Every year, thousands of tourists and residents come to the small city of San Juan to celebrate the end of winter. Here is the largest event, looking like Maslenitsa in Russia or Carnival in Brazil at the same time. This is how we can describe the National Day of the Sun - the annual holiday of the inhabitants of Argentina.

Its opening always starts with a gastronomic fair. Every year, the local city authorities choose a new venue for it. For example, these were Plaza de España, Parque de Mayo de San Juan, and even the former General Manuel Belgrano Railway. For three days, agricultural and industrial enterprises show their products at exhibition stands. And at night, you can see music concerts at the equipped stage. Local and international artists perform there.  

At the end of the fair, the main part of the festival starts. It is an incredibly colorful parade, named the “The Carousel of the Sun”. These days, all the squares and streets of the city are decorated with flowers, and cheerful sounds are heard everywhere. Representatives of all provinces take part in the parade. Huge ornate carriages with heroes of myths and legends slowly move along the main streets. In the center of every carriage, one of the beauty contest’s participants is sitting. Every year, beautiful girls represent their provinces, while judges choose the National Queen of the Sun. The following year, the crowned beauty will represent her region at all local and national holidays, as well as attend various tourist events. The parade is led by a carriage in the shape of the Sun. There, you can see the Queen of the outgoing year who greets the locals. All the other girls follow her. The last carriage always has the shape of the Moon, symbolizing the end of the parade.

The National Day of the Sun ends with an impressive laser show and a big concert on the largest stage of the city. More than 300 artists from all Argentina sing their hits. And after that, everyone sees a fantastic firework. As a rule, it lasts about an hour and is accompanied by traditional music.