National Shearing Festival

Fiesta Nacional de la Esquila

View on map
MusicRio Mayo
DatesDates TBA · Usually JanuaryCheck locally before booking
DurationSummerEstimate from available data
Crowd-Public scale varies
Best forLive music, late nightsThe shearing competition itself is the rare
LanguageLocal language; English access variesCurrency: ARS
CategoryMusicFestival type
The story

National Shearing Festival in Rio Mayo

A festival in the Patagonian sheep-farming town of Rio Mayo, Chubut, centered on a timed shearing competition that judges speed without harming the animal. Formalized in the 1970s and declared a National Festival by decree in 1985, it pairs the shearing contest with gaucho skills displays, a parade and a queen coronation.

Rio Mayo's shearing competition scores contestants on how fast they can shear a sheep without nicking it, a discipline the town formalized into a full festival during the 1970s, adding a parade, a queen election and displays of gaucho horsemanship skills alongside the shearing contest itself by 1979.
Your trip starts here
What is special

The part that makes it specific.

01

The place changes

The shearing competition itself is the rare festival centerpiece built around judging a specific working skill -- speed balanced against animal welfare -- rather than a crop, dish or general cultural theme, drawing professional shearers from across Chubut's wool-producing region rather than amateur participants

02

The mystery stays covered

Rio Mayo's remoteness, even by Patagonian standards, keeps the event closer to a genuine working rural gathering than a tourist-oriented spectacle

03

The city starts moving

Rio Mayo sits in Chubut's Senguer department, a strategic point within one of Patagonia's largest sheep-producing zones, and the competition was elevated to National Festival status by national decree 1300 in 1985, formalizing a tribute to a trade that has shaped the region since 19th-century settlement

Traditions & symbols

The language of the festival.

What moves first

Living ritual

The shearing competition judges contestants on speed without injuring the animal

Water and renewal

Living ritual

a standard maintained since the contest's formalization

The sacred route

Living ritual

and remains the festival's defining event above the parade and queen coronation

Before you go

Essential information

When to go

Dates TBA · Usually January

Getting around

For National Shearing Festival, plan transport around the exact Rio Mayo venue, route or gathering point rather than the city name alone.

What to wear

Windproof, warm layers are essential -- Patagonian steppe weather changes quickly and can be cold even outside winter, and much of the event takes place outdoors on open ground.

Safety

Keep phone power, water, and a clear meeting point sorted before the main crowd arrives.

Where to stay

For National Shearing Festival, stay near the part of Rio Mayo you will actually use, with reliable return transport.

Tickets/cost

Ticketing varies by venue and stage. Confirm official passes before booking travel.

Language/currency

ARS

Family friendly

unknown

Interactive map45.69 S, 70.26 WOpen in Google Maps

Rio Mayo, Chubut, Argentina

Nearest airportPMQ — Perito Moreno Jalil Hamer
TransportFor National Shearing Festival, plan transport around the exact Rio Mayo venue, route or gathering point rather than the city name alone.
Stay areaFor National Shearing Festival, stay near the part of Rio Mayo you will actually use, with reliable return transport.

Your Trip Starts Here

External travel services to turn the plan into a trip — each opens in a new tab.

How to get thereRoutes, times and prices to Rio Mayo via local transport.Search routesFind a place to stayStays near Rio Mayo, close enough for the event-day route.Browse staysFind flightsCompare fares into the nearest practical airport for January.Compare faresFestival gearWindproof, warm layers are essential -- Patagonian steppe weather changes quickly and can be cold even outside winter, and much of the event takes place outdoors on open ground.Shop the kitCheck visa requirementsSee whether you need a visa for Argentina and apply online.Check entry rulesTravel insuranceCover for trip hiccups, gear and health on the road.Get covered

We may earn a small commission from trusted travel partners at no extra cost to you.

FAQ

Quick answers.

When is National Shearing Festival?

National Shearing Festival is listed for January · Summer. Always re-check the official or local source close to travel.

Where does National Shearing Festival take place?

The festival is listed in Rio Mayo, Argentina. The map coordinate is a planning reference, not a guarantee of a ticket gate or exact venue.

How long should I plan for?

Summer is the listed festival span. Add time for arrival, local transport, queues, and any route changes during the event.

Is a source linked?

Needs editorial review. Eventisimus separates source confidence from travel suggestions, so check final details before booking.

Where exactly is it?

Rio Mayo, Chubut, Argentina

Is it family friendly?

unknown

Sources and editorial review

About this guide

This guide is independently written by Eventisimus using publicly available information, official event and organiser sources where available, local tourism references, and additional editorial research. Eventisimus is not the official organiser of this festival and is not affiliated with it unless explicitly stated.

Festival dates, schedules, ticket conditions, access rules, and local arrangements can change. We aim to present useful and accurate information, but travelers should confirm important details with the official event source before booking transport, accommodation, or tickets.

Found something inaccurate or outdated? Email hello@eventisimus.com with the festival page link and the correction.

Official URLAwaiting confirmation
Organizer accessAre you the organizer? Claim this listing →
Listed datesDates TBA · Usually January
Source statusNeeds editorial review
Related festivals

Continue the route.

Photo pending

Rock in Rio

4–13 September 2026

Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Photo pending

Montreal International Jazz Festival

Past edition: 25 June–4 July 2026

Montreal, Canada
Photo pending

Tomorrowland Brasil

Past edition: 10–12 October 2025

Itu, Brazil
Photo pending

Glastonbury Festival

23–27 June 2027

Pilton, United Kingdom

Spotted something out of date? Submit a correction →