Elephants on the Christmas tree
The Grand-Place tree will be cut down in Zoersel, Province of Antwerp, on November 20. As usual, he will arrive at the foot of the Town Hall the next day at dawn, November 21. For decorations: 300 balls of different sizes, LED garlands and… 200 elephants. Offered by a well-known chocolatier, some of these figurines will then be sold at auction for the Make-a-Wish association, which comforts seriously ill children by making their dreams come true. They will be signed by personalities.
Rosé wine and pastis
Var, in the south of France, is the guest of honor at this 2024 edition of Winter Wonders. “We negotiated our participation over a glass of pastis. It helped quite a bit,” smiles Guillaume Decard, President of Var Tourisme. “With two million overnight stays annually, the Var maintains strong links with Belgium.” To taste truffles, honey, olive oil, fig or thyme rum, biscuits and even lavender mead, without forgetting the rosé wine of which the Var is the world’s leading producer: go to the Stock Exchange. Around thirty partners and craftsmen, who will take turns every week, will transform the esplanade into a real Provençal village. “Also on display: a nativity scene of 300 figurines and the 2CV from the film ‘Le Corniaud’ with De Funès,” promises Anthony Matteuzzi, Deputy Director of Var Tourisme. Which also announces unusual activities such as folk dances, popcorn with southern flavors or pétanque washed down with pastis. Didn’t we say “Winter Fun”?
New street, new gallery, new ice rink
Regular visitors will not be surprised to find carousel in Sainte-Catherine, ice rink and curling in De Brouckère, big wheel in Vismet. To connect them: the unmissable 260 chalets, including around thirty reserved for the “artisan-producers” label. In 2024, their route extends to rue de la Madeleine: this is a first. Also first: a “creators’ market” which for its 4th edition migrates to the recently renovated Galerie Bortier, a place which now welcomes the hospitality industry in addition to second-hand booksellers. Also returning from Winter Pop, these relocations to Laeken, square Ambiorix and place de La Chapelle, with chalets, choirs, shows. “And for the first time, we will install a synthetic ice rink on Place Peter Benoît in Neder-Over-Heembeek,” says Grands Événements alderwoman Delphine Houba.
A giant cactus
A luminous plant 11m high, inspired by the echinocactus, is erected at the Mont des Arts. She is one of the new animations which will punctuate the site in 2024. This is also the case of the ballerina Lucia, designed by Quebec artists and who will dance on her multimedia music box in the courtyard of the Town Hall after her stopover marollienne this summer. Also note an “acrobatic” visit to the Gothic rooms and belfry or a storytelling space for kids at the Black Tower. Finally, unmissable, the sound and light of the Grand-Place is evolving somewhat this winter. It is entrusted to the French experts at Electroson Studio. And for the first time, “it will be a real 360° ‘mapping'” we are told, and no longer just projections. Its premiere, on November 29, should not be missed since 80 choristers from La Monnaie, children and adults, will sing just after the lighting of the tree. Then, meet every day from 5 to 10 p.m. for 5 minutes of colorful explosion every half hour (except December 24 and 31).
Dry toilets, reusable dishes and limited traffic
“We are not here to win an attendance competition,” assures Grands Événements alderwoman Delphine Houba. But Plaisirs d’Hiver will have 4 million visitors in 2023. Enough to generate its share of waste. So the City is setting the table again with reusable tableware, dry toilets and the promise of recycling the tree into street furniture. “The sad news of the Spanish floods reminds us of the importance of working towards an exemplary event,” argues Houba. While scooters remain prohibited on the site, Mayor Close recalls in the same spirit the importance of favoring trains and bicycles. The use of parking lots outside the Pentagon is “strongly” recommended to motorists. The mayor warns: “There are really many, many people around Vismet. We will therefore close the surrounding area even earlier this year.”
+”Winter Fun“, from November 29, 2024 to January 5, 2025, full program online.
