The end of the harvest is celebrated in many parts of the world, but nowhere like in Mendoza, Argentina. From November to March, thousands of people live this tradition, with several regional festivals and a great international show at the Frank Romero Day Greek Theater.
This worldwide famous international celebration is held every year in March in an impressive setting surrounded by hills. It also offers parades of floats through the streets of the city. To get to this great event, Mendoza goes a long road, which begins several months before.
Mendoza has 18 departments, divided into districts, in November, the districts organize their harvests festivals, which consist of shows with music and dances that end with the election of a queen, who will later compete for the departmental crown.
During January and February, each of the departments of Mendoza chooses its representative in larger-scale celebrations that involve several hundred artists on stage, including musicians, dancers, actors and a great display of light, sound and special effects.
In March, the City of Mendoza is “lit up” by the Harvest Festival main events. Every corner offers an activity related to this celebration that was born in 1936. Shops and streets are decorated with vine leaves, grapes, bottles of wine and photos of their favorite departmental queens. The street signs also portrait the different queens as if it were a real political campaign; each department does everything possible to promote its representative and thus win votes in the election of the National Harvest Queen.
Various institutions join in the main celebration of Mendoza with special events ranging from street shows, tastings, public and private parties or big concerts like the Harvest Festival Concert, which takes place at the Mendoza Airport and is organized by the Fondo Vitivinícola (Wine Fund) and the provincial Government.
Everyone is part of the Harvest Celebration!
The main Harvest Celebrations usually take place during the first weekend of March. Locals and tourists alike await the parades of floats along the main streets of the City. On Friday night, the Vía Blanca Parade and on Saturday morning, the Carousel Parade. If there is a word to describe the atmosphere it would be PARTY, in capital letters.
Finally, the big night arrives. The Frank Romero Day Greek Theatre, nestled in the foothills of the Glory Hill, welcomes nearly 20,000 spectators and almost the same number of people gather in the surrounding hills, from where they can also enjoy the show.
More than 1,000 artists sing and dance on a 120-metre-wide stage among impressive special effects and traditional light boxes, a stage resource that is Mendoza’s signature. The staging tells a story that highlights in different acts the work, effort, the arrival of immigrants, the legacy of the native inhabitants, traditions and the innovations of the new generations.
After the show, the public vote the National Queen and Vice Queen of the Grape Harvest, who will have the enormous responsibility of being tourist and cultural ambassadors of Mendoza for a whole year.
2025 Celebration
The National Harvest Festival 2025 has been called “Guardian of the eternal wine” and will be directed by Franco Agüero. The main show will take place at the Frank Romero Day Greek Theater, on Saturday, March 8 and there will be a repetition on Sunday, March 9th. There is also a full calendar of related activities:
- Paseo Federal. Wednesday, February 26th to Friday, February 28th. San Vicente Park, Godoy Cruz. A street fair with stands from the 18 departments and artistic shows.
- Dionisias Wine Fair. Friday, February 28th and Saturday, March 1st. Fader Museum, Luján de Cuyo. Wine fair of female winemakers with tastings and shows.
- Blessing of the Fruits. Sunday, March 2nd. Cultural and religious blessing of the produce of Mendoza under the direction of Héctor Gomina and script by Rafael “Golondrina” Ruiz. San Vicente Park, Godoy Cruz.
- Harvest Concert. Wednesday, March 5th. Mendoza Airport, Las Heras. Concert with great provincial and national musicians.
- Vía Blanca. Friday, March 7th. Night parade of floats through the streets of the City of Mendoza.
- Carousel. Saturday, March 8th. Daytime parade of floats through the streets of the City of Mendoza.
- Main Harvest Festival Show, “Guardian of the eternal wine”. Saturday, March 8th. Frank Romero Day Greek Theater, City of Mendoza.ç
- Repetition, “Guardian of the eternal wine”. Sunday, March 9th. Frank Romero Day Greek Theater, City of Mendoza
2025 Departmental Harvest Celebrations Schedule
- Junín 18/01
- Lavalle 18/01
- San Rafael 25/01 (with repetition on 26/01)
- San Martín 25/01
- San Carlos 25/01
- Rivadavia 30/01
- Tunuyán 31/01
- Las Heras 31/01
- General Alvear 31/01
- Capital 07/02
- Santa Rosa 14/02
- Tupungato 15/02
- Maipú 15/02
- Godoy Cruz 22/02
Text and Photo Credits: EMETUR (Tourism Board of Mendoza),