Although Argentina is less prone to wild festivals than other South American countries, there are several fiestas that might be worth planning your trip around. Aside from the ones listed here, nearly every town in Argentina has its own fiesta.
JANUARY: FESTIVAL NACIONAL DEL FOLKLORE
Near the city of Córdoba, the town of Cosquín
hosts the National Festival of Folk Music during the last
week of January. It’s the country’s largest and best
known folklórico (folk music) festival.
FEBRUARY–MARCH: CARNAVAL
Though not as rockin’ in Argentina as it is in
Brazil, this celebration is rowdy in the northeast,
especially in Gualeguaychú and Corrientes. In the northwest (particularly Quebrada de
Humahuaca) there’s more emphasis on traditional
music and dancing. Montevideo, the capital of
Uruguay, also has a good Carnaval.
FIESTA NACIONAL DE LA VENDIMIA
Mendoza city’s National Wine Harvest Festival kicks off with parades, folkloric events and
a royal coronation – all in honor of Mendoza’s
intoxicating beverage.
MAY: DÍA DE VIRGEN DE LUJÁN
Thousands of devout believers make a 65km pilgrimage
to the pampas town of Luján in
honor of the Virgin Mary; other large pilgrimages
to Luján take place in early October, early August,
late September and on December 8.
JULY–AUGUST: EXPOSICIÓN RURAL
Get a glimpse of Argentina’s obsession with its cattle
and other livestock – horses, sheep, chickens etc.
Gauchos do their thing, farm machinery is on display
and there are plenty of meaty things to eat.
FESTIVAL Y MUNDIAL DE TANGO
Buenos Aires’ best tango dancers perform at
venues throughout the city during the two week
Tango Festival. There’s also a
world-class competition and plenty of classes
and workshops.
SEPTEMBER: SOUTH AMERICAN MUSIC CONFERENCE
This is Buenos Aires’ biggest electronic music
party. It features the who’s who of the
electronic world, with networking conferences
held during the day and 50,000 party-goers at
night.
OCTOBER: FIESTA NACIONAL DE LA CERVEZA/OKTOBERFEST
Join the swillers and oompah bands at Argentina’s
National Beer Festival, Villa General Belgrano’s
Oktoberfest in the Central Sierras.
EISTEDDFOD
This lively Welsh festival, featuring plentiful grub
and choral singing, takes place in the Patagonian
towns of Trelew and Trevelin. It’s a
great one for inducing those ‘wait-am-I-really-in-
South-America?’ moments.
NOVEMBER: DÍA DE LA TRADICIÓN
The Day of Traditional Culture festival kicks off
with a salute to the gaucho and is especially
significant in San Antonio de Areco, the
most classically gaucho of towns. However, it is
also important – and decidedly less touristy – in
the mountain town of San José de Jáchal,
in San Juan.
MARCHA DEL ORGULLO GAY
Buenos Aires’ Gay Pride Parade draws
thousands of gay, lesbian and transgendered
citizens, as well as their supporters, who march
(with the music up loud!) from Plaza de Mayo to
the Congreso.
