Antwerp Pride Parade
This weekend in Antwerp will be dominated by Antwerp Pride! You can’t have missed the rainbow flags fluttering high above the main streets in the center of Antwerp. This is the 9th time that Antwerp has held a Pride event.
The Antwerp Queer Arts Festival continues all weekend , finishing Sunday. Buy tickets online to get into events for less and keep track of the different events and activities on The AQAF Facebook page. (pic from AQAF)
Friday
Twilight bar (Theaterplein) would be a good way to kick off Pride at 3pm. For the full weekend schedule see the official Pride program.
Aper’eau is at Bolivarplaats from 5pm, with its usual offering of drinks to start the weekend with some alfresco socialising, and Italian food for this edition.
For free gigs, once again there is a choice of venues: Dageraadplats at 7.30pm (followed by some Moroccan 70s funk at 9) or an hour later at Openlucht Theater/ Rivierenhof (doors open at 7 -no entry once the venue is full).
Saturday
The main Pride parade takes place today, starting at 2pm. At the same time, the free afterparty (WAVE) starts on Steenplein, and continues until 11.30pm. The parade route is as follows:
Start : Waterpoort, 2000 Antwerpen
Extended Route : Verschansingsstraat, Leopold de Waelplaats, Karel Rogierstraat, Marnixplaats, Scheldestraat, Scheldekaaien.
End point : Sint Pietersvliet, 2000 Antwerpen
The first parade float is expected to arrive at Steenplein at 4. In the past, I have watched the parade from near St Jansvliet and always been able to get a good view, and enjoy the great atmosphere that Pride brings to the city.
You might want to pimp your flipflops at Grand Bazar for the occasion!
Sunday
Markt van Morgen is on Kloosterstraat from midday until 6pm – perfect for a last-minute Mother’s Day gift (see miscellaneous).
From 4pm -7pm at Rivierenhof, it’s Yoyogi again -an open performance opportunity for anyone who would like to come along and demonstrate their music, dance or performance skills, or to watch others. It’s free and there are also various workshops (e.g. kungfu, acro-yoga, ropeskipping, tai chi).
Swan Market is at Cargo bar, Park Spoor Noord.
SNITT is a vintage and second hand clothing market where you can swap or sell your items.
Miscellaneous
Here’s the map of all the places mentioned in this post, so you can find your way.
On Monday 15th, Antwerp celebrates its own Mother’s Day. There’s a Rubens Market in the old town (around the Cathedral area) for the day.
Bollekesfeest (4-day beer festival, plus local food products) starts on Thursday evening at Steenplein and Grote Markt. This is fast become a very important and enjoyable annual fixture on the Antwerp calendar, even though the event only began in 2007. Great fun, also for kids, with activities and entertainment for younger ones on the Steenplein part of the festival.
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