This happens every 25 years only The Caesar Event in Belgium Caesarfeesten 2023 Velzeke, is a short video showing the highlights of the Roman festivities on September 10, 2023.
‍ Tip: Switch on the subtitles for more info about the event and some Roman legionnaires and gladiator facts‍

This public event in the small community of Velzeke in Flanders Belgium, is organized once every 25 years only. The history of this festival goes back to the origins of the kingdom of Belgium. It was fashionable in those days to raise statues of historical figures and in 1873 the village Velzeke didn't want to stay behind and a statue of the Roman emperor Julius Caesar was erected in the village center. The village people took to the streets and vowed there and then to hold Roman festivities in the village to commemorate the Romans every 25 years.

And the good citizens of Velzeke kept word, so on September 9 and 10, 2023, a Roman army entered Velzeke from the Paddestraat and the soldiers built their military camp near the village center. The visitors were given drill demonstrations, there were cavalry shows and even gladiator fights under the approving eye of Emperor Hadrian.

Artisans such as glassblowers from around the world also gathered here and showed me how to produce glassware using a traditional Roman woodfired glass furnace. Other craftsmen such as armor makers and weavers made this place home for two days as well and around the Roman square, we could participate in all kinds of folk games. On Saturday evening there was a great folk festival with live Celtic music.

The Archeocentrum (archeological museum) was open to all visitors all weekend and all sorts of demonstrations were given inside the museum as well.

Overview of the activities on this sunny Sunday, September 10, 2023

10 am: procession and entry of the Roman legion (via Paddestraat to the AVE)
11 am: gladiators
12 pm: cavalry
1 pm: Roman legion
2 pm: gladiators
3 pm: cavalry
4 pm: Roman legion
5 pm: gladiators

The next Caesar Festivities in Velzeke will be in 2048, maybe you want to put it on your agenda already ;)

More about the Roman history of Velzeke:

(VelzekeRuddershove is a double village in the area of the river Dender in the province of East Flanders in Belgium, since 1970 part of the municipality Zottegem)

The settlement of Velzeke dates back to at least the Roman era when it was a vicus situated at a crossroads in the network of Roman roads or Viae Romanae in Gallia Belgica. The local archaeological museum of Velzeke exhibits findings from that period.

Music: 'Waking to Reality' by Unicorn Heads (YouTube Audio Library    / audiolibrary  )

More footage and interesting information sources:

Archeocentrum Velzeke (NL) http://www.pamov.be/velzeke /   / archeocentrumvelzeke  
VRT Flemish news channel (NL) https://www.vrt.be/vrtnws/nl/2023/09/...