What’s on this week: 16 to 22 August

Curated by famous long-running Brussels nightclub Fuse, the XRDS Electronic Music Festival returns for two days with a huge lineup of 43 artists on three separate stages. Held in a unique urban environment underneath the Anderlecht viaduct, it featurex renowned artists such as Assailants, Clara D, Merve, Sara Dziri and Timmerman, all set to captivate the hearts of techno and house music enthusiasts. Don’t miss after show parties at Fuse until 7.00 on both days. 17-18 August, Parc des Étangs, Vijverspark, Brussels

Flagey Holiday returns for its second session of the summer, offering free outdoor cultural and sporting activities in the famous city square. They include BiblioXL, which lays on ‘tablet’ animations, a game about scientists overlooked by history, entertainment surrounding a seed bank and writing games. Until 22 August, Thursday 14.00-18.00, Place Flagey (Ixelles)

Explore and more importantly experience the rich culinary heritage of the sub continent at the Indian Food Festival, which sets up stalls in Cinquantenaire park for its eight edition this weekend. There’s more to the event than delicious and authentic food... enjoy some live music and dance, entertaining workshops, catch some cooking demos and take part in fun activities for all ages. 17-18 August 12.00-21.00, Cinquantenaire park (Etterbeek)

Circle Park Summer Camp has established a seasonal home in an empty lot in the Petite Ile district of Anderlecht for a bunch of cool activities. Kids are welcome, but it’s really all about adult fun, with after-work chill DJ vibes, food trucks and cocktails. Evenings turn into dance parties, which all wrap up by 22.00. Thurs-Sat until 17 September, Rue des Goujons 156 (Anderlecht)

English Comedy Brussels invites two stand-up favourites, Edo Berger & Tim Hill, to The Black Sheep pub. Hailing from Amsterdam, Berger won several Dutch comedy  festivals before expanding to performing in English, while fellow Dutchman Hill is a recovering cynic and a backpacker who has settled down to become a dad. Get ready to laugh out loud at both! Book a table at the popular Flagey pub: theblacksheep.brussels@gmail.com. 21 August 20.00 (doors open 19.00), Chaussée de Boondael 8 (Ixelles)

The wildly popular world music celebration, the Hide & Seek Festival, acquired its names from the quirky locations hosting the diverse event such as Coudenberg Palace and the burial galleries of Molenbeek cemetery. With some concerts already selling out, it’s best to snap up tickets quickly. The festival host is world music specialist Muziekpublique, and the programme includes Irish musicians Séamus and Caoimhe Uí Fhlatharta, Talike n’Beko, a musical creation from southern Madagascar, the Hilgeum Trio from South Korea and Asad Qizilbash, the only sarod player in Pakistan. 18-24 August, across Brussels

OUTSIDE BRUSSELS

Namur opens its arms to groups from around the world at its International folklore festival this weekend. Bosnia & Herzegovina, Japan, Peru, Mexico, Greece and Taiwan are all represented, along with delegations from Wallonia and Flanders. Staged across the river Meuse in Jambes, the festival boasts colourful displays of dances, song, tales and traditions. Don’t miss a free reception in the city hall Maïeur gardens on Saturday at 12.00 when each group will perform a regional dance. It follows a precession in the town’s market along the quayside of the Sambre river (pictured: Argentina performing in 2023). Until 19 August, Athenée Royal sports hall, Jambes, and other locations around the city

Catch a wave of world music at the coast, with an emphasis on Afro-Caribbean and other genres from the diaspora. The free Afro C Festival also features South American and Tibetan sounds and is host to a world market on Saturday. A highlight of the programme is legendary Belgian Afro-pop singer Zap Mama. 16-17 August, Paelsteenveld Park, Kapelstraat 76, Bredene

August means fireworks in Knokke-Heist, where the International Fireworks Festival has been a mainstay for more than 50 years. Four teams – this year from Lithuania, Spain, Denmark and the Philippines – compete for the title of best fireworks display, so expect some razzle-dazzle in the choreographed fireworks shows synchronised to music. 16-24 August, Albertstrand, Knokke-Heist

