8th Annual Fall Belgian Fest Back On Sunday And Better Than Ever!
After having to take a hiatus in 2020, the area’s biggest and best celebration of Belgian heritage is back in the Quad Cities! Take a trip to the heart of Moline Illinois, for some Flemish fun this weekend at the Fall Belgian Fest!
The 8th Annual Fall Belgian Fest returns to Stephens Park (7th Street and 15th Avenue Moline) this Sunday Sep 19 from 12 – 4 p.m. Admission is free to all!
The Fall Belgian Fest, formerly known as the Fall Flemish Fest, is sponsored and organized by the Center for Belgian Culture. Bill Cornelis, President of CBC and organizer of the Fall Belgian Fest shares, “Many of the Belgian Community came to Moline, after World War II to begin a new life. They came here with nothing but a dream. They didn’t ask for much. They only asked for an opportunity to work hard, raise a family, and thank the good Lord in Church. This is our heritage. We owe it to them to preserve it.”
This year’s Fall Belgian Fest is filled to brim with fun and exciting cultural activities, music, food, drinks and more!
It wouldn’t be a Belgian celebration without a Rolle Bolle Tournament now, would it? Rolle Bolle, a favored past time in the Belgian community consists of a beveled bolle rolled between stakes (30 feet apart). As the 
bolle slows down, it turns into the stake and comes to rest. The bolle(s) that are closest to the stake scores!
The Fall Belgian Fest Rolle Bolle Tournament will begin at 11 a.m. As many players as possible are welcome! If you are interested in participating, simply show up prior to 11 a.m. with your bolle, and teams will be drawn. If you’re curious about the game but not feeling competitive, the first two courts of Rolle Bolle will be open and available to anyone who would like to pick up a bolle and try it out.
The Happy Belgians will kick off the festivities at 12 p.m. Immediately following their performance, The Gray Wolf Band will take the stage for your listening and dancing pleasure.
Connect with your inner Belgian with a famous Center for Belgium Culture Waffle (with all the fixins) or a Belgian Brat from DeBord Catering and wash it down with a $5 16 oz. Stella Artois, Belgian Wheat or Bud Light!
Kick Serve Coffee will keep everyone awake and alert with some of their delicious cold brews. The Belgian Village Inn will also be setting up their own stand and will have their very first Hot Event! Take a trip down memory lane with a steamy VandeRueben.
The real MVP’s of the Fall Belgian Fest, the Belgian Draft Horses, will also be in attendance. These majestic creatures, provided by Doug and Dianne Smith of Fairfield Iowa, steal the show and also provide carriage rides! Rides are free, however riders are more than welcome to make a donation to the Festival.
Make sure to check out the return of the Belgian Pigeons! After this past year’s hiatus, the Racing Homers are back and ready to keep you entertained. Belgian Lace Makers will also be available, showing off their amazing talent.
Don’t forget to purchase your annual Fall Belgian Fest t-shirt, with a new design and look for $20. Festival Mugs will also be available for $20, which includes FREE BEER (well, the first one at least).
Bonnie Newman of Blue Horizon Travel & Yacht Charters, in conjunction with the Center for Belgian Culture, will be at the festival sharing a very exciting upcoming tour through Belgium in 2022. Stop by to talk to Bonnie and find out what she has planned for this customized and unique tour.
The Center for Belgian Culture, established to preserve and share the proud Belgian heritage, began this Fall Belgian Fest to keep the Belgian culture alive in future generations. “Many people involved with the Center for Belgian Culture are getting older. We need younger people that have Belgian ancestry to step up to the plate and get involved with preserving their heritage,” President Cornelis states. The organization has been greatly increasing their footprint in the community – through not only this festival, but the monthly Belgian Waffle Breakfast, scholarships to local students and more. They plan to add more events throughout the year as well. If community members are interested in joining the CBC’s mission, it only cost $25 a year to be a member. For more information, visit www.belgianmuseumquadcities.org/.
For more information on the festival, including upcoming events, visit them on Facebook at www.facebook.com/FallFlemishFest/. And make sure to check out the most recent episode of QC Uncut: Bill Cornelis of Belgian Fest with Sean Leary.
The sun will be shining, and the Flemish fun will be flowing this Sunday, at Stephens Park in Moline. Don’t miss out on this experience!
