What’s on this week: 22 to 28 August

Explore and more importantly experience the rich culinary heritage of the sub continent at the Indian Food Festival in Cinquantenaire park this weekend. There’s more to the event, now in its 9th edition, than delicious regional and authentic food prepared by passionate chefs. Enjoy live music, dance, yoga sessions and workshops that transform the festival into a colourful carnival for all ages. 23-24 August 12.00-21.00, Cinquantenaire park (Etterbeek)

Plazey Festival is a free family-friendly event that is a perfect opportunity to enjoy a final summer holiday vibe. Staged in Elisabeth Park in Koekelberg, the urban neighbourhood festival invites musicians of various stripes and street theatre acts to entertain the crowds. Screenings (on Fri eve), activities and workshops are designed for all ages. Admire an exhibition of nature works by visual artists in Arborescenses, pick up some salsa dance moves and make some delicious doner kebab pitas! 22-24 August, Avenue des Glories Nationales (Koekelberg)

Live music in Brussels Royal Park is an annual end-of-summer tradition thanks to music venue Ancienne Belgique. It now stages three simultaneous free festivals, including Feeërieën, which offers an evening line-up of genre-defying Belgian and international musical acts: De Mannenbroeders (Broeder Dieleman + Colin H. van Eeckhout (Amenra); Merope (Bert Cools, Indrė Jurgelevičiūtė, Magic Malik); Nusantara Beat (Altın Gün + Jungle By Night); James Massiah + Lord Tusk (Accidental Meetings); ØXN; Elijah Minnelli; Fulu Miziki; Sorvina; DJ M I M I. 25-29 August, Kiosk, Brussels Park

The sister festival to Ancienne Belgique’s evening event Feeërieën is Boterhammen in de Stad, an opportunity to discover Dutch-language groups every lunchtime. Kicking off proceedings on Monday is the group De Toegift (pictured above) from Vlissingen. Meanwhile, summer hangout, the Bar Chaud, hosts concerts each afternoon. 25-29 August 12.00-12.40, Kiosk, Brussels Park

The summer classical music festival Midi-Minimes concludes with a vibrant flourish in its final concert of the season. The ensemble Astoria performs Poesia, a selection of some of Astor Piazzolla’s greatest and most popular songs. The composer was a master of Argentinian tango nuevo and his works are at the heart of this group’s repertoire. Singer Jennifer Scavuzzo leads the ensemble. 29 August 12.15, Eglise Notre-Dame des Victoires, Rue des Sablons

St Paul Choral Society from Malta is performing a series of free concerts in churches and cathedral in Flanders and Brussels. The 50-strong choir perform short sacred works from the Renaissance to the present day by Viadana, Handel, Palestrina, Victoria, Bruckner, Stainer, Durufle, Saint-Saens, Faure, Zerafa, Azopardi, Scerri and Marcello, among others. Seating is on a first-come, first-served basis and voluntary donations to the church are encouraged. The tour concludes in St Michel and St Gudula Cathedral on 1 September at 14.30. 29 August (Bruges), 30 August (Antwerp), 31 August (Ghent), 1 September (Brussels)

OUTSIDE BRUSSELS

The green belt to the south and east of Brussels is known as a grape-growing region, so there’s no better name for Overijse’s big summer event than Druivenfeesten (Grape Festival). The multi-faceted and completely free festival includes concerts as well as guided tours, fun runs for kids and adults, a book sale, a fun fair and a Sunday parade. Expect plenty of grape-related products at the ongoing markets. 22-27 August, across Overijse

Hats off to Mechelen for maintaining Maanrock, Belgian’s largest free city-centre based music festival. Multiple stages host big and up-and-coming local bands, including Bluai. Das Pop, Compact Disk Dummies, Alice Ame and Avalon, and that’s just part of Saturday’s line-up! There’s also DJ sets and plenty of activities. 21-24 August, across Mechelen

Antwerp’s festival of old music Laus Polyphoniae is dedicated to the sounds of the Middles Ages and the Renaissance. Organised by AMUZ, its concerts enter into dialogue with art forms such as literature and some of the city’s finest heritage sites as the festival’s theme this year is ‘Polyphony from the age of cathedral builders (1140-1440)’. Pictured: Micrologus Ensemble (23 Aug). Warning: Tickets for the individual concerts are selling fast! 22-31 August, across Antwerp

NAOW Festival is the only floating festival in Belgium dedicated to theatre, poetry and music! The third edition of the Nature Arts on Water (NAOW) Festival invites audiences to three different performances involving sound and light shows, music (via individual headsets) and artistic events presented from a floating stage. Extra dates have been added doe this enchanting event. It’s ‘beach’ setting at The Flow adds to the attraction. Until 7 September, Boulevard de Meuse 160, Jambes (Namur)

Discover more upcoming events at The Bulletin's events page.

Photos: (main image) courtesy Indian Food Festival; courtesy Plazey Festival; courtesy Feeërieën; courtesy Midi-Minimes; courtesy Laus Polyphonia