Summer Wonders: New festival for a lively summer in Brussels!

Let’s welcome the new festival in town! Building on the great success of the Winter Wonders, Brussels is launching the summer version of the popular festival. Summer Wonders (Plaisirs d’Été / ZomerPret), lasts from 14 July to 6 August and will offer exciting programming with urban garden in the heart of the city, daily activities with concerts, dance, art installations…

This new summer concept aims to make Brussels even more attractive, dynamic and welcoming. Summer Wonders is all about communal life and sharing, with a programme of activities in the heart of the city which are inclusive, equality-based and free of charge. It offers a wide range of events designed to be accessible, open and inclusive. There will be something for everyone – from open air performances, after-works, sport activities (such as pétanque, adventure course, mini-golf, slackline) to art performances and animations for kids.

“Following on from the success of Winter Wonders, we’re creating a sunny version of this event which will appeal to tourists and locals alike.”

Delphine Houba, Alderwoman for Culture, Tourism and Major Events.

(Re)discover the city centre

The name of the new festival is a way of connecting different seasons. Summer Wonders shares the same objective as Winter Wonders – to keep the city centre permanently buzzing. This year also marks the 125th anniversary of René Magritte’s birth so the festival decided to pay tribute to the artist by creating a summery world with a hint of surrealism.

From 14 July to 6 August, Summer Wonders will be taking over the city with a homogeneous, cross-disciplinary stage-setting approach in the form of a large urban garden. The idea is to offer a summer venue and programme flavoured with surrealism, including the zest of quirky humour which is so typical for Brussels.

Two emblematic locations are in the spotlight: Place De Brouckère and Place Fontainas. Place De Brouckère is transformed into a surprising city garden – a stunning universe built from green scaffolding. At its heart are clusters with identified and personalised atmospheres, a central tower around which everything revolves, a greenhouse, reusable turf, and plants galore. With fountains set off against the urban landscape and misting systems installed, this unexpected, original, surrealist and plant-based village is an oasis of relaxation right in the heart of the city. In addition, Place De Brouckère will be a place to relax and discover new sports.

Urban Garden in the heart of the city

This is definitely a great summer addition for the city. The idea behind the concept of this urban garden is to restore nature to its rightful place in Brussels in order to improve the well-being and offer green spaces to those who don’t have access to it. There is a permanent greenhouse with sounds from nature and spoken audio from Brussels residents on the theme of the ideal garden and public space.

The pedestrian walkway between Place De Brouckère and Place Fontainas will be decorated with visual installations in harmony with the world of the garden. It will be adorned with 15 plant-lit colonnades, decorated with birds, plants and bamboo. Place Fontainas is home to “Lean on Me,” an XXL bamboo installation which echoes the urban garden on Place de Brouckère. The sounds of birds are part of this imaginative installation in the heart of the city.

Last but not least, the food & drinks zone has something for everyone, from food trucks to lovely neighbouring terraces including one with a rooftop!

Summer Wonders is open every day from noon to 10 pm.

For the detailed programming check the schedule or consult the Summer Wonders website.

(c) Photos: Aris Setya / WeLoveBrussels