What’s on this week: 6 to 12 September

The free BD Comic Strip Festival at Tour & Taxis’ Gare Maritime is a colourful delight for fans of the ninth art. For its 14th edition, it announces a new chapter. While giant balloons bob above exhibitions, signing sessions, markets, workshops, guided tours and comic characters, a packed programme showcases current authors with encounters and events. While the emphasis is on Belgian strips, there is a new space for manga, and the International Pavilion hosts artists from around the world, including talented Korean artists and two leading Polish women artists. Warning: Friday is Schools Day, so youngsters will fill the space. 6-8 September, Rue Picard 7

More than 50 breweries sett up their tents at the Belgian Beer Weekend. From small-scale family operations to big name brands, it’s an opportunity to sample different tipples, although it’s best you pace yourself as there’s around 500 on offer! They include the big five Belgian Trappist brews and lesser-known brands such as Brewmine Tap from Limburg and Rulles from Luxembourg province. They are also joined by Brussels brewer La Senne. Saturday and Sunday lunchtime crowds will be treated to traditional parades by brewers. Free entrance. 6-8 September, Grand Place

As well as the established Belgian Beer Weekend, the Brussels Beer Project (BBP) brewery runs its own festival, Wanderlust this weekend near its base in Rue Antoine Dansaert. The event celebrates the work of craft brewers from across Europe with the participation of 14 breweries from 11 different countries. Entrance tickets required. 7-8 September, Place du Vismet

The feisty and fun Fiesta Latina is back in Bois de la Cambre. Dance shows and workshops, concerts and DJ sets, Mexican mariachi, food and cocktails, and demonstrations of the notoriously bizarre Lucha Libre wrestling immerse you in the colours, sounds, moves and tastes of Latin America. Tickets are selling like hotcakes for a reason, so don’t miss out. 6-8 September, Carrefour des Attelages

After attracting 4,000 visitors for its inaugural edition in 2023, Feria Flamenca 2024 returns to Jette for a fine display of Spanish folklore tradition. Flamenco concerts, dances, initiation classes and DJ sets are all accompanied by a children’s activity village. 6-8 September, Place Cardinal Mercier (Jette)

Can cars also be objects of art? That’s the question posed by Autoworld in its new exhibition When automotive design becomes art. Taking the point of view that art can combine with a function it presents cars that have inspired or innovated the industry. From a Bugatti T35 'Art Car' to the Cisitalia 202 (pictured) exhibited at the New York MoMA to the Audi TT, discover a collection of stunning cars and motorcycles. 6 September to 15 December, Esplanade 11, Cinquantenaire park

Marni Jazz Festival honours a quality beloved by jazz artists, ‘freedom’. The programme offers a ‘wild’ exploration of jazz via six concerts by Belgian artists, as well as off-piste activities. As ever, carte blanche concerts feature and the full line-up includes Nicolas Fiszman, Julie Rens (pictured), Louise van den Heuvel, CD release "Afro Bass Fusion" by Manou Gallo, and Casimir Liberski revisits video game music with ReTrio. Together, they show  inspiration from multitude of sources: the haunting rhythms of traditional music, modern electronic vibes, enchanting melodies of jazz, dynamic pulsations of rock and the harmonies of classical music. 12-21 September, Marni, Rue du Vergnies 25 (Ixelles)

There are more than 100 design events as part of the annual Brussels Design September. But what is a design event? Well, there is an exhibition of fantastical objects based on Where the Wild Things Are, a collection of sustainable design where chairs are made from tennis balls and tables from PVC piping, and a day of discovering how the subtle art of signage impacts a neighbourhood – with the chance to make your own sign. And that’s just three. 12-30 September, across Brussels

Whether you’re a newcomer to Belgium or have lived here for years, if you fancy  expanding your social life, learning a new skill or staying fit, the Brussels Women’s Club invites you to its Open Day. As the largest English-speaking women's club in Belgium with over 25 different nationalities, it runs a busy schedule of events and activities. 12 September 10.00-13.00, Rue au Bois 509 (Woluwe-Saint-Pierre)

Brussels ideas, social and cultural hub Full Circle is ready to launch Season 12. The club injects inspiring conversations into the Brussels landscape, attracting stellar thinkers and doers to the city to discuss key issues in a safe and animated setting. The new programme includes diverse activities designed to stimulate, inform, enrich and entertain a varied public. Among them is the original Ideas Festival that returns this winter. 13 September, 19.00-22.00, Full Circle House, Chaussée de Vleurgat 89 (Ixelles)

