Brussels, Wis. (September 14, 2026) — The Belgian Heritage Center will commemorate the Great Fire of 1871 with its annual Great Fire Remembrance on Saturday, October 3, followed by its popular Booyah-To-Go fundraiser on Sunday, October 4.
More than 150 years ago, one of the most destructive natural disasters in U.S. history swept through Northeast Wisconsin. Thousands of people lost everything, and many lives were lost within a matter of hours. The Great Fire had a profound impact on the region’s early Belgian settlements, forever changing the lives of the families who called the area home.
The Great Fire Remembrance will begin at 9:30 a.m. on Saturday, October 3, at the Belgian Heritage Center, 1255 County DK in Brussels. The free program will feature three presentations exploring life in the Belgian settlement and the fire’s devastating effects.
At 9:30 a.m., Sandy (Lampereur) Orsted will present “Belgian Life on the Door Peninsula,” highlighting the history, challenges and successes of the Belgian settlements before and after the fire.
At 10 a.m., retired Green Bay Metro Fire Department Captain David Siegel will explain the nature of the fire, why it proved so deadly and address common misunderstandings surrounding the Great Fire and more recent major fires.
Beginning at 10:45 a.m., Barb Englebert Chisholm will portray her great-grandmother, Emmerence Gaspart Englebert, sharing the experiences of a Great Fire survivor through a special historical reenactment.
Following the presentations, Siegel will lead a site visit to Tornado Park, where attendees can see firsthand why the small settlement of Williamsonville was destroyed.
Everyone is welcome, and no admission is required. Students in their pre-teen years and older are especially encouraged to attend and learn more about the land on which they live, the struggles faced by those who came before them and the resilience displayed by early Belgian settlers in the aftermath of an unimaginable tragedy.
The weekend will continue with Booyah To Go from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Sunday, October 4. Guests can take home a quart—or several—of the Belgian Heritage Center’s award-winning booyah for $12 per quart.
Booyah will be available for takeout only beginning at 10 a.m. To preorder, email contact@belgianheritagecenter.org. Prepayment options are available. Exact change at pickup by cash or check is greatly appreciated.
Both events will take place at the Belgian Heritage Center, 1255 County DK, Brussels, Wisconsin. For more event details, information or updates, follow the Belgian Heritage Center on Facebook or visit
www.belgianheritagecenter.org.
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