We have been fortunate to attend a number of amazing events, those truly unique in the world – I can’t believe what we just saw type of events.
The San Antonio de Areco Gaucho Festival is one of those events! (caution – something this cool has resulted in a fairly long posting with 40 photos)
The town of San Antonio de Areco is about 60 miles/100 KM from Buenos Aires, but in feel it is a world away.
It has a relaxed feel, where the local dogs just cruise around town greeting visitors. This little guy hung out with us for the first 1/2 hour we were there.
It is known as the ‘Cradle of Tradition’, or ‘Capital Nacional de la Tradicion’ for all of Argentina. The Gaucho Festival is their premier event of the year.
Lasting 5 days the Feast of Tradition culminates with an exhibit of traditional dance, followed by a parade of gauchos. The dancers wore authentic period clothes.
At the edge of town is the Ricardo Guiraldes Crillo Park. The park has a museum dedicated to the gaucho.
Nearby there were numerous vendors selling gaucho-ware.
The most amazing part of the day was the parade which consisted of over 4000 horses and riders! This view is of them making their way into town from the park.
Across the ‘Old Bridge’
Into another park that acted as a staging area.
It was here you began to get an appreciation of the beauty of the horses, as well as the very stylish look of the gauchos.
There were entire herds of horses just hanging out in the park.
With 4000 horses and riders some had to wait a bit for their turn to parade.
While most were in groups of two or three a few larger groups rode together.
Horses were everywhere, including on front lawns of houses.
But it was time for the parade. This rider, carrying the flag for the festival, lead the parade.
And for the next few hours we were treated to an amazingly stylish parade.
These gauchos gathered for the ‘Grand Finale’….
A number of riders showing their herding skills by driving a group of horses through the streets of the town by themselves.
What could be better than a beautiful warm spring day with a jacaranda tree blooming in the background, and a gaucho showing his skill.
With the parade over it was time for a cold cerveza while sitting on your horse! Our day in San Antonio de Areco was fantastic, a memory that will last forever.
RDZ Photography 