While it may still not feel like it when looking at the weather, summer has finally begun.
This weekend has plenty of activities to celebrate this long-awaited occasion, as well as the predicted sunshine and temperatures of up to 28°C next week. Find our favourite events happening in Brussels below.
Arts, music and culture
Fête de la Musique, various locations in Belgium, until Sunday 23 June
To mark the summer solstice, Brussels and Wallonia will be flooded with music this weekend. The festival aims to showcase home-grown talent in Belgium's Francophone region with hundreds of free concerts and events.
Credit: Fête de la Musique / Bernard Babette
Expect free live shows across the capital, including DJ sets and gigs covering everything from rap and rock to electro and classical music, in parks and on outdoor stages as well as in museums. Further afield, Liège, Wavre, Braine-l'Alleud and many more town and cities will host a variety of events.
Find more information here.
'Midsummer Mozartiade', Galeries Royales Saint-Hubert, until Sunday 23 June
The beautiful, historic Galeries Royales Saint-Hubert will provide the stage for the eighth edition of the 'Midsummer Mozartiade' festival. On the agenda is a rare production of Mozart's very first opera seria (written at the age of 14) 'Mitridate, re di Ponto', and Missa Brevis conducted by Gabriel Hollander.
Credit: Hugo Segers / Amadeus & Co asbl
The festival brings a series of free events to landmark venues throughout the city centre, from live performances on the street to lectures on aspiring composers' journeys to Italy and the evolution of opera seria across the ages.
Find more information here.
Out and about
Evere en Fête, Evere, Saturday 22 June
Every year at the end of June, the Brussels municipality of Evere invites its residents and visitors to a full day of free concerts and entertainment in front of the town hall. People can wander around the iconic flea market, devour delicious dishes served up by the various food trucks, or go on one of the funfair rides.
Credit: Evere
Children can enjoy an entire afternoon of activities, including sports, face painting, a photo booth, bouncy castles and much more. There will also be live music from noon and as usual, DJ DADDY-K and Nicky Sanchez will end the day with a bang.
Find more information here.
Brussels Vintage Market, Reset, Sunday 23 June
What better activity for a Sunday afternoon than to head to a vintage market to search for your new favourite piece of clothing? Since its launch, Brussels Vintage Market has made a name for itself among thrifters for offering the crème de la crème of vintage clothing.
Credit: visit.brussels
The market offers a delightful blend of vintage and second-hand items, including clothing, accessories, jewels, vinyl records, small furniture, toys and decorative objects. A hand-picked selection of the latest creations by local designers will also be on sale. Book your spot to be the first to get your hands on the treasures.
Find more information here.
Visueel Festival Visuel, Berchem-Sainte-Agathe and Koekelberg, until Sunday 23 June
For almost 20 years now, French-speaking cultural centre Archipel 19 and Dutch-speaking community centre De Kroon have been working together to organise this thrilling free festival. The event transcends language and age barriers by offering "wordless" street theatre, circus, dance and activities specifically for young audiences.
Credit: Visueel Festival Visuel
With this festival, these two organisations also provide key support for young creatives, who become resident artists, giving them time and space to work on their performance, which is then included in the programme
Find more information here.
