The fair city of Aalst (East Flanders) is marking the run up to the Saint Martin’s procession on 11 November with a ‘light walk’. Participants follow a route taking in four locations, where there are light projections on and in several buildings. Workshops to show you how to make your own lantern ahead of the light procession on 10 November are also being organised.
Til Sunday 10 November 4 unique locations in Aalst will be illuminated with scenes from the book Maarten en de magie van de mantel (Martin and the Magic of the Coat). The projections can be viewed from 6pm to 10pm and together form one story. The route starts at the ‘t Gasthuys - municipal museum and concludes at the Sint-Martinus Church.
In the wider Aalst region Saint Martin is celebrated instead of Saint Nicholas as the children's holiday. The feast of Saint Martin is celebrated on 11 November every year.
Light procession
The highlight of the festivities is the light procession on Sunday 10 November. The procession starts at 6pm and features the Roman soldier Martin on horseback as well as fire artists. People who have taken part on the workshops to learn how to make their own lantern can join the light procession holding their homemade lantern.
This year, large light sculptures inspired by the St Martin's parade in Utrecht (The Netherlands) will also be carried along. These sculptures are part of the exhibition In our hands, which can be seen in the ‘t Gasthuys museum from 25 October 2024 to 27 April 2025.