Ghent Summer Festival

On Saturday Kevin and I took the train from Antwerp to Ghent. The trip was super easy, especially since our hotel was directly across the street form Antwerp's Central Station. We decided to take the train instead of driving because we expected the city would be overrun since it was the first day of the Ghent Summer Festival.

Known to locals as the Gentse Feesten, as far as I can figure, the reason for the ten-day festival is nothing more then an excuse to have a great big party. Each square to the city center is transformed into the venue for different events, including concerts, comedy performances, dance productions, children's theater, and puppet shows. We managed to catch the opening parade, where people on floats threw flowers into the crowds, and a Salsa band. The streets were filled with all sorts of vendors sell food and miscellaneous trinkets. And, similar to life in Germany, no festival would be complete with out plenty of beer tents.

Kevin and I spent afternoon in Ghent, but I think we missed the real action, which we expected started in the early evening and lasted to the wee hours. Tons of DJs are scheduled to play as part of the 10 Day Dance Festival, which is one of the four events to happen simultaneously.