TheIris Festival is the annual and official celebration of theBrussels-Capital Region inBelgium. It takes place on 8 May[1][2] and is a day off for Brussels officials.[3]
The date of 8 May was chosen for three reasons: it takes place during the flowering period of theyellow iris—also called flower ofLys—which is the symbol of the region and is pictured onits flag;[4][5] it is the day of thevictory against Nazi Germany during World War II;[4] and it is also one of the feasts ofSaint Michael the Archangel,patron saint of theCity of Brussels.
During the multi-day party, free concerts, street entertainment and all kinds of activities are organised for the general public. Some monuments are exceptionally accessible to the public, and a food truck festival takes place on this day. In 2008, there were 100,000 participants at the festivities.[2] Since 2015, Rock Around The Atomium has also been organised at theAtomium in this weekend.
