February Festivals
Carnival: is a pre-Lent festival that is celebrated in neighbouring Luxembourg also and is characterised by street parades, live music, fireworks and a variety of other outdoor activities. Brussels is the key city in which to celebrate this lively event with Binche, Malmedy and Stavelot also holding notable celebrations. March Festivals
Cinema Novo: this annual film festival is held in the city of Brugge and is a multicultural affair offering screenings of feature-length movies, short films and documentaries fro Africa, Asia and Latin America. The event lasts 10 days and is held at the Liberty blockbuster cinema and the Lumiere art house cinema. May Festivals
Procession of Holy Blood: held in Brugge since 1150, the Procession of Holy Blood is hailed as one of Europe’s most significant religious pageants. During the event, the relic of Holy Blood (which was introduced to the city by the Count of Flanders in 1149) is paraded through the streets of the town on a journey that covers a mile and is followed by 1,500 of the city’s residents. Zinneke Parade: held in Brussels, the Zinneke Parade is also known as Big Z-Day and sees the city transformed by a series of lively activities which include music, dance, parades and the donning of brightly coloured costumes. July Festivals
Belgium National Day: Belgium celebrates its National Day on 21 of July with major festivities and events taking place in the capital including a military procession in the Parc de Bruxelles. Elsewhere there are parades and large scale firework displays. August Festivals
Meyboom at Brussels: the country observes its oldest folklore tradition with a variety of outdoor festivities including a brass band procession and a giant puppet display. September Festivals
Brussels Beer Weekend: for three days during September, the Grand Palace in Brussels offers beer lovers the chance to indulge their passion to their heart’s content with a festival characterised by a plethora of stalls serving some of the country’s finest brews. Entry to the festival is free and beer is reasonably priced. Live music is also laid on to liven up the proceedings. October Festivals
Brussels Flower Show: the suburb of Koekelberg in Brussels is the setting for this popular annual event. Every year the Basilica of the Sacred Heart is transformed by flowers, plants and beautiful water features that are arranged by the hands of some 100 skilled florists. December Festivals
Brugge Christmas Market: this is one of the country’s best Christmas markets and lasts for the entire festive season, kicking off around mid-November. Visitors to the market can enjoy stalls selling festive food and gifts or take a spin around the market’s popular open-air ice rink. | 
