Bruges Festivals & Special Events
From Religious Processions to Jazz and Antique Music Concerts
Bruges special events range from festivals recreating events of medieval days to concerts featuring the ultimate avant garde music on streets, in parks and concert halls.
Like any city that’s been around for a long time, Bruges – settled in the 9th century – has collected lots of special days. Most of them are celebrated annually, and include both religious and secular celebrations.
Religious Celebrations
Ceremonies with religious themes figure prominently among the city’s annual events. The Procession of the Holy Blood, which takes place every year on Ascension Day (May 1 in 2008). The devout from all over Belgium turn out for worship of the holy relic at the Basilica of the Holy Blood followed by a Pontifical High Mass at the St. Saviour's Cathedral on Juidzandstraat.
The relic, according to tradition, was brought back from his crusade to Jerusalem by the Count of Flanders. In the following years, feudal lords gathered around the relic when oaths of loyalty were taken and it was regularly offered for the veneration of the people. In time, these customs evolved into a procession around the ramparts of the city.
Another spectacle, the Pageant of the Golden Tree, takes place every five years in August. Giants and dragons, bands and choirs and a horseback procession of 100 knights are all part of the pageant, first celebrated at the 1468 wedding of Charles the Bold and Margaret of York.
The modern-day procession perpetuates the old tradition, representing principal episodes of the Bible in scenes that are mimed, spoken and sung. A melange of tableaux, floats and marching groups in medieval costumes -- knights in armor, maids with flaxen braids, velvet capes and brocade gowns, corps of heralds with their horns and flags, clergy in cassocks and surplices ride horseback or march along the route.
Secular Special Events
For more than 20 years, The Cactus Festival has been one of the city’s largest musical events. Held in Minnewaterpark (July 11-13, 2008), the marathon of performances features Rap, Rock, Reggae, R & B, Rai and Roots groups from around the world. Among the featured performers for 2008 are The Flaming Lips (USA), Gotan Project (France) and Ozark Henry (Belgium).
Jazz Brugge (October 2-5, 2008) features only European bands. Purpose of the festival is to nurture development of jazz groups in Europe. Not only is the musical bill of fare varied, but the venues are as well. Four lunch-time concerts will be held in Groeninge Museum against a backdrop of paintings by Flemish impressionists. The festival’s four piano performances and 11 evening concerts will take place in the Concertgebouw, the stunning concert hall which opened in 2002 to celebrate Bruge’s European City of Culture year.
From August 1-9, Musica Antiqua features early music in a variety of forms. The annual festival includes international solo and instrumental competitions, recitals on instruments such as the lute and harpsichords and concerts by symphony orchestras.
On the Water
Every three years, the Canal Festival recreates Bruges’ history with live scenes along the canals and on Burg Square in the heart of the city. In addition, every year throughout the summer season Bruges hosts regattas, boat and swimming races and an international kayak rally on the city’s canals.
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