+”Christmas at the Theater“, in several rooms in Brussels from December 26 to 30, 2024. Don't forget to book.
Greenhouses and rare plants in light
A breath of cold air and polar light in Meise: the magnificent botanical garden on the outskirts is draped in boreal reflections during the Christmas holidays. Until January 5, every evening, the greenhouses, groves, lawns and flowerbeds of the vast estate light up over a 3.5km route. A laser show transforms the castle, the island lights up in magical shades and visitors pass through a real green arch. In addition, music composed by singer Piet Goddaer (Ozark Henry) further accentuates the magic. Bewitching.
+”Festival of Lights: Winter Floridyll“, at the Botanical Garden of Meise, from December 19 to January 5 between 6 and 11 p.m. (last entry 9:30 p.m.), €12/18, don't forget to book (closed 24, 25 and 31/12 as well as 1/01).
If you like light walks, you should also know that Uccle is organizing its “Festival of Lights” this Saturday, December 21, 2024. The meeting is set from 5 p.m. in Brugmann Park (entrance to avenue de Messidor) for a “light hunt” . The walk ends at the Ferme Rose for a hot chocolate in “a 100% neon atmosphere”.
Back to the 80s
“Leeeees Knights of the Zodiahaqueeeeuhh”. If the tune of Bernard Minet immediately comes back to play in your head when reading these words, it is because the exhibition which is being held until January 18, 2025 at the Galerie de la Bande Dessinée in Ixelles should take you back to your childhood or adolescence. For fans of Club Dorothée and Récré A2, the place exhibits originals from 80s cartoons directly from Japan: production drawings in pencil and cels. In the credits: the cult series Albator, Captain Flam, Candy, The Knights of the Zodiac, Dragon Ball, Goldorak, Ken the survivor, Lamu, Gigi, Princess Sara, Ranma 1/2 or Rémi without family. “Thou am without family, and thou calls me Rrrrémi”.
+”Japanese animation: cartoons from the 80s“, until January 18, 2025 at the Galerie de la Bande Dessinée, Chaussée de Wavre 237 in 1050 Ixelles, Friday, Saturday and Sunday from 1 p.m. to 7 p.m.
At the museum with the family
There are always great family exhibitions to visit in Brussels. As usual, we recommend first and foremost the temporary exhibition of the Institute of Natural Sciences which, this time, looks at our relationship with “wild” (it's very beautiful, very clever, and sometimes unusual as we explain to you after our visit). More serious: an exhibition on the ecological city of tomorrow reassures your eco-anxiety at Tour&Taxis (until January 10, we're talking about it there). The winter exhibition at Bozar has been dedicated to love since the 70s and it is to die for (our short review here). For 100% Brussels talent, it's Hosting at Centrale (we'll tell you more about it here).
With your children (or your parents), return to childhood in the very first exhibition showing originals of “Boule et Bill” by Roba at Place du Châtelain in Ixelles (info here) or in the one which retraces destiny for the first time of Idéfix, Obélix's little dog, who is 60 years old like his friend Asterix (at the CBBD, more info there).
At the Children's Museum in Ixelles, elves have hidden and are waiting for your kets to find them. Cooking, storytelling, construction or DIY workshops are also planned between 12/23 and 01/5 (online reservation required). At the Museum of Fine Arts, a storyteller enchants the paintings on December 27, for toddlers aged 2 and up (10:15 a.m., €12, reservation here). Above all, don't forget to honor the MIMA with one last visit before its closure announced on January 5: the exhibition of the street artist Vhils, who engraves his bas-reliefs in walls all over the world, is worth the detour ( our opinion is here).
An interactive and family experience
The winter must-see is undoubtedly diving into the world of Harry Potter at Tour&Taxis (we visited it). Other family outings: the inflated EmotionAir exhibitions at the Balloon Museum at Heysel (we also visited it) or Balloon World Adventure (info here). The Smurfs are trying to escape Gargamel and your children should rush to help them at the Smurf Experience at Brussels Expo (explanations here).
Finally, at Mont des Arts, “Planet Happiness” takes you into space, its supernovas and black holes, which you will observe from the ISS window. The journey and its pastel tones, immersive and luminous, is accompanied by dreamy electro music and popular science. It's quite beautiful and you can even take a nap there (our video tour is here).
The timeless Winter Pleasures
The largest Christmas market in Belgium is Plaisirs d'Hiver in Brussels. The approximately 260 chalets await visitors until January 5, 2025 with, this year, an extension to rue de la Madeleine. This season's VIP guest: the VAR, whose artisans offer, among other things, rosé wine, Provençal crèche and lavender sweets. Don't forget to take a look at the Deuche by Louis de Funès exhibited by his Saint-Raphaël museum. On the Grand-Place decorated with the Rixensart fir tree, don't miss the brand new sounds and lights which, for the first time, is now a real mapping. Short but intense.
On the weekend of December 20, 21 and 22, 2024, there are hardly any municipalities other than Woluwe-Saint-Lambert to organize a winter market. The Christmas Village on Place Saint-Lambert is therefore the last place to enjoy mulled wine and do your shopping before New Year's Eve. This Friday, December 20: nighttime until 11 p.m., including luminous waders. Saturday December 21: make-up and concert. And Sunday, November 22: Christmas parade at 5 p.m.
Solidarity Christmas at Brass
Just before going on vacation, Brass, the cultural center of Forest, invites you for its friendly, family-friendly and festive Christmas afternoon. The day unfolds a bit like a family celebration: the little ones will play everywhere, the teenagers will compete in front of the video game consoles for tournaments on a giant screen, and the parents will chat while drinking. Also planned are a giant Puissance 4, a “ironing beads” workshop to quickly put together a last minute gift, DIY greeting cards, basketball, board games, table football, film… And above all, packaging series of gifts collected for the attention of the kets pampered by the partner associations. To treat: Spanish inn and pancakes.
+”Headquarters: Solidarity Christmas“, at the Brass this Saturday December 21, 2024 from 12 p.m. to 7 p.m., free.
Cinema… from your car
Brussels is truly the city of cars. New proof with this 50th anniversary import of the timeless American concept of the drive-in cinema. Under the arcades, blockbusters parade that you watch from your car. On display: Harry Potter, Frozen, Aquaman, Beauty and the Beast, Aladdin or The Nutcracker, two films per evening and three on Sundays. Food trucks are provided for a 100% American cinema experience. If you love your car, there's probably something exhilarating about the experience. We hope so in any case because, at €23 per person, the prices are not cheap.
+”Cinair“, from December 20 to 22, 2024 at Cinquantenaire, €23/film, €35/2 films (price per person), arrive 30' in advance.
