Argentina's Largest Festival is Doma y Folklore
Ten Days of Horse Breaking Competition and Argentinean Music
Mar 8, 2009
Once a year the tranquil town of Jésus María, known for its cultural heritage of Jesuit Estancias, is transformed into a bustling fair of pure Argentinean culture. During this ten-day festival the majority of activities takes place inside an amphitheatre while outside there are ample opportunities for souvenir shopping and eating.
History of Doma and Folklore Festival
It all started with a group of neighbours who were searching for a way to raise funds to continue the education of students. What started out as an idea for fund raising grew into an elaborate plan to organize a festival on a national scale. "El Festival Nacional de Doma y Folklore" was born and organized for the first time in 1966 – it soon it grew into Argentina's largest festival.
Gauchos – Traditional Outfits
For the occasion, men and boys dress in sharp gaucho [cowboy] outfits: "bombachas", loose trousers, are partly covered by shiny, knee-high leather boots. Over long-sleeved blouses a scarf is worn, and gauchos wear either a sombrero or a beret. The outfit is completed by an elaborate belt or a cummerbund that holds their knife – often beautifully decorated or carved.
The latter says a lot about the happy and relaxed ambiance of this large gathering. Since the knives are such an elementary part of the gaucho outfit, they are allowed inside the amphitheatre. While the Doma and Folklore Festival goes on all night and alcohol flows in abundance, in the forty years of its existence there has never been one single incident with knives.
Horse Breaking Competition
Wild horses are gathered for the occasion and kept on one side of the field. One by one the skills of the gauchos are tested as they mount the horses and attempt to break in the bucking animals. Breaking in horses comes in several degrees of difficulty. These vary from using a saddle, reins and stirrups to the use of only a rein; or from the "light" challenge to stay in the saddle for eight seconds to the "heavy" challenge of staying put for fifteen seconds.
Horse breaking competitions alternate with musicians who entertain the public with traditional folk music and Argentinean dance performances. The spectacle goes on until the early hours.
Doma y Folklore Festival – Tickets, Entrance Fees, Opening Hours
- Horse breaking and nightly shows start around six or seven pm.
- Entrance fees depend on the musicians performing that night, and vary between 20 and 40 pesos per person [US$ 7-13].
- Tickets can be bought beforehand at the entrance of the amphitheatre.
- Inside the amphitheatre bars sell drinks and snacks, but the visitor is also allowed to bring his own.
Doma y Folkore Festival – Restaurants and Shops
Outside the amphitheatre it is one big, bustling market – focused on the main street La Peña – that is open during the day but especially comes alive at night. Rows of souvenir stands offer an abundance of beautiful souvenirs in the form of gaucho outfits and horse riding equipment, as well as regular stands with cloths and gadgets. Eating is possible at a multitude of bars, restaurants or barbeque places. The gastronomy is focused on traditional dishes like asado [barbeque] and is reasonably priced.
Jesús María – Location, Transportation and Accommodation
- Jesús María is situated in central Argentina, about 60 kilometres north of Córdoba city, west of Ruta 9. The town is easy to reach by private vehicle as well as by buses that ply between Córdoba and Jésus María.
- While Jésus María has accommodation in the form of hostels, it may be wise to make reservations during the Doma and Folklore Festival. There is a large campsite "Los Nogales", or pitch a tent along the riverbed as many of the Argentineans do.
Outdoor Activities in Córdoba
- A lovely family outing is recommended in the nearby valley of Candonga.
- Lovers of wind sports, check out the paragliding paradise of La Cumbre.
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