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Since 1991, The Gardens Festival is celebrated in Villa La Angostura thanks to the Local Government’s initiative and the contribution of some neighbours. It takes place at the end of February and it has been declared of Local Government Interest.
In 1997 it was declared a Provincial Festival (2.713 decree) and the 9th celebration takes place as a Provincial Festival this year, while it would be the 16th celebration as a Local one.
Its main goal is to encourage the urban beautification of the town by the care of gardens: private house’s gardens, shops’, hotels’, cabins’ and any other institutions’ gardens. For that purpose, an evaluating commission is formed every year which goes around all the neighbourhoods in the town to select the best gardens.
This is undoubtedly a tourist attraction since it takes place during the winter season and the activities which are offered give the visitors a different alternative activity.
This festival has an important popular repercussion since all the community participates in the different events of the celebration. In order to achieve the goals already mentioned, an organizing commission is formed by the Local Government Secretary, Cultural Division, Tourism Secretary, Press Division, Ceremony and Protocol Division and the Public Works and Services Secretary as well as the contribution of private enterprises which untiringly and uninterestingly collaborate every year.
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GARDEN COMPETITION: this is the main motivator of the festival. Various evaluating commissions are formed to go around all the neighbourhoods in the town to honour the best gardens of houses, shops and institutions. The prizes given, depending on the case, are the exemption from services taxes, plants and/or plaques.
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CARRIAGE PARADE: On Saturday afternoon, the traditional Carriage Parade takes places along Nahuel Huapi Avenue. Neighbourhoods, institutions and intermediate associations have the opportunity to actively participate by showing their carriage, their floral arrangements masquerades, children on bikes, on horses, etc.
Money prizes are given. The Army Music Company of San Carlos de Bariloche joins this parade while the prizes are being given to the best gardens.
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ART SHOWS: On the main stage, set up in the Pioneros Square, different representatives of popular music offer their show the night of the celebrations. Classical music has its place on Friday night, with the performance of soloists, chamber orchestras and choirs. These quality shows which represent the town artistically have been a valuable asset to the regional and local cultural life.
MARKET STANDS: The Pioneros Square becomes an exhibition and market fair where all the companies, craftsmen and regional and local manufacturers exhibit and sell their products during four days. This makes it possible to collect some money to finance part of the Festival. It is a real attraction where there are also gastronomic facilities, and where approximately 10,000 people go around during the event, number which will increase notably due to the population growth and the potential tourist industry of the town.
EXHIBITIONS: in “Casa de la Cultura” (Cultural House) there are exhibitions of photographs, paintings, sculptures, Neuquen handicrafts, etc. Artists from the town and region have the chance to show their production to the tourists and the local people in these exhibitions. There are also exhibitions of dried flowers, floral arrangements, indoor plants, etc.
TALKS AND CONFERENCES: they take place in “Casa de la Cultura” (Cultural House) and are about gardening and horticulture. They offer a time for sharing knowledge, techniques, methods and treatments related to the growth and care of plants.
The purpose of these talks and conferences is to instruct the people of the town about the growth of plants and flowers.
The scheduled activities create great expectation in the community that looks forward to the “Gardens Festival” every year.
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