August 15 celebrations in Liège

The old Liège neighbourhood is going to overflow August 14-16. Its little streets will have hundreds of stands and more than 100,000 people. It is the biggest summer event in the Liège region. In the programme: a procession of the Black Madonna, mass in Walloon, blessing of the engaged, veneration of protected statues, concerts, puppet shows, corteges and folklore dances, popular games…

Three days you cannot miss

The celebration officially starts August 14 at 6 pm with shots fired from the camp Place Delcour: a deafening backfire ensues for more than a minute. What follows is a night of partying with concerts. Enough to get things going…

The morning of August 15 will be devoted to the procession of the Black Madonna and the afternoon to the big folklore cortege in the streets of Outremeuse. A colourful parade features floats, giant figurines, organisations and fanfares from Belgium and abroad, requiring more than 1,000 participants.

The festivities end on August 16 with the burial of Matî l’Ohê (Matthew the bone in Walloon). It includes the incineration of a bone symbolizing what remains of the party- thus his burial signifies the end of the celebrations. And to top off these three days of craziness, fireworks light up the sky.

For the thirsty, let’s not forget the Liège ‘peket’ (a special gin spirit). This drink comes naturally flavoured or with a lemon, strawberry, melon or kiwi flavour.