Aarschot celebrates Sint-Rochus with thousands of candles, despite drought: 'Be careful with vegetation'

The city of Aarschot is preparing to celebrate the traditional Sint-Rochus festival on Saturday, August 15, with thousands of candles illuminating the city center. However, the celebration proceeds amidst heightened concerns due to a persistent drought, which has significantly increased the risk of fires.

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Code orange or not: on August 15, Aarschot has celebrated Sint-Rochus with thousands of candles on the street for centuries.

Despite the dry conditions and the potential fire hazard, Mayor Gwendolyn Rutten (Iedereen Aarschot) has decided against canceling the centuries-old tradition. She noted that the city has experienced dry and warm weather in the past, and the festival even continued during the COVID-19 pandemic. "Code orange or not: on August 15, Aarschot has celebrated Sint-Rochus with thousands of candles on the street for centuries," Rutten stated.

While the candles are traditionally placed in glass jars, Rutten stressed that this measure alone is insufficient given the current lack of rain. She urged residents to exercise extra vigilance, specifically asking them not to place candles near "bone-dry vegetation, such as grass edges, trees, and bushes." The city is also implementing additional safety measures, including extra fire extinguishers and stewards, with the fire department on standby.

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We ask residents to be sure not to place candles next to bone-dry vegetation, such as grass edges, trees and bushes, and to keep an extra eye out.

Rutten expressed confidence that the festival will proceed without major issues, as most candles are placed in the paved city center, minimizing the inherent fire risk. She believes that appealing to common sense will ensure a "fantastic edition" of the celebration, allowing the tradition to continue safely.

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The most candles are in the paved center, which means the risk of fire is generally low.