Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Opera Season
(Mar-Dec)
,
Buenos Aires. The reopening of
the capital's magnificent opera
house, Teatro Colón, is a major
event for music lovers and
draws many famous singers and
world-class orchestras.
St. Patrick's Day
(Mar 17)
,
across Argentina. Drinking and
dancing, especially at Buenos
Aires's Irish-themed bars such as
the Shamrock and Kilkenny.
Día Nacional de la Memoria
por la Verdad y la Justicia
(Mar
24)
, across Argentina. Victims of
the Dirty War are remembered.
Pascua
(Mar/Apr)
, across
Argentina. The celebration of
Easter Sunday, and its preludes
Jueves Santo and Viernes Santo,
sees Masses and solemn marches
in many towns and villages.
Display of contemporary artwork at
ArteBA, Buenos Aires
May
Día del Trabajo
(May 1)
, across
Argentina. Marches organized
by trade unions and protest
groups on Labor Day culminate
with speeches in plazas.
Fiesta del Algodón
(early May)
,
Chaco. Parades and the
crowning of the Cotton Queen
in the country's cotton capital
are the climax of ten days of
lively festivities.
ArteBA
(mid-May)
, Buenos Aires.
The city's biggest art fair,
featuring more than 100
national and international
galleries, as well as talks by
leading artists.
Día de la Revolución de Mayo
(May 25)
, Buenos Aires. Also
known as Día de la Patria, it
celebrates the May Revolution
of 1810 which ultimately led to
independence. In Buenos Aires,
grenadier guards march down
Avenida de Mayo in the
morning and people stop at
Café Tortoni
(see p72)
for a coffee
and snack. In the evening, a
choir performs patriotic songs at
the city cathedral.
Winner of the Wine Queen title at Fiesta
de la Vendimia
Fall
Harvests are brought in across
the Pampas and fertile highlands,
and ripe grapes are gathered in
the wine-producing provinces
of Mendoza, San Juan, La Rioja,
and Salta. The holiday season is
over, but most Argentinians
make a final trip to the beaches
or the tourist spots in the north
and south over Easter.
April
Día de las Malvinas
(Apr 2)
,
across Argentina. Veterans all
over the country honor their
comrades who fell in the
Malvinas War
(see p58)
.
BAFICI
(mid-Apr),
Buenos Aires.
Latin America's largest
independent and international
film festival takes over cinemas
and other spaces for ten days.
Gala del Fin del Mundo
(late Apr),
Ushuaia. This
music festival offers a series
of classical concerts featuring
leading national and inter-
national performers.
Fería del Libro
(mid-Apr-
May)
, Buenos Aires. This three-
week book extravaganza for
Argentinian and international
publishers and guest writers is
a public as well as trade event.
March
Fiesta de la Vendimia
(early
Mar)
, Mendoza. Kicking off on
the Sunday before the festival
proper, the city of Mendoza
hosts folk music concerts, local
produce fairs, and all manner of
grape-themed events. On the
following Saturday evening,
Parque San Martín hosts a huge
gala, with a local beauty contest
for the Wine Queen title.
Buenos Aires military parade celebrates Día de la Revolución de Mayo
