Christmas Shopping At the Fairs...
December is a very special month in Buenos Aires. To summarize it in one word I would choose "hectic". It is not just the end of the year, it literally means the end of many activities for a great number of porteños. It is the end of school periods, of work projects, in other words it is the end of everything right before the holiday season which begins the first day of the new year up until march. Everyone is in a hurry to complete unfinished tasks. Obviously this includes getting the Christmas gifts. Although the economic situation is not optimal, still you will find the streets and shopping mall packed with hordes of people buying presents for loves ones and also for relatives (JA!). This situation gets me really annoyed, that is why I don't do much Christmas shopping. In any case what I do and I recommend doing is going to Ferias (fairs). Buenos Aires is full of ferias. Almost each barrio has one. There are big ones and modest ones. Fashion fairs and antique fairs and Artisan fairs. There is something for everyone. At a feria you will certainly find that one-of-a-kind-present that you won't find anywhere else. It is wonderful to walk around the hundreds of stands. It is really hard to decide what to take. Everything is so unique and original. You will find that prizes are affordable. Usually they take place during the weekend and holidays, but on December they extend the schedule. Here is a list of ferias with location and schedule...
FERIA PASEO RECOLETA/Plaza Francia
Av. Del Libertador y Av. Alvear. Recoleta.
¦ Saturdays, Sundays and holidays, 11 - 21 hs.
FERIA PASEO EL RETIRO
Av. Calabria y Rosario Vera Peñaloza. Retiro
¦ Saturdays, Sundays and holidays, 11 - 21 hs.
FERIA DE MATADEROS
Av. Lisandro de la Torre y Av. De los Corrales. Mataderos. 4374-9664 / 4687-5602.
¦ Sundays, 11 - 20 hs.
FERIA INTERNACIONAL DE ARTESANÍAS
Av. Santa Fe y Av. Sarmiento.4777-5500. La Rural. Palermo.
¦ Mondays to Thursdays, 15 - 22 hs. Fridays, 15 - 23 hs. Saturdays and Sundays, 12 - 23 hs.
FERIA DE SAN PEDRO TELMO
Humberto I y Defensa. San Telmo. 4331-9855.
¦ Sundays, 10 - 17 hs.
FERIA PASEO LEZAMA
Av. Brasil y Defensa. Barracas.
¦ Saturdays, Sundays and holidays, 11 - 21 hs.
FERIA PASEO CENTENARIO
Patricias Argentinas y Machado. Caballito.
¦ Saturdays, Sundays and holidays, 11 - 21 hs.
FERIA PASEO LOS ANDES
Av. Corrientes y Dorrego. Chacarita
¦ Saturdays, Sundays and holidays, 11 - 21 hs.
FERIA PASEO CONGRESO
Hipólito Yrigoyen y Virrey Cevallos. Congreso.
¦ Saturdays, Sundays and holidays, 11 - 21 hs.
FERIA PASEO ALBERDI
Av. Lisandro de la Torre y Av. Directorio. Mataderos.
¦ Saturdays, Sundays and holidays, 11 - 21 hs.
FERIA PASEO PALERMO VIEJO
Malabia y Costa Rica. Palermo
¦ Saturdays, Sundays and holidays, 11 - 21 hs.
FERIA PASEO AVELLANEDA
Av. Directorio y Lacarra. Parque Avellaneda
¦ Saturdays, Sundays and holidays, 11 - 21 hs.
FERIA PASEO PARQUE PATRICIOS
Av. Caseros y Almafuerte. Parque Patricios
¦ Saturdays, Sundays and holidays, 11 - 21 hs.
FERIA PASEO SAAVEDRA
García del Río y Roque Pérez. Saavedra
¦ Saturdays, Sundays and holidays, 11 - 21 hs.
FERIA PASEO HUMBERTO I
Humberto I y Defensa. San Telmo
¦ Saturdays, Sundays and holidays, 11 - 21 hs.
FERIA DE DISEÑO
Dorrego y Zapiola. Palermo. 4773-1438.
¦ Saturdays and Sundays, 16 - 22 hs.
FERIA DE LA BAULERA
Defensa 628.Montserrat. 4325-4020.
¦ Saturdays and Sundays, 10 - 20 hs
FERIA PARQUE RIVADAVIA
Av. Rivadavia 4900. Parque Rivadavia
¦ Everyday, 10 - 19 hs.
FERIA DE ARTE DE PALERMO VIEJO
Jorge Luis Borges y Honduras. Plaza Julio Cortázar
¦ Saturdays and Sundays, 10 - 19 hs.