What’s on this week: 26 July to 1 August

Not everyone is able to escape the city over the summer. That’s why seasonal initiative Summer Wonders provides citizens and tourists with a free urban vacation. This year’s programme is focused on dance with battles, salsa, hip-hop, krump and K-pop set up across the city centre. Discover the action at Brussels dance floor – in the Marolles and at the Bourse – plus dance action and initiations at Mont des Arts, City Hall and the Dansaert area. The activity is designed to celebrate the capital’s cultural diversity and make dance accessible to everyone. 26 July to 18 August, Place de la Bourse and other city-centre locations

Just as strange as “break a leg” is the Italian phrase for wishing a performer good luck: In bocca al lupo literally means “into the wolf’s mouth.” This phrase has been given to a series of interactive installations created by Italian artists. One of them is Lucia, currently on show in Place du Jeu de Balle (part of the Summer Wonders programme). The multimedia creation is the result of four years of work, telling the story of a ballerina whose dreams are shattered by an accident and then revived again thanks to the ingenuity of a lamplighter – and the involvement of passers-by like you. 26 July to 6 September, Place du Jeu de Balle

Harry Potter: Visions of Magic opens its doors to a world of wizardry in this immersive and interactive journey at Tour & Taxis. Once handed magic wands that cast spells via interactive screens, visitors can explore an array of mesmerising scenes recreating some of the best-known locations from the Fantastic Beasts films as well as the Harry Potter fantasy series. Admission prices for the one-hour experience start at €20.50 for children four to 13; €26.50 for ages 14 and up. 26 July to 3 November, Avenue du Port 86C

Going back to the basics of art, Villa Empain’s exhibition Beyond the Lines. Drawing in space celebrates the ancestral technique that remains essential for artists, craftsmen and architects today. Curated by director Louma Salamé and staged in the project space, it features a variety of works by artists who have been in residence at the Boghossian Foundation. Until 3 November, Avenue Franklin Roosevelt 50 (Ixelles)

OUTSIDE BRUSSELS

Antwerp’s MAS Museum is lovely to look at from across the harbour, but how about viewing it from the water? Now you can as the Bonarparte Dock is open to swimmers on Sundays this summer. If all goes well, it could become a permanent fair-weather option. Entry is near the museum; it’s free to swim, but reservations are required. Swimmers can also take to the Keer Dock just outside Mechelen’s city centre, which is bigger this year. The Van der Valk Hotel next to the dock hosts a summer bar, so drinks are close at hand. Reservations are also required here as is an admission fee of €1. Antwerp and Mechelen

Church bells are always nice to hear, but they really come into their own during a carillon concert. Many towers in Belgium are home to the musical instruments that bellringers use to play compositions on the bells, including Roeselare’s Sint-Michiels Church. The city’s International Carillon Festival brings players from Belgium and the Netherlands together to offer Thursday evening concerts all summer long. Sit and listen in the garden of the dean’s residence. Until 29 August, 20.00, Vrouwenstraat 2, Roeselare

Three days of circus fun can be found in the expansive gardens of Bruges’s Major Seminary. Cirque Plus hosts local and international acts for open-air performances. Slapstick, acrobatics, amazing feats of balance – it’s all here. The festival is free and openly accessible, though a few productions require tickets or advance reservations. 26-28 July, Peterseliestraat 61, Bruges

The largest outdoor agricultural fair in Europe celebrates rural life in the Belgian Ardennes and beyond. Libramont Fair once again shows off its agricultural know-how to visitors from home and abroad with animals, farming, forestry and food - including local vineyards - all on display. The 88th edition continues the fair’s sustainability mission with a new feature this year in the form of a bio-fuelled village, alongside some 700 exhibitors plus 2,800 animals. 26-29 July, Rue des Aubépines 50, Libramont (Luxembourg province)

Sfinks Mixed boasts a laid-back hippie vibe with its colourful parades, world market and fun Kidz Village. The big difference? Sfinks is FREE. All four days of this diverse world music line-up from Afrobeat and Spanish folk to Cuban pop require no prior reservation. Headliners for 2024 include the long running reggae stars Black Uhuru. 25-28 July, Welvaartstraat 81, Boechout (Antwerp province)

Floreffe Abbey near Namur is once again hosting the world music extravaganza Esperanzah! A programme of activities plus a feast of specialist food outlets support the festival’s social and ethical mission. An exceptional line-up of musical artists this year include Xavier Rudd, Yame, Lucky Love and notably the veteran French rapper MC Solaar. The beautiful and historic abbey is a perfect venue for this relaxed and colourful event and the weekend festival promises to be another classic. 25-28 July, Floreffe Abbey, Rue du Séminaire 7, Floreffe (Namur)

US saxophonist Chris Potter assumes the role of ‘godfather’ at this year’s Dinant Jazz Festival. He returns to the Mosane city after closing the festival in 2023 to play in a quartet with  Lionel Loueke, John Patitucci and Johnathan Blake, as well as joining fellow sax players Sophie Alour, Lionel Belmondo, Stéphane Mercier and Stefano Battista in a much anticipated sax summit. There’s also plenty of other musical gems lined up. As for the abbey brewery setting, what could be more perfect? 26-28 July, Abbaye de Leffe, Dinant (Namur province)

For its summer tour in castles and various heritage sites, Tournée des Châteaux, the Théâtre royal des Galeries is staging an outdoor production of De la neige en été. The cult vaudeville comedy is directed by Martine Willequet and relates the fallout of a misunderstanding between two couples. Until 5 September, various locations in Brussels and Wallonia

Animal park Pairi Daiza runs seasonal festive events and late-night openings every Friday and Saturday in the Estivales programme. Dancers, clowns, acrobats, magicians, musicians, singers and mentalists take to the stage to entertain at the 80-hectare park and zoo. Until 18 August, Domaine de Cambron, Brugelette (Hainaut province)

The mythical track of Spa-Francorchamps in the Ardennes hosts the Belgian Grand Prix this weekend. The final race before the summer break is an eagerly-awaited affair for drivers and fans alike. Reputed to be the world’s most challenging track with fast straights, hair-raising corners and blind elevations, the historic course requires supreme control and expertise from drivers. With championship leader Max Verstappen (Red Bull) hoping to repeat his previous success on the track, expect an army of neighbouring Dutch supporters to cheer him on. 26-28 July, Route du Circuit 55, Stavelot (Liège province)

Book now: Villers Abbey is transformed into a choral festival in the traditional end-of-summer event Nuits des Choeurs. Six different choirs, each with a distinctive style, perform in various atmospheric nooks and crannies of the ruins of the Cistercian abbey. Each evening show is brought to a close with a spectacular finale as all of the Belgian and international ensembles take to the stage before a firework display lights up the skies above the heritage site. Booking necessary. 30 & 31 August, Rue de l’Abbaye 55, Villers-la-Ville (Brabant Walloon)

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) Summer Wonders ©City of Brussels; Harry Potter: Visions of Magic, courtesy Warner Bros Entertainment/JKR; Fondation Boghossian Rebecca Konforti, Romain Ruiz Pacouret; Cirque Plus ©Ann-Sophie Deldycke; Sfinks-Mixed ©Robin Dua Photography; Esperanzah Les Patineurs ©Eline Vyncke