Summer festivals: Vibrant performance, film, culinary and family events brighten up the season

There is more to Belgium’s festival season than musical gatherings. Explore the country’s myriad theatre, cinema, gastronomy, street performance and dance festivities that provide colour all summer long.

Antwerp’s summer entertainment programme is celebrating its 30th anniversary. Drop by the daily parties at the port city’s biggest graffiti space, drink cocktails under trees, catch some summer sounds, cirus thrills at the Zomerbar or head to the docks for theatre or film screenings. Everything is possible at Zomer van Antwerpen (main image), a season-long festival of endless activities. Some things require a ticket, but most of it is free of charge. Until 1 September, across Antwerp

Enjoy an exotic experience whatever the weather in Belgium this summer. The Amazing Asia Festival is a lively traveling festival that is already underway in towns and cities across Flanders. It brings together music, dance, a market, workshops, Thai massage, street food and tropical drinks designed to inspire you to travel to one of many eastern destinations. Until 15 September, across Belgium

Get your global travel fix without leaving home! This year’s Sand Sculpture Festival at the Belgian coast is themed ‘Around the world in sand’. The Middelkerke phenomenon transports visitors to the Sphinxes in Egypt and wild animals in Africa, not to mention such sights as the Taj Mahal, Japanese temples and the Golden Gate bridge in San Francisco. Artists the world over fly in to create these massive sculptures every summer. Kids obviously love this event, but adults are also suitably impressed at the level of skill involved in the tiniest of details. There’s also a bouncy castle for little ones in the play zone and a beach bar for some further grown-up downtime. Until 8 September, Middelkerke beach, Arthur De Greefplein

If your favourite part of summer festivals is the alfresco street food, we have good news for you. Chefs on Wheels is a dedicated food truck festival that travels around towns in Flanders! Well, there’s music, too, but its secondary compared to the grazing that is at the heart of this nomadic event. You’ll find everything here, from Asian to Mexican to Belgian frites. Until 29 September, across Flanders

The annual Watou Arts Festival mixes poetry and art installations big and small across the picturesque town of Watou, a district of Poperinge. Grab a walking or cycling map to find them all, some in the rural open-air and some in Watou’s old houses, churches and factories. The theme for this edition is “Landscape of the Imagination”, with poets and artists exploring the imagination as a psychological landscape existing between people and their physical environments. Until 1 September, across Watou (West Flanders)

Bursting back onto the capital’s summer cultural scene with some 25 shows is the annual Bruxellons! festival. Proudly presenting some of the best French-language productions of the past season, its big draw is a French-language version of the new musical comedy Come from Away. The show, complete with a live orchestra, runs until 30 August. Other highlights in the eclectic programme include Yasmine Reza’s Le Dieu du carnage, Ladies Night by Anthony McCarten, Steven Sinclair and Jacques Collard, as well as circus and comedy. The festival, now in its 26th year, is a city summer favourite, offering a perfect evening out, complete with a pre-show buffet to enjoy in a wonderful water-side setting. Until 24 September, Château du Karreveld, Molenbeek-Saint-Jean, Brussels

For its summer tour in castles and various heritage sites, Tournée des Châteaux, the Théâtre royal des Galeries is staging De la neige en été. The cult vaudeville comedy is directed by Martine Willequet and relates the fallout of a misunderstanding between two couples. Until 5 September, various locations in Brussels and Wallonia

It’s a magical scene. As dusk descends on the River Meuse, the floating stage of the NAOW Festival  lights up with music, theatre, poetry and a sound and light show. Each member of the audience is equipped with a headset to enjoy the entertainment from their deckchair seating. The second edition of the Nature Arts on Water festival promises to be an even bigger success with the show L'Ame en Fleuve by Nicolas Buysse and Karin Clercq staged every evening, followed by a concert and DJ set. The pop-up site, a seasonal place to be, offers a holiday air with its beach setting and activities. 28 August to 1 September, Boulevard de Meuse 160, Jambes (Namur)

Now in its 12th year, L'Intime festival in Namur has firmly established itself on the Walloon capital’s literature and arts scene. The francophone event invites writers, actors and performers to read, recite and discuss contemporary literature. There’s plenty of opportunities for the public to meet and chat with writers. 30 August to 1 September, Théâtre Royal, Galérie du Beffroi, Le Delta, Namur

See The Bulletin's guide to music festivals here.

Photos: Watou, Alice Obee, Maybe we are a trace in the snow 2024 (c)Michael Depestele