- Title: BELGIUM: Brussels celebrates carnival with its first balloon parade
- Date: 2nd March 2009
- Summary: BRUSSELS, BELGIUM (FEBRUARY 28, 2009) (REUTERS) SMURF BALLOON IN FRONT OF THE BURSE BUILDING CROWD ON STAIRS ADMIRING THE PARADE TWO SMURF BALLOONS FLOATING IN THE STREET PEOPLE HOLDING STRINGS OF A SMURF BALLOON HAND OF A SMURF BALLOON MOVING (SOUNDBITE) (English) ULLI KURVITS FROM ESTONIA SAYING "We know the 'smourf' (mispronounced) , the smurfs, I don't know in our language it is 'Smourf' but I'm not sure about the other characters." SMURF BALLOON FLOATING ABOVE THE STREET CAT BALLOON WITH HAT AND BOW TIE SEATED ON A GIANT BALL FLOATING CHILDREN LOOKING AT THE BALLOONS FROM A BALCONY PEOPLE HOLDING THE STRINGS OF THE CAT BALLOON MARCHING FATHER HOLDING HIS CHILDREN
- Embargoed: 17th March 2009 12:00
- Keywords:
- Location: Belgium
- Country: Belgium
- Topics: Arts / Culture / Entertainment / Showbiz
- Reuters ID: LVA5T0O9A30RGSKBC1IRL6LPBOVQ
- Story Text: Nearly 30,000 spectators attended Brussels' first balloon parade on Saturday (February 28).
Inspired by New York balloon parades, like Macy's on Thanksgiving Day, folklore groups, police and fire brigades paraded to the sounds of marching bands.
Huge helium balloons in the shape of comic characters like the Smurfs or animals floated above the parade. First published in 1958, in a Belgian comic magazine called 'Spirou's Newspaper", the Smurfs were created by the famous Belgian cartoonist Peyo.
"We know the 'Smourf' (mispronounced), the Smurfs, I don't know in our language it is 'Smurf' but I'm not sure about the other characters'"
said Ulli Kurvitz, an Estonian mother working in Brussels.
Isabelle Cadot, a 31-year old Belgian who came specially in Brussels for the occasion, said she enjoyed the spectacle.
"We had a really great day, the weather was good, it was nice. And it shows the unity of Belgium when we see the amount of people here, it proves that our country is really the country of the comics, a really nice moment," said Cadot.
Other balloons included one shaped like a crocodile and a boy dressed in green uniform.
According the organisers, 250 people participated in the parade including those who were marching and holding the helium balloons. Many were local volunteers and scouts.
The balloons were inflated by a team of specialists from the United States who also supervised the parade and directed the balloons, organisers said.
Spectators were delighted.
Mateo, a 10-year-old boy from Brussels enjoyed the show with his parents.
"I liked the Manneken Pis (the Belgian symbol) one, and also the crocodile. I like also the Spirou, I think I loved all of them," he said.
Six-year-old Alicia from Brussels had a clear-cut favourite.
"The balloons and the music, it was really nice, I think."
Other comics characters took part in the show. Seated in a lorry back, Spirou, a comic character drawn by the Belgian cartoonist Andre Franquin.
Spirou appeared in 1958 as the comic star of the 'Spirou Newspaper'.
The parade took place in the middle of the carnival season, celebrated throughout Belgium with parades and cavalcades in every town.
The event also marked the launch of Brussels' tourist season which will celebrate all things related to the world of comic books. For the occasion, many exhibitions, conferences and activities are planned. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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