La Feria de Matadores

Fantastic folk fair

Noteworthy for: The biggest spectacle is the sortija. Gaucho horsemen in full regalia, stand on their saddles and gallop to spear a tiny ring dangling from a ribbon.
Word to the wise: It will take almost an hour by bus to get here (collectivo 155 or 180) but it’s worth the journey for a real insight into gaucho life.

While the seductive elegance of tango is one element of the Argentine spirit, the gaucho is the other. La Feria de Matadores is a weekly folk fair celebrating traditional country life. Luckily it avoids being gimmicky or kitsch, instead remaining an authentic display of life outside the city, attracting porteños and travellers alike.
Between over 100 stalls selling everything from ponchos to horse-hoof ashtrays, couples convene around the outdoor stage to dance the chacarera and chamame folk dances to live folk music. Don’t be shy about joining in; the steps are simple, and the people welcoming. Brave some hearty rural specialties like locra – a pork stew using the entire pig, trotters and all.