It is a daring theme for an event that has had to explain for 66 years that it is not a carnival parade. The Brabant Day is a ‘theater parade’ and has nothing to do with carnival. But for the first time this year Carnival was chosen as the theme. “It’s about carnival, but it’s not carnivalesk,” explains Frank van Lierop of the organization.
He feels like so many areas of the Brabant Day to his fibers. As a child, he saw the Parade for the first time somewhere in the 60s when the theme was fairy tales. He would never forget the gnomes who then walked through the streets of Heeze. As a builder, he participated in 49 parades. Now he is ‘head of parade’, and he is part of the theme committee.
And that theme for the Brabant Day is a big thing in Heeze. It will be presented in November when the dust of the Brabant Day of that year has fallen down. Traditionally, that is a historical theme that has a connection with the Duchy of Brabant. This year the committee opted for the theme of carnival unmasked.
“We now exist 66 years, six times eleven.”
Frank explains: “If you are going to ask in the rest of the Netherlands about what they associate with Brabant, carnival is in the top 3. And we now exist 66 years, six times eleven.” But all 16 building groups were already told when the theme announces the theme: for peace, do not build a carnival car.
Kamiel Hamers, one of the designers of Bouwgroep Ge Wit ‘t Oit Noit Nie thinks the theme is one of the best moments of the year. “Then your thoughts start to flow in all directions. I don’t have much carnival, but it’s a wonderful theme because Brabant has such a rich carnival history.”
Eventually he chose the history of Oeteldonk with his construction group. That arose in 1872 when the bishop opposed the party. According to Kamiel, with the Oeteldonk carnival, the Bosschenaren wanted to show the true nature of the party: solidarity, innocence and pleasure.
Even with GE Wit ‘t Oit noit Nie, something has to be done before Sunday is so far. “It will be fine, but I do sleep a bit restless at the moment,” says Kamiel.
“The best kept secret of Heeze.”
He has no time to worry about the theme of next year, but organizer Frank van Lierop already knows. “We’ve been working on that for almost a year,” he says. “Even the posters for next year are already there.”
“But you will only hear the theme that will only hear in November,” he says. “It is the best kept secret of Heeze”.
Brabantsedag at Omroep Brabant
The Brabantsedag in Heeze can be followed live on the various channels of Omroep Brabant: TV, website, app and via Facebook on Sunday afternoon 31 August. A summary can be seen in the evening.