Sixteen mini-fairs in lieu of Foire du Midi

Brussels-City has presented a proposal to fun fair vendors – angry about the cancellation of the annual summer Foire du Midi – that would see 16 attractions placed around the municipality for a month starting on 15 August.

Seven of the locations are inside the pentagon, while six are in Laken and three in the European quarter. “We want to offer the fun fair vendors another option, following the cancellation of Foire du Midi because of a surge in coronavirus infections,” city councillor Fabian Maingain (Défi) told La Capitale. He added that he hoped that other Brussels municipalities would come forward with proposals of their own.

The association of fun fair vendors responded positively to the proposal. “Thanks to this plan, some 50 vendors will be able to regain some of their losses,” said spokesperson Patrick De Corte. “The mayor and councillor Maingain have worked hard to make this possible, and I’m grateful to them for that.”

That means that more than half of the vendors meant to be at the Foire du Midi will not get a chance to entertain Brussels residents this summer. Should other municipalities come up with similar proposals, however, all the vendors could conceivably get to work.

Attractions sought for the 16 mini-fairs in Brussels-City are carrousels, roller coasters, funhouses, shooting galleries, ring toss and other games.

Photo ©Nicolas Maeterlinck/BELGA