At Liège’s Queer Families Festival, Every Family Has a Story

The third edition of the Queer Families Festival takes place on 11 October at the Maison Arc-en-Ciel de Liège, with activities for queer families and everyone who wants to celebrate them. Doors open at 1:30 pm, and storyteller Zia Marsiat will present Tout se transforme. It’s a chance for children and adults to see different ways of being a family welcomed in the same room.

A festival made for queer families

Families come in all shapes, but queer parents, children and chosen families do not always find themselves reflected in events billed as “family-friendly”. The Queer Families Festival starts from a different place: queer families are at the heart of the day, not an afterthought.

Now in its third edition, the festival promises a range of activities for all. The organisers have not specified the full programme in the information shared so far, but the invitation is clear: come together, spend time with other families and enjoy a space where different family stories belong.

Three stories of transformation

One of the day’s highlights is Tout se transforme (Everything Changes) by Liège storyteller Zia Marsiat. The performance brings together three stories and three generations. As plants grow and hands sculpt, materials and living beings change—and their stories unfold.

It’s a fitting choice for a queer family festival. Children grow, relationships evolve, and families make their own paths through change. Marsiat’s storytelling offers a way to explore those ideas together, without suggesting there is only one right shape a family can take.

Why being together matters

For LGBTQIA+ people, a family event can mean more than an afternoon out. It can give children a chance to meet families that look like theirs, and give parents and carers room to connect without having to explain themselves first.

The venue adds to that sense of welcome. The Maison Arc-en-Ciel de Liège describes itself as a place for LGBTQIA+ people to meet, find support and take part in activities. Bringing families into that space makes a simple point: queer community life includes children, parenting and intergenerational stories, too.

Practical information

• What: Queer Families Festival, third edition.
• When: 11 October, from 1:30 pm.
• Where: Maison Arc-en-Ciel de Liège, Rue Hors-Château 7, 4000 Liège.macliege
• Highlight: Zia Marsiat’s storytelling performance Tout se transforme.
• Programme and updates: Festival Facebook event.
• Price and accessibility: Not specified in the information provided; check with the organisers before travelling.

For an afternoon, Liège will have a place where queer families can simply gather, listen and see their stories reflected.

KET Magazine is a community‑driven, non‑profit magazine run by volunteers and based in Brussels. You can find our other music and nightlife stories on ket.brussels, and you can always write to us to share your projects or pitch a story: info@ket.brussels