Southern Door, Wis. (August 19, 2026) – The Belgian Heritage Center (BHC) invites grandparents, parents, children, and families to celebrate Grandparents Day on Saturday, September 12, with special activities designed to bring generations together while exploring the history and traditions of northeast Wisconsin’s Belgian-American community.
Grandparents Day offers families an opportunity to experience Belgian heritage together and discover what life was like for the early settlers. Special events throughout the day include a traditional wooden shoe carving demonstration, youth-focused tours of the BHC campus, and free heritage gifts for young visitors.
Wooden Shoe Carving Demonstration – 10:00 a.m.
Luke Traver of Luke’s Lost Arts will demonstrate the traditional art of wooden shoemaking, explaining the process as he manually carves a pair of wooden shoes. Visitors will have an opportunity to see firsthand the skill and craftsmanship involved in creating this iconic piece of Belgian heritage.
Youth Tours of the BHC Campus – 9:00 a.m., 11:30 a.m., 1:00 p.m. and 2:00 p.m.
Special tours of the Belgian Heritage Center campus are designed to engage younger visitors and bring the experiences of early Belgian settlers to life.
Storytellers will illustrate the lives of early settlers using artifacts that visitors can see and handle for
themselves. Farm tools, military items, household objects, classroom materials, and other pieces from the early days of the Belgian settlement will help young visitors discover just how different everyday life was for their ancestors.
Tours are appropriate for ages 7 and up, and adults are encouraged to join in the experience.
Free Gifts for Youth Visitors
In keeping with BHC’s mission to preserve Belgian heritage for future generations, youth visitors will receive a special gift to help them continue learning about their heritage at home.
Visitors under age 18 who are accompanied by an adult and attend either the wooden shoe carving demonstration or a guided tour of the BHC campus may choose between a Belgian-American Coloring Book or a copy of Francois by Josie Wautlet.
The coloring book gives younger children an opportunity to explore their heritage through images taken from BHC’s historic photo archive. Older children can discover the story of Francois, a boy who immigrated from Belgium in 1856 and experienced many of the challenges faced by northeast Wisconsin’s early Belgian settlers.
“Grandparents Day is a wonderful opportunity for families to experience history across generations,” said Joe Alexander, BHC’s President. “We hope grandparents will bring their grandchildren, share their own family stories, and help young people make a personal connection to the people and traditions that came before them.”
Grandparents Day special events will be held Saturday, September 12, at the Belgian Heritage Center, 1255 County Road DK in Brussels, Wisconsin. The Center is open from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
For additional information about Grandparents Day and other upcoming programs, visit the Belgian Heritage Center website.
For more information, follow the Belgian Heritage Center on Facebook or visit www.belgianheritagecenter.org.
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