What’s on this week: 23 to 29 August

Calling all dog owners and art lovers! For two evenings only, the fabulous exhibition on photographer Elliott Erwitt opens its doors to canines and their masters and mistresses. Rendez-vous Woof is an offbeat opportunity to discover the work of this iconic photographer who is honoured in a major retrospective running until 5 January. All visitors – including our four-legged friends – will be invited to turn their gaze to their floor, which is just one of the characteristics of the late Paris-born American’s work. Erwitt’s extensive oeuvre includes intimate family memories, photojournalism, architecture, street photos and publicity. 22 August & 4 October, 5 Grand Place

Celebrate the harvest season at the 10th edition of Brussels Tomato Festival . It’s an opportunity to taste a generous selection of sun-ripened tomatoes, including heirloom varieties, with more than 1,500 varieties presented by artisan growers at sustainable urban farm Ferme Nos Pilifs. Activities for all ages include expert advice on growing produce, workshops, tastings, nature walks, information stands, gourmet food on sale and kids’ games (free entrance). 24 & 25 August, 10.000-18.00, Trasserweg 347 (Neder-Over-Hembeek)

The Brigittines International Festival continues to showcase contemporary performance on the theme of ‘Drifting zones and whirlwinds’. Coming up in the programme is French Compagnie Parc and Pierre Pontvianne, who, accompanied by astonishingly precise dancers (pictured), explores the passage of time as well as new encounters and connections on 26 & 27 August. The closing party also ensures the respected event ends on a high note with female DJ collective and powerhouse Tropical Djipsies inviting everyone to dive into the world of Global Bass! Until 31 August, Petite Rue des Brigittines

Cards, dice, tokens and boards of all sizes come out to play at the Brussels Games Festival. The annual event dedicated to board games caters to all ages and backgrounds and includes a market where you can pick up new and used games. There are also hundreds of free-to-play games, crazy animations, a protozone to discover the games of tomorrow, tournaments, Trading Card Games (TCG), a game night, and more. Although there is a small entry fee, this volunteer-run event is great fun and a convivial get-together for all board games lovers. 23-25 August, The Egg, Rue Bara 175 (Anderlecht)

Plazey Festival is a neighbourhood family-friendly event that is a perfect opportunity to unwind during the final weekend of the summer holiday. Entry is free to Elisabeth Park in Koekelberg to see concerts by musicians of various stripes and street theatre and to take part in activities and workshops for all ages. Walk along a barefoot path, or learn how to box or make your own buttons and participate in dance and circus antics. 25-27 August, Avenue des Glories Nationales

Ancienne Belgique’s free evening concert series Feeërieën offers a multicultural and eclectic line-up. Kicking off proceedings is Guy Van Neuten (pictured), who presents his baroque, minimalist and electronic sounds in  ‘20 Years of Decent Music’, accompanied by eight talented musicians and vocalists. He is followed by Japanese folk composer Ichiko Aoba who has created her own neoclassical and nostalgic universe. The series is accompanied by summer hangout, the Bar Chaud, which also hosts concerts, and as ever, combines with sister festival Boterhammen in de Stad. The latter is an opportunity to discover Dutch-language groups every lunchtime. 26-30 August, Brussels Park

OUTSIDE BRUSSELS

Performed in gardens around the village, music festival Les Sentiers de Sart-Risbart presents a diverse line up of local talents. From an outdoor film screening to world music, jazz, classical, electro, fanfare and French chanson, the Walloon Brabant event is a convivial and bucolic musical celebration. An open stage each day invites emerging artists to test their skills. Until 25 August, Rue Alphonse Robert, Sart-Risbart (Incourt)

It’s a magical scene. As dusk descends on the River Meuse, the floating stage of the NAOW Festival  lights up with music, theatre, poetry and a sound and light show. Each member of the audience is equipped with a headset to enjoy the entertainment from their deckchair seating. The second edition of the Nature Arts on Water festival promises to be an even bigger success with the show L'Ame en Fleuve by Nicolas Buysse and Karin Clercq staged every evening, followed by a concert and DJ set. The pop-up site, a seasonal place to be, offers a holiday air with its beach setting and activities. 28 August to 1 September, Boulevard de Meuse 160, Jambes (Namur)

It’s final tickets only for Sunday’s line-up at Namur festival Les Solidarities. The three day music festival celebrates its 10th anniversary with a multicultural offering of 42 artists, including La Valise, Colt, Fugu Mango and Mika. A village with around 40 stands by community volunteer groups inject a social vibe, and a wide array of food and drink options will keep festivalgoers fuelled. A parking space is earmarked at the nearby Namur Aerodrome and free shuttle buses will link it with the festival site as well as Namur train station. 23-25 August, Site Ecolys, Temploux (Namur)

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 Bavr, Bizkit Park, De Ketnetband and Natalia. Also performing, will be the beloved Flemish singer and Günther Neefs, who is bringing his full live band for a show full of nostalgia and musical highlights. 22-25 August, across Mechelen

Now in its 12th year, L'Intime festival in Namur has firmly established itself on the Walloon capital’s literature and arts scene. The francophone event invites writers, actors and performers to read, recite and discuss contemporary literature. There’s plenty of opportunities for the public to meet and chat with writers; the conviviality of the event is one of the festival’s notable features. 30 August to 1 September, Théâtre Royal, Galérie du Beffroi, Le Delta, Namur

If you’ve filled your summer with rock & pop music festivals, throw Laus Polyphoniae into the mix as a nice change from the norm. Antwerp’s festival of old music is this year dedicated to the relationship between monophony (a single melody, like Gregorian chant) with polyphony (multiple simultaneous melodies, like a Bach fugue). Titled Vox/Voces, the festival celebrates more than 500 years of music and 30 generations of composers. 23 August to 1 September, across Antwerp

Take a wander around Aalst, and you’re sure to run into Cirk!, the annual summer circus and street theatre festival. Taking to all the city’s squares, it features 100 performances of various kinds of death-defying acrobatics, eye-popping balancing acts, hilarious cabaret and off-the-wall marching bands. The open-air acts make up the bulk of the festival and are free, those taking place inside require a ticket. 23-25 August, across Aalst

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 of electronic, pop, Cuban and Flemish hitmakers along with 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. Until 27 August, across Overijse

Koen Vanmechelen’s Labiomista campus in Limburg is a kind of ever-changing, open-air museum, a living lab for the Belgian artist, who famously mingles biology and culture. It’s accessible to visitors, and there’s no better time to check it out than during the opening of the Future Garden. It’s a place that reflects on the fusion among people, nature and technology – a glimpse into the future, according to the artist, where tapirs figure heavily – an embodiment of hybridity and adaptation. Talks on the day are in Dutch; the guides and lab scientists can provide info in English. 25 August 13.00-17.30, Labiomista, Marcel Habetslaan 50, Genk

Check out The Bulletin’s guides to music festivals and theatre, performance and family events this summer.

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

Photos: (main image) New York USA 1974 ©Elliott Erwitt, Magnum photos; ©Cie Parc ©oelight;  ©plazey sfeer facebook jhelber