Outings and excursions · Tacuarembó
Patria Gaucha Festival: Tacuarembó celebrates its traditions
Photos: U.S. Embassy Montevideo / Wikimedia Commons (Public domain)
Every March, by the Laguna de las Lavanderas, thousands of riders, campfires and folk music turn Tacuarembó into the gaucho capital.
Since 1987, the Patria Gaucha Festival has brought the traditions of rural Uruguay together in Tacuarembó. It takes place in early March at the Laguna de las Lavanderas, by the Tacuarembó river and a kilometre from downtown, and describes itself as a "living museum" of gaucho culture.
What to expect
- Campfires: camps where people share mate, barbecue and country stew.
- The parade: a huge horseback parade with thousands of riders.
- Gaucho skills: contests of horsemanship, crafts and traditions, organised by the criollo societies.
- Music: stages with singing, guitars, accordions and dancing.
The whole city joins in, with shop window contests and visitors from all over the country.
Tips
- Exact dates and the programme are announced each year on the festival's official website.
- Accommodation sells out fast: book early.
- Bring a hat and sunscreen: March is still summer.
