When and where the Fiesta del Asado Criollo will take place, and what visitors can eat

Moquehuá, a town of around 2,000 residents in the Chivilcoy district of Buenos Aires province, is preparing for a crowd more than 15 times its usual population. More than 30,000 people are expected at the fifth Fiesta del Asado Criollo on Saturday, September 12, and Sunday, September 13.

Admission will be free. Over the two days, visitors will find a grillers’ contest, a traditional gaucho parade, musical performances and nearly 150 stalls selling food, crafts, clothing, leather goods and other products. The program will begin early with a new open folk gathering organized by Peña La Pastora on Friday, September 11.

The festival began in 2022, promoted by Club Renovación and Club Social as a way to create a new attraction for Moquehuá and bring residents and visitors together. Its first editions drew between 7,000 and 10,000 people despite rain and cold. Attendance rose to between 20,000 and 25,000 in 2025, and organizers now hope to exceed 30,000.

The main attraction on Sunday will be the grillers’ contest, starting at 8 a.m. About 30 participants from different towns will have roughly four hours to cook a rib roast, using their own cross-shaped grill. Organizers will provide the meat and, if needed, the firewood.

The judges will assess more than cooking time and doneness. Each competitor will have a space of about four by four meters to turn into an individual presentation. Some prepare tortas fritas, empanadas, cold cuts or fries for visitors, while others bring objects and customs from their hometowns. A five-member jury linked to regional food and traditionalist festivals will select the top three, with medals for every participant. On Sunday, the festival will also serve rib roasts, vacío, tapa de asado, meat sandwiches and choripán. The 2025 edition used about 5,500 kilograms of meat.