Genk 1-Meifeesten met O-parade

May Day in Genk with jaarmarkt, rommelmarkt, funfair and the 69th O-parade through the streets.

Marketing angleinferred

Activate local retail, food, and hospitality brands around Genk's May Day street festival and O-parade to drive foot traffic and community engagement.

Relevance 35medium intent

Join the 69th O-parade: sponsor a float or booth at Genk's biggest May Day celebration
Local market vendors: reserve your jaarmarkt or rommelmarkt stall for May 1st foot traffic
Family day activation: funfair rides + food vendors = perfect May Day event partnership
Street parade sponsorship: align your brand with Genk's iconic O-parade tradition

Programme

The annual 1-Meifeesten in Genk is one of the largest and best-known city festivals in Flanders, having grown from a traditional annual market into a gigantic folk festival featuring an impressive funfair, the colourful O-Parade, markets, street theatre and numerous activities throughout Genk's city centre. The absolute highlight is the impressive O-Parade, a grand international spectacle with dozens of national and international groups, street theatre acts, dancers, musicians and giant parade floats, known for creative and often spectacular acts including massive moving constructions, acrobatics, music and theatre.

Line-up

Te lo digo bailando (Spain)Gruppo Folkloristico Pavulese (Italy)La Fam (Spain) – dragon spectacularCompagnie CPPP – Ulyssee (world premiere)Balletschool Capriccio – Meihoogheden floatFree Run Wild Belgium, Mondeo Flowers, De Orde der Spasbinken – mobile creationSofie Vandeweyer – balloon artist with "A Story of Toys"Local groups: Ge-team, GIGOS (Stelthelden), Die Landouwe (flag carriers)International Taptoe: showbands and musical ensembles

07:00–13:00

Rommelmarkt (flea market)

08:00–14:00

Jaarmarkt (annual market) with over 200 stalls

12:00 onwards

Kermis (funfair) opens; 100+ attractions and stands

13:30–14:45

Internationale taptoe (international tattoo) with showbands on Stadsplein

16:00–18:00

69th O-parade – main spectacle through Genk city centre

22:00

Sound-dampened fireworks finale

Spanish group Te lo digo bailando makes its first visit to Belgium with new costumes
Italian folklore group Gruppo Folkloristico Pavulese celebrates 80 years of the Italian community in Genk
La Fam from Spain presents a spectacular act with a large dragon where the ultimate battle between human and machine unfolds when dragon Quimera awakens
Compagnie CPPP debuts their new creation Ulyssee at the Genk O-Parade for the first time worldwide, featuring a large boat and acrobats performing breathtaking stunts
Sensory-friendly funfair on Monday 27 April 2026, 16:00–18:00, designed for visitors sensitive to stimuli with dimmed lights and soft music
Over 100 attractions and stalls throughout the funfair zone along Dieplaan and Jaarbeurslaan