OUTSIDE BRUSSELS

Accessibility is the key theme for Wallonia’s Heritage Days this year with some 280 open-door events tailored for people with specific needs. The Wallonia Royal Opera house in Liège runs guided sensory and inclusive tours of the backstage decor. Near Mons, the Hyon waterfall and ancient mill provide a perfect woodland setting for a walk accessible for people with reduced mobility. In Namur, a street art guided tour is conducted in sign language, andhe Solvay domain in Walloon Brabant is running a visit for people with mental difficulties. Dozens of the activities on offer include a special programme for children. While all activities are free, some require prior reservation. Check out the full programme. 7-8 September, across Wallonia

Belgium’s largest floral parade is pretty spectacular, with millions of dahlias and other organic material decorating some 30 massive floats. It’s a big event in little Loenhout, with the entire village closed off to traffic – and to people without a ticket. Along with the impressive parade of floral art, there is a food truck festival, a flea market, street theatre and a fun fair. The day after the parade, the floats are available to view up close. 8-9 September, across Loenhout (Wuustwezel)

Now that the holiday crowds have somewhat thinned, it’s a great time to head to Ostend for Vistival. There are stages of live music, dance demonstrations and kids’ activities, but the star attraction is the vis (fish) – served up any number of ways, from the humble fishstick to shrimp soup to oysters doused with lemon. 7-8 September, Cardijnplein, Ostend

Peek behind closed doors during Open Monument Day in Flanders, when heritage sites, historical homes and archaeological digs normally shut to the public are on full view. See, for instance the Villa Stuyven, a splendidly renovated 1970s brutalist style house in the woods; the Keizersberg Abbey, now a student community and artist residence; or inside a monumental crane at Antwerp harbour. There are also tours, exhibitions, walking routes and a special programme for kids. 8 September, across Flanders

The wonderfully varied Flanders Festival Ghent fuses classical with many other musical genres. Along the Borders – Europe on the Edge is this year’s theme, exploring the shift from European standard-bearers of culture – like Paris and London – to the creativity blossoming all over, from the Norwegian fjords to the Greek islands. The festival’s opening OdeGand is an popular day filled with short concerts of classical and world music, while Whispering Leaves features outdoor performances in beautiful gardens. That’s where you’ll find British singer and cellist Ayanna Witter-Johnson (pictured), who has to be heard to be believed. 10-26 September, across Ghent

Belgium’s biggest organic fair Valériane is at Namur Expo this weekend, filled with stands presenting their wares in various sectors: food, garden, health, crafts, eco-building etc. Each one is carefully selected by organiser Nature & Progrès. The fair also runs a packed programme of talks and workshops. 6-8 September 10.00-19.00, Avenue Sergent Vrithoff 2, Salzinnes (Namur)

World War Two liberation commemorations continue around the country. The Hainaut city of Tournai is marking 80th anniversary of the liberation with four ceremonies as well as a display of historical vehicles, a march and a garrison concert. The programme kicks off on Saturday in the village of Hertain at the Monument des Anglais at 7.00, continues in Tournai at the Monument de la Résistance at 8.00, before moving to the Belfry in the Grand Place at 9.45. The final ceremony is at the Mémorial des 3 Soldats Américains in Gaurain at 11.30.  7 September, 9.00-11.00, Grand Place and villages Tournai 

If the port city of Antwerp was liberated on 4 September, joy was replaced by terror as the Nazi regime bombarded the city for 175 long days. The exhibition Antwerpen onder de V-bommen. recounts the traumatising period for the city’s residents via original objects, models, documents, uniforms and a life-size replica of a V1 bomb. 7-8 September, 10.00-17.00 Steenbergstraat 13

The Antwerp Branch Royal British Legion is organising a Liberation of Antwerp 80th Tank Ceremony with attendance by the Band of the Grenadier Guards. 8 September, 11.00-13.00 Cromwell Tank, Jan Van Rijswijklaan, Antwerp

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

Photos: (main image) BD Comic Strip Festival ©visit.brussels Jean-Simon Gérard; Belgian Beer Weekend ©Lais Van Gestel; Brussels Design Sept ©Melinda Doktor