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You are here: Events for September 2010

Events for September 2010

On behalf of you lucky backpackers our man in Bruges has been busy previewing the Beer Festival, the best Belgian jazz and much more ‐ coming up in September. Here’s James Garrett.

Bruges Beer Festival ‐ September 11 and 12, 2010

One of the highlights of the city’s annual calendar, the Bruges Beer Festival is upon us again. A symbol of pride in the Belgian culture ‐ beer festivals hold a special place in the heart of locals and in all probability, travellers as well. The Bruges Beer Festival provides an unusual experience for the uninitiated, a far cry from the bland regularity of commercial beer where visitors can expect to delight in a dazzling array of concoctions. The very tip of the iceberg reveals beer infused with berries and fruits taking its place alongside cloudy barrel matured delicacies. The biggest beer exposition to visit Bruges by far, the 2010 fourth edition of the Bruges Beer Festival boasts an impressive line up of over 67 breweries and 278 different types of beer.

Visitors can expect to find the central Markt Square populated by a forest of beer tent canopies over the weekend in a event that will dominate the centre of Bruges for two hectic days. Amidst the crowded beer tents however, it will also be possible to sample the culinary delights of Belgium. In co‐operation with eight of Bruges’ top chefs, the festival boasts that it has concocted a gastronomical experience to supplement the beer tasting main course. Entrance to the festival is offered for free, but visitors are invited to buy a beer tasting glass with which they can roam the different beer tents sampling the best each brewer has to offer. They can even question individual brewers on the beer producing process. Each glass comes at €3 and beer tokens are €1.25 each. An intensely popular event, it is anticipated that the numbers attending this year will continue to rise as people experience a double taste of Belgian culture in the shadow of Bruges’ majestic clock tower.

St Jacob’s Pilgrimage ‐ September 26, 2010

A centuries old tradition of the Catholic Church, the pilgrimage to Santiago de Compostella in the north west of Spain, continues to draw large numbers of pilgrims in the modern age. Even though modernity has swept both Catholicism and foot‐bound travel from the cultural heart of Brugean life, this annual pilgrimage remains steeped in medieval tradition. Its particular relevance to Bruges lies at the famous St Jacob’s Church because it’s here on this day ‐ every year since 1240 ‐ that a collection of pilgrims begin the long walk to Santiago de Compostella. Fear not, however, for visitors need not be willing to undertake the pilgrimage themselves in order to experience this unique event. In fact, crowds are expected to gather from 10.00 at St Jacob’s Church, Moerstraat, to merely bid farewell to the departing pilgrims. St Jacob’s has also been transformed into an exhibition on the pilgrimage tradition featuring famous works of art, sculpture and metalwork.

Zandfeesten ‐ September 26, 2010

At the end of September Bruges plays host to the popular Zandfeesten which is one of the biggest flea markets in Europe. Packed with cluttered stands of oddities, antiques and bric‐a‐brac, it promises to be a bustling and lively experience. Shopping heaven aside, the Zandfeesten actually incorporates much of the traditional Belgian street festival and amidst the overflowing market stands visitors can expect to be accosted by elaborately costumed characters and entertained by brass band troupes.

Jazz Bruges ‐ September 30 to October 3, 2010

Jazz Bruges is the fifth incarnation of Bruges’ own bi annual Jazz festival. Following the success of the first edition in 2002 (held in commemoration of Bruges’ status as European Capital of Culture) the festival has continued to grow in popularity. The raison d’être of the festival is to demonstrate the breadth and artistic quality of European jazz, a genre commonly dominated by the American movement. The performances this year take place in three separate venues ‐ the auditorium of Memling at St John’s hospital, Mariastraat 38 and the chamber music hall, and the Bruges concert hall ‐ both at ‘t Zand 34. It’s 30 euros for a day ticket or 75 euros for a four day pass. You can grab them from the Bruges tourism office or online.

‐ James Garrett