What's on this week: 17-24 June

In 2014, the United Nations General Assembly recognised 21 June as International Yoga Day, prompting practitioners of the ancient Indian mind-and-body exercise to celebrate with massive yoga meets around the world. On 19 June, group yoga sessions will take place in Brussels’ Bois de la Cambre and in Antwerp on the field atop the Craeybeckx tunnel (pictured). Online registration required for both. On International Yoga Day itself, Indian spiritual leader Sri Sri Ravi Shankar (pictured), founder of the international Art of Living Foundation, will be in Belgium to speak to the European parliament and later in Antwerp in an event that is open to the public.
19 and 21 June, Antwerp and Brussels

Started in France in the 1980s, the Fête de la Musique is the one night of the year when anyone can put on a concert and where noise regulations are largely ignored. Known in other countries as Make Music Day or World Music Day, this annual celebration coincides with the longest day of the year, 21 June – but expect to see musical events in cafes, parks and other venues around Belgium from this Friday onwards. Events in Brussels include a big-band performance on Avenue Huart Hamoir in Schaerbeek on Saturday at 16.00 and a big Fête de la Musique celebration in the Parc du Cinquantenaire from midday on Sunday.

The Brussels Film Festival has been celebrating European cinema for 14 years. The current edition boasts some 100 features and short films from more than 20 countries. Guest of honour this year is German director Volker Schlöndorff, whose long list of films include The Handmaid’s Tale, The Ogre and the 1979 masterpiece The Tin Drum. A retrospective of his work is on at Cinematek for the occasion. The festival also includes premieres and an Outsiders selection of work by cult directors. If that’s not enough, it’s also loaded with meet-and-greets, debates, master classes, parties and a selection of free, open-air screenings.
17-24 June at Flagey, Brussels

American artist Richard McGuire changed the face of comics with his experimental 1989 strip Here. Originally a six-page sketch in black and white, Here was recently expanded into a comprehensive, full-colour, 300-page graphic novel recounting the history of the universe from the perspective of one humble living room. McGuire joins Flemish comic-strip scholar Gert Meesters to discuss Here and his forthcoming Sequential Drawings as well as a multifaceted career that spans not just comics and graphic novels but animation, toy design, musical composition and journalism.
17 June, 20.00 at Passa Porta, Brussels

Sint-Jansvuur & Heksenverbranding is a folk tradition stemming from the 17th-century witch trials, featuring music played on traditional instruments and song and dance around a giant bonfire (18+).
18 June 21.00-23.00, Flaviramapark, Jezus Eiklaan 74a, Tervuren

The Noordzee/Mer du Nord fishbar at Sainte-Catherine is holding its annual Maatjes Festival (the first arrivals of the season) this Sunday 14.00 to 18.00 with live big band music in the bandstand. And if you are afraid of eating the maatjes raw as is customary, they serve them grilled as well.

The international community of Brussels comes together to help combat cancer with a 24-hour Relay for Life at St John's International School in Waterloo from 14.00 on Saturday until 14.00 on Sunday. While participants walk or run the track non-stop, there is plenty of family entertainment to help boost the fundraising total. This article has more details.
18-19 June, St John's International School, Waterloo

If you work in the EU district, avoid the word canteen and enjoy Thursday lunchtime al fresco at a newly reopened European food and drink hangout in the Maelbeek gardens. Jeudi Jardin features an organic fruit and veg market and stalls selling everything from Cornish pasties to Brasserie de la Senne beer, Portuguese pastries to barbecued pork from the chefs at the Wild Geese.
Every Thursday 12.00-20.00, Jardin de la Vallée de Maelbeek

English Comedy Brussels is back with its fortnightly evening of merriment at the Black Sheep near Place Flagey in Brussels. On the bill this coming Tuesday is Richard Ruben, who has sold out venues across France and Belgium but is performing in English for the very first time. Joining him is up-and-coming British funnyman Fin Taylor and Darius Davies, whose act is described as "American-style comedy with British soul".
21 June, 20.00, The Black Sheep, Chaussée de Boondael 8, Ixelles