Semana Criolla del Prado

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Sports & AdventureMontevideo
DatesDates TBA · Usually MarchCheck locally before booking
Duration8 daysListed event span
Crowd-Public scale varies
Best forCompetition, enduranceSemana Criolla channels gaucho ranching
Language["es"]Currency: UYU
CategorySports & AdventureFestival type
The story

Semana Criolla del Prado in Montevideo

Semana Criolla del Prado is Montevideo's rodeo and folk festival, held at the Rural del Prado grounds every year during Semana de Turismo, the Holy Week break when much of secular Uruguay travels or celebrates rather than observes religious tradition. Running since 1925, it centers on jineteadas, gaucho horse-riding competitions, alongside folk music, criollo food stalls, and craft fairs.

Every year during Semana de Turismo, the week most of the world knows as Holy Week, Montevideo's Rural del Prado fills not with churchgoers but with horses.
Your trip starts here
What is special

The part that makes it specific.

01

The place changes

Semana Criolla channels gaucho ranching culture into the same fairground, the Rural del Prado, that hosts the September livestock exposition Expo Prado, giving Montevideo's urban population direct access to rodeo traditions usually associated with the rural interior

02

The mystery stays covered

Riders compete across multiple jineteada categories, testing their ability to stay mounted on unbroken horses for a set number of seconds, while the grounds' early-1900s pavilions, known for trencadis mosaic ornamentation by architects Cayetano Buigas and Juan Maria Aubriot, provide a distinctive architectural backdrop rarely associated with rodeo events elsewhere

03

The city starts moving

Because it falls during Semana de Turismo, the festival also functions as a major secular alternative to Holy Week observance

Traditions & symbols

The language of the festival.

What moves first

Living ritual

Rooted in gaucho ranching culture and rodeo skill competitions dating to the festival's 1925 founding at the Rural del Prado

Water and renewal

Living ritual

held during the same Semana de Turismo period when Uruguay's mostly secular population marks Holy Week with travel and outdoor festivities rather than religious observance

Before you go

Essential information

When to go

Dates TBA · Usually March

Getting around

Use the city as a planning base, then confirm the exact venue, route, or meeting point close to the date.

What to wear

Semana de Turismo falls in early autumn in Uruguay, so daytime layers work best, light clothing with a jacket for cooler evenings; closed shoes are recommended given the fairground's dirt...

Safety

At Semana Criolla del Prado, respect barriers, moving equipment and marshal guidance; photos are never worth stepping into active areas.

Where to stay

Stay near workable transport in Montevideo, especially if the event runs late or streets close.

Tickets/cost

Check official or local sources for ticketed areas, paid stands, and same-year access rules.

Language/currency

["es"] · UYU

Family friendly

unknown

Interactive map34.87 S, 56.15 WOpen in Google Maps

Montevideo, Montevideo, Uruguay

Nearest airportMVD — Carrasco General Cesáreo L. Berisso
TransportUse the city as a planning base, then confirm the exact venue, route, or meeting point close to the date.
Stay areaStay near workable transport in Montevideo, especially if the event runs late or streets close.

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 Montevideo via local transport.Search routesFind a place to stayStays near Montevideo, close enough for the event-day route.Browse staysFind flightsCompare fares into the nearest practical airport for March.Compare faresFestival gearSemana de Turismo falls in early autumn in Uruguay, so daytime layers work best, light clothing with a jacket for cooler evenings; closed shoes are recommended given the fairground's dirt and gravel grounds.Shop the kitCheck visa requirementsSee whether you need a visa for Uruguay and apply online.Check entry rulesTravel insuranceCover for trip hiccups, gear and health on the road.Get covered

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FAQ

Quick answers.

When is Semana Criolla del Prado?

Semana Criolla del Prado is listed for Past edition: 29 March–5 April 2026. Always re-check the official or local source close to travel.

Where does Semana Criolla del Prado take place?

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

How long should I plan for?

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

Is a source linked?

Official source linked. Eventisimus separates source confidence from travel suggestions, so check final details before booking.

Where exactly is it?

Montevideo, Montevideo, Uruguay

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 URLmontevideo.gub.uy
Organizer accessAre you the organizer? Claim this listing →
SourceSource link available
Listed datesDates TBA · Usually March
Source statusOfficial source linked
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