Democracy on a high note: Jubel Festival

This weekend, Jubelpark/ Park du Cinquantenaire will turn into an open-air political lab with debates, workshops, food and music. After last year’s prototype edition in Leopold Park, Jubel Festival is back. And this time, it will be its grand debut.

Inspired by the Scandinavian tradition of outdoor political festivals, Jubel is a European-wide ‘democracy festival’ in which members of civil society, politics, education and non-profit gather together to exchange ideas, share experiences and participate in games and activities in an informal setting. Anything but easy in today’s highly polarized political climate, the organizers’ goal is to bolster grassroots activism, involving citizens of all ages, background or political affiliation.

Co-organized by the Brussels-based youth organization MYOC (Make Your Own Choice), with the support of volunteers and over 40 partner organizations, the festival has managed to involve high profile speakers such as philosopher Philippe Van Parijs, UN youth delegate Flore de Pauw and Green MEP Saskia Bricmont, all expected to take the stage during the two-day event.

The perfect pitch

Along with panel discussions, more action awaits those who like to get busy. Game-of-Thrones-inspired workshops, quizzes and conversation tables in English, Dutch and French will take place throughout the festival’s five pavilions, each one dedicated to a different social theme: Agora (democracy), School (education), Home (identity), Park (environment and climate change) and Station (housing and mobility).

Finally, the icing on the cake that makes every festival ‘legit’: food and music. Whereas the cuisine is curated by Kanal Markt, the soundtrack is on Brussels' rising rap and R&B scene with Martha Da’Ro and Peet from Le 77 for the opening night and Shungu for the closing party. A Woodstock for European politics? No, Jubel Festival: it's free and no registration is required.

• Full program available here.