A fundraising mixer is set to take place under the lights of Bright Festival, Belgium's best-loved lightshow, between 13 and 16 February. Anyone and everyone is invited to sip prosecco, enjoy the displays and contribute to a good cause.
The Bright Festival is a lightshow that takes place at iconic locations across Brussels and attracted half a million visitors last year. Attendees can follow the European Route (3 km) or the Royal Route (4.5 km) and view around 20 light installations set up by an array of international artists.
Amid murals, museum activities, guided tours and a parade, one Brussels branch of the American philanthropic organisation Rotary International is adding a fundraiser to the lineup.
From 18:30 to 23:00 on Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday (13 to 16 February), Rotary Club Brussels Cantersteen will host a refreshment chalet in the park across from the Saint Michael and Saint Gudula Cathedral, where one of the most impressive light displays will take place.
Bright Festival. Credit: Belga / Henri Verlooy
Attendees can sip on prosecco, wine, soft drinks and more, with all proceeds going towards an e-cargo bike for Serve the City, an organisation that helps the elderly, homeless, children in need, people with disabilities, victims of abuse, and asylum seekers and refugees.
"The Bright Festival is one of the best events that Brussels has to offer, particularly in the middle of winter as a way to brighten up your spirits," Rotary member Angela Dansby told The Brussels Times. "Our chalet will be perfectly positioned right across from the cathedral. Why not have a drink and contribute to a local charity that contributes to the community while enjoying the show?"
Give back locally
The e-cargo bike will be the first of a fleet the Brussels-based Rotary hopes to donate in the coming years. The vehicle will replace a van, allowing Serve the City to work more sustainably and reach their destinations more easily, such as in parks where they distribute hot drinks to homeless people or others living in difficult situations.
"The money raised will go towards a new e-cargo bike that will help us support more people in need across Brussels in a faster and more sustainable way," said Nathan Torrini, executive director of Serve the City Brussels. "We truly appreciate the Rotary Club’s ongoing support and commitment to our mission."
Serve the City volunteers handing out food and warm drinks to those waiting in line. Credit: Lauren Walker / The Brussels Times
Serve the City has over 4,000 volunteers and offers 48 volunteering opportunities per week. There are a wide range of activities to take part in, such as preparing lunch bags at the Humanitarian Hub on the canal, cooking hot meals at their Community Kitchen in Ixelles and distributing Solidarity Breakfast to asylum seekers on Rue Belliard.
The Rotary Club is another vibrant community looking to give back locally. Its members have participated in several charity events with Serve the City already.
"Our chapter is the only English-speaking one in Belgium. We have about 15 different nationalities represented, which is great because you learn so much from each other from a cultural standpoint," says Dansby. "It's all about doing good for others, raising money and benefiting charitable organisations, whether it's in your own local community or in other parts of the world."
