Fiesta Nacional de la Vendimia Facts for Kids

The Fiesta Nacional de la Vendimia is also known as the Grape Harvest National Festival. It happens every year in Mendoza City, Argentina. This festival is one of the biggest in the country. Many tourists visit Mendoza to enjoy it. It celebrates wine and how it is made.

The 19 departments in Mendoza Province get ready for the festival. They start preparing early in the year. The main part of the festival is in the first week of March. It takes place in Mendoza city. Hundreds of dancers and performers join in. A "Reina Nacional de la Vendimia" (National Vendimia Queen) is chosen. The festival ends with a big fireworks show.

History of the Grape Harvest Festival
Mendoza's Departments
Festival Events and Activities
Cultural Importance
See also

History of the Grape Harvest Festival

The first grape harvest celebrations in Mendoza Province began a long time ago. They started in the 1600s. The very first official festival happened in 1936. Recently, Mendoza's Vendimia festival was ranked high by National Geographic. It was number two on their list of the Top 10 World's Harvest Festivals. It came after the Thanksgiving celebrations in Plymouth Plantation, Massachusetts.

Mendoza's Departments

Each of Mendoza's departments is part of the festival. Here are the departments represented:

Capital Department
General Alvear Department
Godoy Cruz Department
Guaymallén Department
Junín Department
La Paz Department
Las Heras Department
Lavalle Department
Luján de Cuyo Department

Maipú Department
Malargüe Department
Rivadavia Department
San Carlos Department
San Martín Department
San Rafael Department
Santa Rosa Department
Tunuyán Department
Tupungato Department

Festival Events and Activities

The festival has several exciting events. They all lead up to the main celebration.

Blessing of the Fruit Ceremony

The blessing of the fruit happens on the last Sunday of February. This ceremony gives thanks for the year's grape harvest.

Vía Blanca de las Reinas Parade

On the first Friday evening in March, a special parade takes place. It is called the Vía Blanca de las Reinas. The most beautiful women, chosen as Reinas (queens) from each department, ride through Mendoza's streets. They are on special floats called allegoric chariots. Their outfits are very fancy and show off the winemaking tradition. They also represent the unique character of their department. More than 200,000 people often come to watch this parade.

Carrusel Vendimial Parade

The Carrusel Vendimial happens on Saturday morning. It is a daytime parade. The Reinas ride their chariots again through the streets. They are joined by groups of men dressed as Gauchos, riding horses. Dancers from different parts of Argentina and other Latin American countries also follow them. This parade also brings in huge crowds of spectators.

The Central Act Show

The "Acto Central" is the main event. It takes place in the Frank Romero Day Greek theatre. It is an amazing show with lights and sounds. Over 1000 performers and dancers take part. The show honors the "Virgen de la Carrodilla." It also features traditional folklore music.

The show ends with the election of the "Reina Nacional de la Vendimia." After that, there is a large fireworks display.

Cultural Importance

The festival is so important that a plain on the dwarf planet Ceres is named after it. This plain is called Vendimia Planitia.

Fiesta Nacional de la Vendimia facts for kids

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