, France and Bulgaria!

visit the website