Carnival Events in Belgium – All You Need To Know
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Carnival in Belgium is a family-friendly event that is celebrated in many cities throughout the country. It is a great opportunity to enjoy fun and exciting activities with kids yearly.
From parades and costume parties to live music and traditional food, there is something for everyone in this vibrant and colorful carnival. Read on for kids-friendly carnival events, where to buy costumes (and some cute ones), and tips for enjoying carnival with kids in Belgium!
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Image courtesy of Carnival of Binche
Image courtesy of Leuven
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Carnival in Belgium
The best thing to do with kids is to attend one of the many carnival parades that take place around the country. These parades are filled with colorful costumes, lively music, and even more cheerful people.
In Brussels, the biggest parades are in Marolles, Saint-Gilles, and other locations. Other cities hosting parades include Binche, Malmedy, and Aalst.
Where To Rent Costumes in Belgium
You might be able to rent costumes at your local toy library. You will find a list of toy libraries in our guide.
Read also: Toy Libraries in Belgium
Where To Buy Costumes
You can find costumes online in shops like Amazon (we have made a list with our picks below) and big clothes stores such as H&M and Primark. Several brick and mortar shops for costumes and toy shops sell costumes for kids. We have gathered a list of places where you can buy costumes in Belgium.
Read also: Where To Buy Costumes in Belgium
Our Costume Picks
Here are a few options, if you are looking to order online:
- This princess / unicorn costume is so cute and the sizes go from 100cm to 150cm.
- For little pirates between 3 and 6 years old.
- For Star Wars fans, this Darth Vader costume and this storm trooper are available between 3 and 14 years old.
- This tiger costume is perfect for toddlers (and there are lots of other animals too!)
Carnival Events
Plopsa Indoor Hasselt
🎭 Confetti party for kids at an indoor amusement park
🤸 For all ages
📅 02.02-29.03.2024
📍 Plopsa Indoor Hasselt
🌐 More info here
Read also: Plopsa Indoor Hasselt
Plopsa Station Antwerp
🎭 Carnival party for kids
🤸 For all ages
📅 10-18.02.2024
📍 Plopsa Station Antwerp
🌐 More info here
Read also: Plopsa Station Antwerp
Manneken Pis
Manneken Pis will be wearing the costume of Bolivian Diablada on 10.02.2024, and the costume of Gille of Binche on 13.02.2024.
Woluwe-Saint-Lambert
🎭 Carnival disco party with interactive show
🤸 For kids 3-9 years old
📅 02.03.2025
📍 Op-Weule Sint-Lambertusstraat 91, 1200 Sint-Lambrechts-Woluwe
🌐 More info here
Patouille & Gribouille
🎭 Artistic workshop with carnival as theme
🤸 For kids 4-9 years old
📅 2.02.2025
📍 Chemin des deux Maisons 71, 1200 Woluwé-Saint-Lambert, Belgium
🌐 More info here – thanks to Irene for sharing
Carnaval Villers-la-Ville
🎭 Show for kids and carnival party
🤸 For all ages
📅 28.02 & -02.03.2025
📍 Villers-la-Ville
🌐 More info here
Carnival of Binche
🎭 Meet the Gilles, male locals dressed up
🤸 For all ages
📅 02-04.03.2025
📍 Binche
🌐 More info here
Eupen
🎭 The highlight of the carnival is the Rosenmontag or Rose Monday. The origin of the name “Rose Monday” can be attributed to the carnival of Cologne and the rituals of the Pope during the Middle Ages, when the day was blessed with a rose on the Monday before the start of Lent.
🤸 For all ages
📅 27.02-03.03.2025
📍 Eupen
🌐 More info here
Malmedy
🎭 Carnival parade and events
🤸 For all ages
📅 01-04.03.2025
📍 Malmedy
🌐 More info here
Laetare Stavelot
🎭 A tradition that started in 1502 and is still going on strong with a procession and fireworks
🤸 For all ages
📅 29-31.03.2025
📍 Stavelot
🌐 More info here
Halle
🎭 A procession, carnival fair, fireworks. Also, Carnival Fair on Stationsplein, Leideplein, along the Leide, Parking ‘De Bres’ and Possozplein.
🤸 For all ages
📅 Dates not yet announced for 2025
📍 Halle
🌐 More info here
Blankenberge
🎭 Children’s carnival procession, the tour of the Vuûle Jeanetten, the carnival dive and more. The highlight is the carnival procession. For kids Pekker Kinderbal on 03.03.2025 – more info here.
🤸 For all ages
📅 01-08.03.2025
📍 Blankenberge
🌐 More info here
Koksijde
🎭 Carnival procession and events.
🤸 For all ages
📅 02.03 & 05.03.2025
📍 Koksijde
🌐 More info here
Aalst (not yet updated)
Good to know
Although this is one of the biggest carnivals in Belgium, there have been controversies surrounding it in 2019 and 2020. Aalst was accused of antisemitism and in response it asked to have its UNESCO heritage status removed.
🎭 Carnival procession, winter fun fair (02-18.02.2024, more info here)
🤸 For all ages
📅 11.02.2024
📍 Aalst
🌐 More info here
Magical Carnival Walk
Walk for kids costing EUR 5 or EUR 15 (with sceptre)
More details here
Marolles
🎭 Venetian parade in Marolles
🤸 For all ages
📅 08.03.2025
📍 Marolles in Brussels
🌐 More info here
Leuven
🎭 Carnival Fair
🤸 For all ages
📅 15-26.03.2025
📍 Leuven
🌐 More info here – thanks to Ankia for sharing
Château d’Hélécine
🎭 Venetian parade at Château d’Hélécine, a great provincial domain with playgrounds, farm animals, jumping castles, and more! It makes for a nice plan for any sunny day. This is a great carnival event to attend with kids in Belgium!
