Catamarca's Fiesta del Poncho draws thousands with music, food and security alerts

The 55th Fiesta Nacional e Internacional del Poncho in Catamarca, Argentina, attracted tens of thousands of visitors across multiple days. Major performances included El Polaco, Los Tekis, Los Nocheros, Nadia Larcher, Abel, Los Herrera and other regional artists, with the sunset concert alone drawing about 20,000 people.

Organizers provided municipal services such as on‑site driver‑license re‑issuance and a live‑streaming channel for youth. The gastronomic program featured traditional ranchos serving locro, tamales and cabrito alongside a modern area of 25 food trucks and several cafés, catering to families and younger crowds.

Police reported eight interventions during the opening, resulting in five arrests for alleged crimes and three for minor infractions, prompting debate over security measures at large provincial events. The festival also hosted a “Day of Friend” celebration with additional concerts and a lottery for a new car.