Winter Wonders festive extravaganza to illuminate Brussels from 29 November to 5 January

For its 2024 edition, Brussels’ Winter Wonders end-of-year festivities are adopting a Provencal air thanks to its guest of honour the Var region in southern France.

The popular holiday destination’s culinary delights and fruits of its sun-drenched vineyards will occupy a village in Place de la Bourse for the duration of the seasonal experience from 29 November to 5 January.

Meanwhile, the city of Brussels promises a packed agenda of traditional activities for its 24th edition. The Christmas market, consisting of 261 festooned wooden chalets, is to be enlivened by a “real fir tree”, video mapping of the Grand Place, an extensive light trail, ice-rinks, a Ferris wheel and merry-go-round.

Brussels mayor Philippe Close said he was proud that US news channel CNN ranked the Brussels Christmas market as one of the best in the world earlier this month. "It's not the first time we've been mentioned," he commented when unveiling the programme.

New additions this year

A new feature for 2024 is an 11-metre high artistic installation in Mont des Arts. Echinodermus is a giant light structure in the form of a fantastical tree with suspended swaying lanterns.

For the first time, the market will extend to Rue de la Madeleine, including newly-renovated Galerie Bortier. Reopening on 22 November, the historic 1848 arcade, once a booklover’s paradise, is now occupied by upmarket gourmet outlets as well as bookstores.

The traditional local fir tree in the Grand Place will be transported to the medieval square on 21 November. Decorations includes some 300 balls of different sizes, LED garlands and 200 elephants. The latter are donated by a well-known chocolatier and will be auctioned to raise money for the Make-a-Wish charity. The elephant figurines are to be signed by celebrities.

The courtyard of the City Hall is to be illuminated by Lucia, a four-metre-high artistic installation that combines storytelling, orchestral music and multimedia scenography. The French-Canadian artwork was in residence in the Marolles this summer

Finally, tours are offered inside the City Hall, including trips up to the tower for panoramic views of the Grand Place in all its festive glory.

Air of Provence

The French region promises an immersive programme with some 10 chalets plus a ‘Provençal nativity scene’ in Place de la Bourse. Among the products on sale are truffles, honey, olive oil, figs, biscuits, soap and lavender. As the Var is the world's leading producer of rosé, visitors can also sample the wine along with other local tipples. There will be a rotating presence of artisans from the region.

On the entertainment front, there’s folk dancing, popcorn with southern flavours and even games of pétanque accompanied by pastis. Guillaume Decard, president of Var Tourisme, said of the collaboration: "With two million overnight stays per year, the Var maintains strong ties with Belgium."

Winter Pop

For its 12th edition, the traveling village Winter Pop illuminates three neighbourhoods outside the city centre: Square Ambiorix, Place de la Chapelle and Place Bockstael. They will be adorned by chalets, choirs and a variety of shows and entertainment. A new addition is an artificial ice rink on Place Peter Benoît in Neder-Over-Heembeek.

Sustainable & mobility

To avoid additional traffic problems, the city recommends that visitors use public transport or underground car parks located outside the centre: Rogier, Poelaert, Lois, Entre deux Portes or Passage 44.

Even though Winter Wonders attracted 4 million visitors in 2023, "we're not here to win an attendance competition," said alderwoman for culture and major events Delphine Houba reassuringly.

On the ecological front, the market would again employ reusable tableware, dry toilets and plan to recycle the Christmas tree into street furniture. "The sad news about the Spanish floods reminds us of the importance of striving for an exemplary event," she added.

While Winter Wonders opens its garlanded doors at 12.00 on 29 November, the official inauguration kicks off at 18.00. After the Christmas tree lights are symbolically switched on, the first video mapping show Echoes of Colours is to be projected onto the City Hall. A performance will follow by 80 choristers from La Monnaie, including children.

Photos: Winter Wonders 2023 ©City of Brussels