Enjoy Venice without the crowds during Lennik’s Venetian Parade. Costumed performers make their way from the Groenenberg Castle across Kasteelpark to the Gaasbeek Castle Garden. Catch them along the short route or grab a ticket to the Castle Garden, where they will mingle and pose for photos with visitors. 18 August 14.00-16.30, Kasteelstraat 40, Gaasbeek (Lennik)

Each year, the Battle of Waterloo domain lays on a weekend celebration to mark the birth of Napoleon, the emperor who met his fate in the fields surrounding the Brabant Walloon town. The programme honours horses with various equestrian activities including cavalry demonstrations, plus historic reenactments, fire shows and an evening outdoor show on Saturday. There’s also plenty to keep younger spectators entertained. For info, the popular Abba exhibition is now prolonged until 1 September. 15-18 August, Route du Lion 1815 (Braine l’Alleud)

Family favourite The Festival International des Arts de la Rue celebrates its 50th edition in the village of Chassepierre in the Gaume region. Set in the heart of the village – one of the prettiest in the country – it promises two days of entertaining theatre, circus, dance and music. Some 50 companies come to perform 200 shows, promising a magical weekend for children and adults in this breathtakingly bucolic setting (pictured: Cie Anoraks in juggling show Drache National). 17-18 August, Chassepierre (Luxembourg province)

As flea markets go, this is Belgium’s biggest! The annual gathering at the Brocante de Temploux attracts thousands of bargain hunters from around the country. With 1200 stands set up along the rural roads of this pretty village, it’s the place to unearth quality objects, antiques and art. The pretty village is easily accessible via the E42 motorway, while extra buses will be running from Namur. A firework display is scheduled for Saturday evening at 22.30. 17-18 August, Temploux (Namur province)

Dino Mission is a brand-new thematic and interactive attraction at Durbuy Adventure Valley. The star draw is an authentic dinosaur skeleton, but the fun and educational activity is full of models of various dinosaurs. Access to the new space is included in the entrance ticket to the park. Rue Rome 1, Durbuy (Liège province)

Pukkelpop has a fine line-up of rock and pop bands, such as Charlotte De Witte, Stormzy, Fred Again, Sam Smith, Goldband, Offspring, Sugarbabes, Haunted Youth, but at the time of writing there are only day tickets for Sunday (headliners - Queens of the Stone Age) still available, so don’t hang around! 15-18 August, Kempische Steenweg Kiewit, Hasselt (Limburg)

Charming classical music festival Enghien International Musical Encounters (IMUSE) occupies the magnificent setting of Enghien castle for its 32nd edition. Young Belgian and international virtuoso musicians are honoured in chamber music performances and masterclasses with a series of respected musical teachers that are all  to the public. 17-22 August, Château d’Enghien, Parc d’Enghien 5 (Hainaut province)

Is vegan food a mystery to you? Grab a ticket to the Vegan Summer Fest to hear readings and discussions about what it means to be vegan, as well as cooking demonstrations to get you started and a market of products that don’t use animal-derived ingredients. But of course the cornerstone of the event is the more than 30 food trucks, where you’ll find everything from waffles to Suriname soul food. 18 August 11.00-21.00, Flanders Expo, Maaltekouter 1, Ghent

The Mosane town of Huy is celebrating the 40th edition of its annual world music gathering, Festival Les PolySons. Formerly known as Festival d’Art, it is staged in various heritage sites. The programme feature sounds from Latin America, Quebec, South Korea, the Congo, North Africa and the Middle East, as well as Belgian swing/jazz musicians Blue Mocking Birds (pictured) feat Leonie Evans. 20-25 August, multiple venues in Huy (Liège province)

Check out The Bulletin’s guides to music festivals and theatre, performance and family events this summer.

Discover more upcoming events at The Bulletin's events page.

Photos: (main image) ©Cederic Vandenberghe;  Folklore Festival 2023 Argentine ©Vincent Cochain; vegan-summer-fest ©Lies PraetBlue Mockingbirds ©Vincent Laval