With the arrival of October and the autumn weather, it can be tempting to snuggle up inside all weekend and avoid the cold. However, the multitude of events taking place in Brussels is sure to convince even the most adamant homebodies to head outside and explore the region.
Arts, music and culture
In.outsider Festival, Molenbeek-Saint-Jean, until Sunday 6 October
Back for its third edition, this free alternative festival hosted by LaVallée offers an atypical programme combining music (DJ sets by Mika Oki and Ossia and live shows by Icare and Wild Classic Ensemble) with arts (such as exhibitions and film screenings) and interactive, participative activities, from dance workshops to talks and roundtable discussions.
Credit: LaVallée
The festival concludes with a family-friendly day at the Maison des Cultures et de la Cohésion Sociale in Molenbeek, where participants can develop their juggling skills, marvel at other circus acts and enjoy more live music.
Find more information here.
Art+People, Marolles, until Saturday 5 October
The lively Marolles neighbourhood in Brussels will this weekend host the second edition of Art+People, which aims to make culture "accessible and enjoyable", and foster social connections by doing so.
Credit: Art+People/ Filip Erkens
During the daytime and evening events, including a photo exhibition, a 60-metre-long installation and a fashion show among others, people are invited to discover the Marolles district from a new perspective, away from traditional tourist paths.
Find more information here.
Lights, camera, action!
Brussels International Women's Film Festival, various cinemas, until Sunday 6 October
Discover 48 films at the 16th edition of ‘Elles Tournent – Dames Draaien’, all made by women who are resisting, inventing and proposing a different vision of the world.
Credit: Elles Tournent
From documentaries to fiction, the programme this year will include 13 feature films, 35 short films (including ten short films as part of the 'Iran Session') and 10 filmmakers' debuts by creators from every continent in the world. No fewer than 15 filmmakers will be present during the screenings to explain the vision behind their films, and to talk with the audience.
Find more information here.
AlimenTERRE Film Festival, Cinema Vendôme, until Saturday 19 October
This alternative international film festival has been serving up a selection of films that highlight agricultural and food-related issues in the world for 16 years. It is held every year in Belgium, as well as in other countries in Europe and Africa to coincide with World Food Day (16 October). The aim is also to propose alternatives to address these challenges.
Credit: AlimenTERRE
In total, 21 international hard-hitting films, including feature films, short films, and animations, will be showcased in 88 screenings at cinemas, but also at more unexpected venues such as farms, cultural centres, group housing, and co-working spaces.
Find more information here.
Out and about
Archiweek, various locations in Brussels, until Sunday 13 October
Explore behind the architectural scenes of Brussels through guided tours of around 20 contemporary buildings during which members of the curatorial team DÉRIVE-ESQUE explain their particularities (including in English).
Credit: archiweek
The programme also includes open days at architecture offices, as well as seminars, workshops, conferences and exhibitions throughout the region – all events that are free of charge. The focus this year is on the makers and craftspeople, zooming in on the different hands coming together to shape the city.
Find more information here.
Brussels Tea Festival, Flagey, Saturday 5 October
Tea lovers, rejoice! The pilot edition of the Brussels Tea Festival is bringing an immersive experience that celebrates the diversity of cultures and traditions in the world of the warming beverage, allowing enthusiasts to meet tea producers from Belgium and abroad, visit tea bars, and connect with professionals and other avid fans of a "cuppa".
Credit: Belga/Canva
The festival also offers a unique occasion to take part in tea rituals, talks on the various brewing methods (hot, cold, and mixed, like chai or matcha latte) and workshops including on English tea etiquette. For the inaugural edition of the festival, South Korea will take the spotlight, featuring a delegation of five producers who will showcase the country's tea and its unique rituals.
Find more information here.
