Editing Grand-Place (section)

==Events==
Festivities and cultural events are frequently organised on the Grand-Place, such as [[Son et lumière (show)|sound and light show]]s during the [[Christmas]] and [[New Year]] period as part of the "Winter Wonders",{{sfn|State|2004|p=108}} as well as concerts in the summer. Among the most important and famous are the [[Flower Carpet (Brussels)|Flower Carpet]] and the [[Ommegang of Brussels|Ommegang]], both taking place in the summer.{{sfn|State|2004|p=129–130}} The Belgian Beer Weekend, an event dedicated to [[Beer in Belgium|Belgian beers]], during which small and large breweries present their products at the Grand-Place, has taken place since 2010.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Belgian Brewers - Belgian Beer Weekend|url=http://www.belgianbrewers.be/en/events/belgian-beer-weekend-171/|access-date=2021-11-05|website=www.belgianbrewers.be|archive-date=20 August 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190820031233/http://www.belgianbrewers.be/en/events/belgian-beer-weekend-171|url-status=dead}}</ref> The square has also been used for community gatherings and public celebrations, such as receiving athletes following sporting events.<ref name=":2" />

[[File:Гранд-Плас в день фестиваля.jpg|thumb|The Grand-Place on the day of the Belgian Beer Weekend]]

===Flower carpet===
{{Main|Flower Carpet (Brussels)}}
Every two years<ref>{{cite book|last=Kemp|first=Richard|date=1997|orig-year=1991|chapter=Belgium, the Netherlands, and Luxembourg|title=The Picture Atlas of the World|edition=Third|location=9 Henrietta Street, London|publisher=[[DK (publisher)|Dorling Kindersley]]|page=41|isbn=0-7513-5358-2}}</ref> in August, coordinating with [[Assumption of Mary|Assumption Day]], an enormous ''[[flower carpet]]'' is set up in the Grand-Place for three to four days.{{sfn|De Vries|2003|p=31}} On this occasion, nearly a million colourful [[begonia]]s or [[dahlia]]s are set up in patterns forming a carpet-like [[tapestry]], and the display covers a full {{convert|24|by|77|m|ft}}, for area total of {{convert|1800|m2|sqft|abbr=on|sigfig=2}}.<ref name=is/> The first Flower Carpet was created in Brussels in 1971 by the [[Ghent]] [[landscape architect]] Etienne Stautemans in an effort to advertise his work, and due to its popularity, the tradition continued in subsequent years. Starting in 1986, the event has been regularly held biannually, each time under a different theme, with the Flower Carpet now estimated to attract between 150,000 and 200,000 local and international visitors.<ref name="patrimoine">{{Cite web |title=Le Tapis de Fleurs de Bruxelles — Patrimoine - Erfgoed |url=https://patrimoine.brussels/decouvrir/inventaires-du-patrimoine-bruxellois/inventaire-du-patrimoine-culturel-immateriel/le-tapis-de-fleurs-de-bruxelles |access-date=2024-09-05 |website=patrimoine.brussels}}</ref>

[[File:Grand Place Bruselas 2.jpg|thumb|[[Flower Carpet (Brussels)|Flower Carpet]] at the Grand-Place]]

===Ommegang of Brussels===
{{Main|Ommegang of Brussels}}
Twice a year, at the turn of June and July, the [[Ommegang of Brussels]], a type of [[medieval pageant]] and folkloric costumed procession, ends with a large spectacle at the Grand-Place. Historically the largest [[Illuminated procession|lustral procession]] of [[Brussels]], which took place once a year, on the Sunday before [[Pentecost]], since 1930, it has taken the form of a [[historical reenactment]] of the [[Joyous Entry]] of [[Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor|Emperor Charles V]] and his son [[Philip II of Spain|Philip II]] in Brussels in 1549. The colourful parade includes floats, traditional [[processional giant]]s, such as [[Michael (archangel)|Saint Michael]] and [[Gudula|Saint Gudula]], and scores of folkloric groups, either on foot or on horseback, dressed in medieval garb. Since 2019, it is recognised as a [[Masterpieces of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity|Masterpiece of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity]] by [[UNESCO]].<ref>{{Cite web|title=UNESCO - Ommegang of Brussels, an annual historical procession and popular festival|url=https://ich.unesco.org/en/lists|access-date=2020-10-20|website=ich.unesco.org|language=en}}</ref>

===Christmas tree===
{{Main|Brussels Christmas tree}}
[[Christmas]] and [[New Year]] celebrations have been held on the Grand-Place every year since 1952<ref>Francois Robert, ''La ville s'enguirlande'', ''Le Soir'' (in French), 3 December 1993</ref> or 1954.<ref>Francois Robert, Jean Wouters, ''Un sapin de Finlande pour la Grand-Place'', ''Le Soir'' (in French), 4 December 1996</ref> They have been officialised since 2000 as part of the "Winter Wonders" in the city centre.<ref name="Winter Wonders">{{Cite web|date=2017-04-10|title=Winter Wonders and Christmas Market 2021|url=https://www.brussels.be/winter-wonders|access-date=2021-11-06|website=www.brussels.be|language=en}}</ref> A [[Brussels Christmas tree|Christmas tree]] is erected on the square for the occasion and is decorated with lights that are switched on at a seasonal ceremony, whilst the square's façades are illuminated by a [[Son et lumière (show)|sound and light show]]. These festivities usually take place from the end of November until the beginning of January and attract a large number of people.<ref name="Winter Wonders" />