🤸 For all ages
📅 09.03.2025
📍 Château d’Hélécine
🌐 More info here
Read also:
Quartier Nord
🎭 Neo-folk carnival gathering followed by a costume ball at Manège Fonck.
🤸 For all ages
📅 Dates not yet announced
📍 08.02.2025
🌐 More info here
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Toy Library Etterbeek
🎭 Game night for kids and adults
🤸 For all ages
📅 13.02.2024
📍 Toy Library Etterbeek – you will find a list of toy libraries here
🌐 More info here
Bollekeshoef (not yet updated)
🎭
🤸 For all ages
📅 Dates not yet announced
📍 Bollekeshoef
🌐 More info here
Grand Carnaval d’Uccle (not yet updated)
🎭 Kids carnival
🤸 For all ages
📅 18.02.2024
📍 299 Rue Vanderkindere, Uccle
🌐 More info here
Nivelles
🎭 Kids carnival
🤸 For all ages
📅 08-11.03.2025
📍 Nivelles
🌐 More info here
Planet Kids
🎭 Planet Kids is an indoor playground with an outdoor area with pedal cars and a room with jumping castles. It’s great for a sunny day.
🤸 For all ages
📅 07.03.2025
📍 Planet Kids
🌐 More info here
Read also: Indoor Playgrounds in Brussels here
Saint-Gilles
🎭 Carnival at St Gills
🤸 For all ages
📅 08.03.2025
📍 Saint-Gilles
🌐 More info here
Oostende
🎭 Carnival in Oostende
🤸 For all ages
📅 01-03.03.2025
📍 Oostende
🌐 More info here
Wezembeek-Oppem (not yet updated)
🎭 Baby café carnival
🤸 For kids up to 3 years old
📅 08.02.2024
📍 Witte-Dovennetellaan 1 (rue du Lamier Blanc 1), 1970 Wezembeek-Oppem
🌐 More info here
Pairi Daiza (not yet updated)
🎭 Venetian Dome, dancing for kids and carnival atmosphere at one of the biggest zoos in Europe, Pairi Daiza.
🤸 For all ages
📅 10.02-09.03.2024
📍 Pairi Daiza
🌐 More info here
Read also: Pairi Daiza
Watermael-Boitsfort
🎭 The Coin du Balais Carnival
🤸 For all ages
📅 22.03.2025
📍 Bezemhoek
🌐 More info here
Germany
Cologne
🎭 One of the best carnivals in Europe and very close to Brussels.
🤸 For all ages
📅 27.02-05.03.2025
📍 Cologne
🌐 More info here
Dusseldorf
🎭 Don’t miss the Carnival in Dusseldorf: Children’s and Youth Procession on Saturday, Kö-Treiben on Carnival Saturday and the Rose Monday Parade.
🤸 For all ages
📅 27.02-05.03.2025
📍 Dusseldorf
🌐 More info here
Read also: Dusseldorf With Kids
Aachen
🎭 The Rose Monday procession is the highlight of the carnival of Aachen.
🤸 For all ages
📅 03.03.2025
📍 Aachen
🌐 More info here
Read also: Aachen with kids
Limburg
Details on all carnival parades in Limburg can be found here – thanks to Tanja for sharing
Floralia (not yet updated)
🎭 Floralia usually has a Venetian parade – which is a gorgeous spectacle by the castle and among the tulips. This year the date is not announced yet, but you can take a look at our post on Floralia from previous years
🤸 For all ages
📅 Dates not yet announced
📍 Groot Bijgaarden
🌐 More info here
Children’s Museum
🎭
🤸 For all ages
📅 02.22-03.09.25
📍 Children’s Museum
🌐 More info here
Read also: Children’s Museum
Grottes de Han (not yet updated)
🎭 Grottes de Han is a huge domain with caves, wildlife park, playground, play structures along the path in the forest; a great experience for kids
🤸 For all ages
📅 Dates not yet announced
📍 Grottes de Han
🌐 More info here
Prehistomuseum
🎭 Prehistomuseum is an interactive, kids-friendly museum where kids can hunt a mammoth or light a fire!
🤸 For all ages
📅 24.02-07.03.2025
📍 Prehistomuseum
🌐 More info here
Technopolis
🎭 Technopolis is an interactive and fun science center for kids with cool shows and demonstrations. This is easily one of the best indoor activities for kids. They offer workshops during the carnival school holidays for kids 8+ years old.
🤸 For kids 8+ years old
📅 During school holidays
📍 Technopolis
🌐 More info here
House of European History (not yet updated)
🎭 Launch of the new kids trail “The Daily Spy”
🤸 For kids 6-12 years old
📅 24.02.2024
📍 House of European History – read our post here with details on the place
🌐 More info here – thanks to Catriona for sharing
Ferme et Compagnie
🎭 Ferme et Compagnie is a nonprofit working with handicapped people and they usually organize a Carnival-themed event for kids in Belgium every year
🤸 For all ages
📅 Dates not yet announced
📍 Ferme et Compagnie
🌐 More info here
Fiesta Latina
🎭 Fiesta Latina – for adults
🤸 For all ages
📅 14-16.02.2025
📍 Tour et Taxis
🌐 More info here
Woluwe St Pierre
🎭 Lots of animations for kids, jugglers, face painting, and balloons. EUR 4 per kid (under 2 free entrance). Reservation obligatory
🤸 For all ages
📅 10.02.2024
📍 Shetlanddreef 15, 1150 Sint-Pieters-Woluwe, België
🌐 More info here
Carnival Break With Kids in Belgium: What To Do?
Looking for more things to do during Carnival break?
Read also: Carnival break with kids in Belgium
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