Lightopia Festival, Europe’s biggest lantern and light festival is coming to Belgium this winter. From November 18th to January 8th 2023 at the Château de Grand-Bigard in Dilbeek, just outside of Brussels, this illuminated and magical journey will amaze local and foreign visitors alike. This is the first edition of the festival outside the United Kingdom.
The festival is inspired by the traditions of the Chinese New Year and has won many awards. In 2021, it received 8 awards on the 11th edition of the Global Eventex Awards: 5 gold and 3 silver. In addition, in 2020 it also received the City Life Award for best art exhibition or the event.
We will share our passion for light and creativity, bring joy to our audiences and offer them an unforgettable experience.
Ian Xiang, Founder of Lightopia
Visitors will be able to walk through several golden arches with unique designs, white rabbits with a monocle, psychedelic mushrooms, shiny water lilies and glittering hearts, magic peacock, multicolored phoenix. It is expected to be the biggest light festival of lanterns in Belgium.
The Château de Grand-Bigard is a 12th-century castle in the municipality of Dilbeek, Flemish Brabant, Belgium. The castle was built for Almaric Bigard, the first lord of Bigard, and is surrounded by a wide moat spanned by a bridge with five arches, leading to the drawbridge. The central part of the gatehouse dates from the 14th century. It was designed in the Flemish Renaissance style, with red brick and a slate roof.
“Originally from the United Kingdom, this event is coming to the continent for the first time,” Xavier Pelgrims, owner of the Grand-Bigard castle said to the Brussels Times. “At night, a fabulous light show will illuminate the castle and the park with hundreds of multi-colored and interactive lights, a real enchantment for everyone.”
Lightopia Brussels will dedicate a large part of its course to Christmas celebrations. Dubbed “A Christmas Fairyland”, the Brussels version of the festival will be divided into 14 lighted spaces ranging from the “Magic Safari” to the “Enchanted Kingdom”, including the “Dark Forest” and the “Dreamcatcher”. Unlike other festivals that are duplicated from one city to another, Lightopia will play the card of local folklore by creating a large illuminated Manneken Pis and a marvelous alley of glittering Belgian flowers.
Giant fir tree, luminous sleigh, zoo of lights, glittering floral arches, mermaids and glittering jellyfish, this Christmas version of Lightopia coming to Brussels would not be complete without a magnificent aquatic light show, which will take place every evening from the Castle lake. This magical fantasy of incredible proportions will transport children and adults alike into a magical dream world where anything is possible.
