The only thing better than a long weekend is a long weekend with multiple design events. (Does that make us nerds?)
Here are your recommendations to keep you anything but bored in Buenos Aires this weekend, you’ve earned it.
So clock out early, let your hair loose and… go to a rare book festival?
Friday 11 through Sunday 13 — 2 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Galería de Arte Ruth Benzacar (Juan Ramirez de Velasco 1287)
Free entry
A rare book is one that’s difficult to find, and worth searching for, according to the event organizers. A dozen specialized booksellers will be presenting their goods at this fair set in one of Buenos Aires’ most prestigious art galleries.
This event is unique in that it doesn’t just focus on rare books of the past, but hard-to-find books of the present as well, such as handcrafted books from an array of independent, small publishers. These books are created in a traditional manner with short runs and limited copies, hand-bound or printed on old presses.
Wander through the gallery and try your hand at looking cultured. Plus, there will be cake.
Buenos Aires Architecture Biennale
Wednesday 9 through Sunday 13 — 9 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Faena Art Center (Aimé Painé 1169, Puerto Madero)
Free entry
October is design and architecture month in Buenos Aires, celebrated with a schedule that includes Buenos Aires Architecture Biennale — a five-day affair that features conferences, exhibits, and events. If you’re walking around Puerto Madero, you’ll run into Un nuevo horizonte (A new horizon), a series of compiled sketches from 1929 to 2022 documenting the evolution of the neighborhood and imagining what it could become.
If you’re interested in architecture, this conference isn’t one to miss. It includes more than 40 speakers from more than 25 cities around the world, and an expo with numerous studios displaying their work.
Also part of design month are free city-hosted design circuits from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. on Fridays and 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturdays in October. These guided tours are led by a design journalist and visit the neighborhoods of Villa Crespo, Palermo, Chacarita/Paternal, and Microcentro.
Design Festival Overdose
There’s three separate design festivals in the city this weekend, and all of them are worth going to. We’re including them here, so that you can pick and choose which ones you want to hit up. Or, skip the decisions and just go to all three.
Juntas Feria
Saturday 12 and Sunday 13 — 5 p.m. to 9 p.m.
Olazabal 1784 (Barrio Chino, Belgrano)
Free entry
This weekend there’s a mega edition of the much-loved design fair, with more than 70 independent businesses. There will be different vendors each day, so it’s worth your while to stop by more than once.
Friday 11 through Sunday 13 — 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Fabrica de Estampas (Nahuel Huapi 4699)
Free entry
If you like a good treasure hunt, then the Feria de Tesoros is for you. Stocked full of fanzines, books, printed art and mysterious finds, the fair is put on by graphic art collective Fabrica de Estampas.
Sunday 13 — 3 p.m.
Cultural Center Limonero (Jerónimo Salguero 668)
Entry is one non-perishable food item, this will be donated to a soup kitchen
Head to Almagro to check out this printed art fair that boasts a long lineup of participants. There will be music, a bar, and an artist doing live portraits.