Buenos Aires Herald 
As we rapidly meander towards the holidays, the spirit of generosity lingers in the air (or so we’d like to pretend). Our gift to you is a bangin weekend — as such, here’s your Buenos Aires recommendations.
Runs daily through Monday 23 — 5 p.m. to 10 p.m.
Plaza Intendente Seeber (Av. Del Libertador and Av. Sarmiento)
Free entry
If you have kids, you’re gonna want to take a few deep breaths, paste on a festive smile, and bring them to the Christmas Park. It’s everything you would imagine a children’s Christmas fair to be — a neverending loop of holiday music, adults dressed up like overly enthusiastic reindeer, and an old man sweating in his Santa suit under the Buenos Aires sun, because Christmas in the southern hemisphere hasn’t quite figured itself out.
Despite all our grumbling, you should definitely go — we’re just trying to keep your expectations realistic. Your kids however will experience none of the aforementioned gripes, and will have a thoroughly great time.
The fairground is packed full of activities, games, shows, artists, dancers, acrobats, musicians, Christmas parades, craft workshops, and a chance for kids to take photos with Santa and give him their letters. Events and performances change depending on the day, so check out the itinerary online before heading over.
Symphonic Christmas: The Christmas Clock
Saturday 21 — 8 p.m.
Auditorio Belgrano (Virrey Loreto 2348)
Tickets available online, starting at ARS $22,400
If you’re looking for a traditional feel good holiday show, this is it. A live orchestra of more than 30 performers on stage will play renditions of Christmas classics. The audiovisual spectacle tells the story of a threat to the countdown to Christmas — the toymakers have to go on a mission to find the true Christmas spirit.
Santa Claus is hosting the evening, and kids will have the chance to talk to him and give him letters. This is the show’s third edition, which had a season in Mexico City. The Pop Symphonic Orchestra is under the musical direction of Maestra Clara Ackermann, one of Argentina’s most recognized female orchestral conductors.
Christmas Markets
Mercado Belgrano and Mercado San Nicolás
Thursday 19, Friday 20, Saturday 21 and Monday 23 — 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Mercado Belgrano (Av. Juramento 2527) and Mercado San Nicolás (Av. Córdoba 1750)
Free entry
Santa Claus will be visiting the Buenos Aires city markets during these hours, and will be sat in a special armchair beside a Christmas tree, taking pictures with children and collecting letters. The markets will be festively decorated for the holidays, and you can take advantage of your Christmas shopping to pick up goods at the food stalls, butcher, greengrocers, and more.
Buenos Aires City Fairs in Palermo
Saturday 21 — 2 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Plaza Güemes
Friday 20 through Monday 23 — 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. at Plaza Intendente Seeber
Free entry
Head over to Palermo this weekend to finish (or start, no judgement here) your holiday shopping with artisanal gifts from local vendors. The festival in Plaza Intendente Seeber is inside of the Buenos Aires Christmas Park.
Finding the best pan dulce
The newsroom is a naturally controversial environment, but pan dulce is a particularly divisive topic. Here’s our editorial recommendations for finding the best pan dulce in the city.
It’s important to note that there is a small, albeit vocal, percentage of the newsroom that prefers the pan dulce on offer in the Chinese supermarkets, insisting that the more questionable the pan dulce, the more flavor it has.
However, we’ve put together the following suggestions for those of you who don’t want to lug a discounted desert to your inlaws’ Christmas dinner:
- Plaza Mayor (Venezuela 1399) This is hands down the city’s most famous pan dulce. However be ready to wait — lines often reach around the block.
- Pertutti (various locations around the city) This classic spot offers a traditional version, as well as a dried fruits and nuts option. Good luck choosing between the two, or if you’re as indecisive as we are, do yourself a favor and get both.
- Dos Escudos (multiple cafes around Buenos Aires) This pan dulce is all things Christmas. Fluffy dough filled with nuts, candied fruits, and raisins with a dried fruits and glaze topping. Fair enough, it’s not quite the discounted supermarket pan dulce of your dreams, but we’ll take what we can get.
