Zomerspoor Festival

August 1-31, 2023

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With the blistering success of the Zomerspoor festival that transformed Herentals, the entire city center seemed to come to life during the bustling month of August. Tina Van Loy and Erik Thys, the passionate brains behind this sparkling party, proudly looked back on a month of activities that shrouded the city in a glow of connection.

The festival was like a colorful mosaic of 123 diverse events, from art exhibitions to plays, from sporting delights to enchanting musical performances. Not only were new experiences shared, but ties were also forged between people who were previously strangers to each other.

The highlight of the festival was the car-free sports day, where as many as 25 sports clubs merged into a single vibrant energy. The city center, free of cars, exuded sportiness and togetherness.

What was most remarkable, however, was how Zomerspoor served as a platform for local initiatives and artists. Wonderful creations were created from among the population themselves, such as the moving theater performance 'Spoorzoekers', where ordinary Herentalseners from diverse backgrounds shone on stage, and now live as a close group of friends.

The impact went beyond the festival's final notes. Initiatives such as Molekens Kermis and Farm Festival found new inspiration in the success of Zomerspoor and planned follow-up dates in advance. The festival had not only enlivened the city during the month of August, but also planted seeds for a continued flourishing of arts, culture, and community.

Tina and Erik, happy with the success but thoughtful about the future, kept their cards close for next summer. Would Zomerspoor shine again in 2024? A question that was in the air for now, waiting to be answered. But one thing was certain: the spirit of Zomerspoor had taken deep roots in the heart of Herentals and left an indelible impression that would reverberate for a long time.