Uruguay — Events
Carnival
February 1, 2012 - April 30, 2012
Montevideo’s exuberant Carnaval brings dancing, drumming, comedy and theater to the streets for several weeks each summer. Especially noteworthy are the competitions between neighborhood Carnaval societies held in the Teatro de Verano and the all-night parade called Desfile de las Llamadas, which moves to the beat of Afro-Uruguayan candombe drumming.
Yemanjá
February 2, 2012
Offerings of flowers, gifts, perfume and rice are made to the Yoruba Goddess of the Sea every 2 February.
Fiesta de la Patria Gaucha
March 1, 2012 - March 31, 2012
Uruguay’s largest and most authentic celebration of its deep-rooted gaucho culture involves five days of music, dancing, barbecues, bonfires and displays of gaucho skills. A highlight is the Saturday parade with thousands of riders mounted on horseback in full gaucho regalia.
Semana Santa (Easter Week)
April 1, 2012 - April 30, 2012
Also known as Semana de Turismo, Easter Week is Uruguay’s biggest national holiday. Many Uruguayans travel during this period and hotels get booked up. In Montevideo, this week is known as Semana Criolla and is celebrated in the city’s parks with barbecues, rodeos and handicraft exhibits.
Beer Week
April 17, 2012 - April 24, 2012
Paysandú’s weeklong beer festival, Semana de la Cerveza, coinciding with Easter Week, has been running for nearly 50 years. Beer from the the country’s largest brewery flows freely, accompanied by sports events, beauty pageants and concerts at the 20,000-seat amphitheater near the waterfront.
Semana Santa (Easter Week)
April 17, 2012 - April 24, 2012
Also known as Semana de Turismo, Easter Week is Uruguay’s biggest national holiday. Many Uruguayans travel during this period and hotels get booked up. In Montevideo, this week is known as Semana Criolla and is celebrated in the city’s parks with barbecues, rodeos and handicraft exhibits.
La Semana Criolla
April 17, 2012 - April 23, 2012
Rodeos, barbecues and folk music celebrate the ruggedGaucho lifestyle of Uruguay’s rural population who once a year descend upon
National Heritage Days
September 23, 2012 - October 3, 2012
For one weekend every year, the Días del Patrimonio, Montevideo shares its cultural heritage with the general public by granting free admission to churches, museums, historic homes and other sites throughout the city.
