| tineans love to celebrate life at any time, but if | | | | elect the Harvest Queen. On the evening of the first |
| you’re in the country during one of their many | | | | Friday in March, the belles (Reinas) of each of |
| festivals, you're in for a special treat. Argentina | | | | Mendoza's departments parade through the city |
| celebrates all of the traditional Christian events such as | | | | streets dressed in the elaborate costumes of their |
| Xmas and Easter, but also has some unique events of | | | | departments. The Harvest Queen is chosen Saturday |
| its own. Here's a roundup of three of the more | | | | night in a show held inside an amphitheatre in Plaza |
| intriguing Argentinean festivals. | | | | San Martin. |
| Buenos Aires Tango Festival | | | | OktoberFest Argentina |
| As befitting the birthplace of that sultry dance the | | | | Another Argentinean festival with a drinking theme is |
| tango, the Buenos Aires Tango Festival is an | | | | OktoberFest Argentina, the Argentine spin on the |
| extravagant party organised by the Argentine ministry | | | | Munich October Fest. The event is held at Villa General |
| of culture since 1999. Held in late February to early | | | | Belgrano in Cordova province. This 5-day beer guzzling |
| March, the annual event attracts tango aficionados | | | | event is touted as being the world's third most |
| from all over the world. It's a dynamic week-long fiesta | | | | important Oktoberfest site after Munich and Blumenau |
| of dance and music that goes on long into the night in | | | | in Brazil. |
| the clubs and cafes of the city. Many of the streets of | | | | Beer gardens are specially erected for the event. All |
| the capital transformed into open air dance floors, too, | | | | the major brands of beer are served in tall German |
| offering free shows for all. And you don't have to be | | | | steins to celebrants, many of whom are adorned in |
| just a spectator. You can join free basic tango classes | | | | traditional Bavarian dress. To accompany the beer, |
| for beginners or master classes if you're an | | | | German dishes including Frankfurt sausages, |
| experienced dancer. | | | | leberwurst, smoked pork ribs, sausages with chucrut |
| Vendimia | | | | are offered. |
| Wine is a great component of any festival, and if the | | | | But there's more than just eating and drinking. You can |
| festival is about wine, well, all the better. If you're in the | | | | also enjoy parades with delegations from all over the |
| Argentinean wine capital of Mendoza in March, you | | | | world dressed in traditional costumes. The highlight of |
| can join in the celebrations for the wine harvest | | | | OktoberFest is the choosing of the National Queen of |
| festival called Vendimia. Actually the celebrations begin | | | | Beer from 20 hopefuls selected from around the |
| in January in the 18 departments that make up the | | | | country. |
| province of Mendoza and then homes in on the | | | | These are just a few of the many festival held in |
| provincial capital in March. | | | | Argentina each year. Whatever month you visit, you'll |
| During the festival, the tree-lined streets and plazas of | | | | be sure to find an event to captivate and delight you. |
| the capital witness folk dancing, sports events and of | | | | The only difficulty with visiting the events in Argentina |
| course lots of wine drinking. The most popular spot | | | | might be your accommodation. Be sure to have a |
| during the festival is the brilliantly-tiled Plaza Italia where | | | | reservation, because Buenos Aires hotels or Mendoza |
| you can buy wine by the glass and nibble on such | | | | hotels could be fully booked during the festivals. Of |
| delicacies as snails. | | | | course the Internet offers many opportunities to book |
| One of the highlights of Vendima is the Vía | | | | Argentina hotels in advance. |
| Blanca de las Reinas, a sort of beauty pageant to | | | | |
