It's Museum Week, Belgian Pride and Jam'in Jette all happening this weekend in Brussels – and not only! From family-friendly activities, vinyl markets and an Arab queer party, here's what's on.
Arts, music and culture
Les Nuits, Botanique, until Sunday 25 May
Brussels' well-loved venue in the Northern Quarter, Botanique, is hosting its 32nd annual music festival. The biggest new feature this year is the introduction of a single ticket, granting access to all venues for the day or evening — including access to an outdoor stage and two indoor stages.
Kicking off the local festival season, the festival spotlights both local and international artists across two indoor stages and one outdoor stage, with art exhibitions embellishing the grounds.
Credit: Botanique
Featuring names such as Adèle Castillon, Greentea Peng, Azealia Banks, the festival spanning the month of May offers a grand selection of genres to get your groove on to - and discover some new sounds for your playlist.
Find more information here.
Corne de Gazelle L'Hafla Party, LaVallee, Friday 16 May
To kick off Pride Weekend we have party organised by award-winning podcast Corne de Gazelle, for a special night celebrating the Arab queer community.
The programme highlights artists from Palestine to Paris – bringing together drag, musical performances, and DJ sets that challenge notions of gender and traditional belief systems.
Credit: Corne de Gazelle L'Hafla
The party will continue into the early hours, so make sure your heels are fabulously sturdy.
Find more information here.
Vinyl Market and Party, Le Poste, Saturday 17 May
Midnight Voodoo hosts its 7th annual vinyl record market at the Jeu de Balle community bar with accompanying live music.
Located in the Marolles neighbourhood, crates will be packed with classics from all genres - from soul, electronic, jazz, reggae, rock, to funk, and more.
Credit: Le Poste
After securing some good listening, hang around for the soirée that will hear acts such as Radio Vampiro, Souma & Alex Figueira, Nervous Tribe, and Adam Bkr.
Find more information here.
International Museum Day
Family Day, various locations, Sunday 18 May
International Museum Day sees an array of 'Family Days' across the city with the Coudenberg Palace, Sewer Museum, and Bozar for Fine Arts hosting workshops and activities for the little ones.
Programmes feature dressing-up days, crossbow shooting, puppet theatre, making coat-of-arms, cooking marzipan, sandpits, kite-making workshops, storytelling and guided tours.
Credit: The Sewer Museum
Make fun memories out of an educational day and stroll through each museum whilst the opportunity lasts.
Guided tours, various locations, Sunday 18 May
The same day opens the doors of the city's most popular museum sites with free guided tours of traditional artwork, sketches and scraps from the iconic life of Magritte, contemporary bits, and art nouveau marvels.
The Hôtel Van Eetvelde will provide access to its usually-closed top floor with a view over Schaerbeek's scenic Ambiorix squares.
Credit: Art et Marges Museum
Grab an acquaintance and cruise through the visual beauty that Brussels' flaunts paired with plaster-casting workshops, concerts, and more.
Find more information here.
A city escape
Jam'in Jette Festival, Parc de la Jeunesse, Friday 16 - Saturday 17 May
The gloriously green municipality on the outskirts of Brussels introduces fifteen concerts across two stages with the Gustave Brass Band, Evita Koné, and Akar Col blasting brilliant jams across the fields.
As well as its reggae and world music sounds, the event presents circus performances, street art, film debates, crafts, a solidarity village, a kids' zone, other activities across two days.
Credit: Jam'in Jette
A solidarity village and craft village will provide a brief dance break opportunity,
Check out the full programme here.
