Long Live The New Place Flagey!

A tip for the more festive among you: you'll be sure to notice that for the first time since its opening the Belga terrace now gives on to a real urban centre...

Inauguration and Fireworks

On Saturday, 5 July from 17.00, brass bands with drum majorettes, groups coming from the Zinneke Parade, and some street performers, will be heading for Place Flagey. The official re-opening of the square by the public authorities will take place at 20:00 and will be followed by concerts by various groups and brass bands in situ. At 22:00, the public will be able to enjoy a sound and light display followed by fireworks.

Family Sunday

Sunday, 6 July will be dedicated to families. For a few hours, the market laid out along the Ponds of Ixelles will become the place for shopping before you settle at the white tableclothed tables for the mega brunch envisaged on the square between 10:00 and 14:00. Storytellers, workshops, and entertainments of every kind will keep the children spellbound. From 15:00, the latter will be able to take their first steps in a modern Ball on Place Sainte-Croix. The adults, for their part, will be able to attend a concert of Gregorio Allegri's almost legendary Miserere in the Sainte-Croix Church, visit the locals who will be opening their homes to the public for little concerts, or trip the light fantastic at the Flagey Ball. Between 17:00 and 22:00, this ball will be welcoming the Pesdelan Ensemble (Galician dances), the Officina Zoe Group (tarantella), the Orchestra do Fuba (Brazilian forro) and the highly rhythmical Odemba Group (Congolese rumba). Finally, the Korei and Arcadia Associations will be proposing guided tours throughout the day.

Guided Tours and Exhibitions

Guided tours, exhibitions and sports events will be main activities on offer on 7, 8 and 9 July.

On the Thursday, More Concerts

Still in a party mood, on Thursday, 10 July thee will be a delectable musical programme with the Vaya con Dios concert: Voices of Brussels. After a first part at 19:00, at 21:00 Place Flagey will be welcoming some of our capital?s most talented musicians, sponsored by Dany Klein.

Portuguese Friday

On the following day, Friday, 11 July, tribute will be paid to the Portuguese community that is so present in the district. After the official re-opening of Place Fernando Pessoa, the public will be able to watch Sostiene Pereira, the film that the director Robert Faenza has devoted to him. For fado fans, the high spot of the day will be the Mafalda Arnauth concert at 21.00 on Place Flagey.

Closure

To bring these seven festive days to a fitting end, Place Flagey will, on Saturday, 12 July at 18:00, be staging a concert by a one-day orchestra consisting exclusively of musicians living in Ixelles. At 19:00, it will yield its place to the Brussels Philharmonic - Het Vlaams Radio Orkest for a concert in two parts. The greatest film themes will be on the evening's programme, as well the New World Symphony by the Czech composer Antonin Dvorak, a masterpiece of the traditional repertory. July 2008 will be Flagey or it won't exist!