The first edition of Brussels’ Summer Wonders kicks off on 14 July. The sunny counterpart of the renowned Winter Wonders promises to transform the city centre into an urban garden and offer a packed programme for every taste. From chilling after work, to grooving on the beats of DJs and performers to special activities for children, summer in the city is bound to be unforgettable.
Concerts, dance, art installations, gardens in the city… this summer it’s destination Brussels!
Delphine Houba, Brussels Alderman for Culture, Tourism and Major Events
1. Grand opening
For the inauguration of the festival, the city has prepared a three-stage programme to immerse guests into the celebratory atmosphere.
From 5.30 pm, the public is invited to discover “Lean on Me”, Gilles Duinslaeger ‘s XXL bamboo installation on Place Fontainas. For this Early Voices will be playing the composition they developed for Joost Van Duppen’s project the Week of the Sun.
A moment of relaxation will follow, from 6:30 pm, in the urban garden at Place De Brouckère. Food trucks are present to delight the taste buds of visitors. A program hosted by the Compagnie des rêveurs will await guests: 6:30 pm – DJ set Deep O, 7:15 pm – JIES concert, 8:15 pm – ARTY LEISO concert, 9:15 pm – DJ set Deep O.
Lastly, at 9:30 pm, the emblematic artist SANTA, of the Hyphen Hyphen group, will bring the highlight of the show: a vertiginous artistic performance on the Place de la Bourse. For her first solo emotions in Brussels, the singer will give a concert suspended from a crane, with her grand piano 45 meters above the ground.
2. Open air
Every Saturday night at Place de Brouckère, from 6:30 pm to 10 pm, is open-air mode. Every week, Summer Wonders promises a chilled-out evening with drink in hand, soothed by the sounds of shakers from Brussels’ nightlife scene.
For the first week, visitors are invited to discover C12, a multidisciplinary platform born in 2018 from the collaboration of the Brussels collective “Deep in House” and Galerie Horta, with the aim of breathing new life into this timeless space.
On 27 July, Hangar Soundsystem will share their experience of electronic music with the crowds.
Sono Ventura will take over the last Saturday of Summer Wonders. Opened in June 2021 by three Brussels-based DJs (Attari aka SVS, Soja & Bon Voyage), the Sono Ventura shop is located in the heart of the capital’s record shops district (Les Marolles) and counts among its customers the best of local or visiting DJs and diggers.
3. After work
From Tuesday to Friday, from 6pm to 10pm, Summer Wonders is the place to be for all your after work drinks this summer, with DJ sets, live music and a varied programme to keep you entertained.
Highlights include funk-soul collective Melodiggerz, female-led electronic music group Zukunft and the Reggaebus band, playing a wide selection of sounds, from old-school Roots Reggae to Dub and Stepper, famous for organising its Reggaebus Festival.
4. Performing arts
Each day of the week will have its own theme for live performances: Wednesdays will be for Apero Stories, Thursdays are open mic nights, Fridays will bring laughter with stand-up comedy, while Sundays will be reserved for jam sessions.
5. Sports
Part of its initiative to promote sport in Brussels, the city will offer a wide array of activities during the Summer Wonders, including lesser-known sports such as spikeball (or roundnet, a ball sport largely inspired by volleyball) and pickleball (a mixture of tennis, table tennis and badminton). Most of the activities (developed and organised in collaboration with Brussels clubs) are free and open to all ages and abilities.
Every day from noon to 10 pm, visitors can enjoy the pétanque court and a slackline course. On 15 and 16 July, a football field will be set up from 2pm to 6pm, which will be replaced by a hokey pitch on 22 and 23 July. Dance and tai chi labs will also be organised throughout the festival, on Mondays and Tuesdays respectively, and a mini golf course will be open every day from 12 pm to 10 pm (€5 for adults and €3 for children).
6. Kids
While parents enjoy the chill-out zone, children will have their own dedicated activities to keep them entertained. Every Wednesday from 4.30 pm to 6 pm, Carinegrim will transform faces with her face painting skills.
For cooling off during the hottest days, water play tables have been set up for the little ones, besides the centre’s fountains misting systems that are always accessible for everyone’s enjoyment.
