Quince, sweet potato, or dulce de leche? When it comes to pastafrola, they’re all welcome, and having to choose just one is cruel. That’s why, in this town just 145 km from Buenos Aires, they’re celebrating the Pastafrola Festival—so you can try all the varieties and not miss a single one. Admission is free!
2026 Provincial Pastafrola Festival: Everything You Need to Know About This Festival in Capitán Sarmiento
Get your mate and thermos ready because on September 19 and 20, the small rural town of La Luisa, in Capitán Sarmiento, will become the capital of sweet tooths with the 11th edition of the Provincial Pastafrola Festival. If you’ve never been, La Luisa is a town rich in history and natural beauty that, once a year, also serves as the epicenter of the contest for the best pastafrola. Try the best freshly baked slices of this gem of Argentine pastry.
La Luisa: The Story of a Town Frozen in Time
Before we talk about the festival, let’s talk about the setting. La Luisa is one of those rural towns in Buenos Aires that forces you to slow down. It belongs to the Capitán Sarmiento district and is located 145 km from CABA. Just over 250 people live in this Buenos Aires town, which features tree-lined streets and architecture that blends colonial and industrial eras.
Like many other rural towns, La Luisa’s history is tied to the railroad. The town grew up around the station in the late 19th century, and in 1920, it adopted its final name in honor of María Luisa Saavedra Zelaya de Carreras, the landowner.
The Provincial Pastafrola Festival: What You Can Do Besides Eating and Competing for the Best Pastafrola
The Pastafrola Festival in La Luisa offers free admission and is centered around the Best Pastafrola Contest. Cooks and pastry chefs compete for the top prize, and an expert panel of judges evaluates the dough, the perfect level of doneness, and, of course, the generosity and flavor of the filling (quince paste, sweet potato, or dulce de leche—all are acceptable).
Beyond the sweets, you’ll be able to enjoy traditional Creole cuisine, grilled meats, and quick bites at the various stands—and come mate time, of course, you’ll get to savor slices of freshly baked pastafrola.
You can also spend the day browsing the stalls to check out leather, wood, and textile crafts, and don’t miss the live music shows, local bands, and dance troupes and folk performances that set the rhythm for the weekend.
How to get to La Luisa from Buenos Aires
Getting to this pastafrola paradise is easy.
By car from Buenos Aires, it’ll take you a little less than two hours (it’s about 160 kilometers). The route is very straightforward: take the Pan-American Highway, continue on the Pilar Branch, and merge onto National Route 8. You’ll pass the main entrance to the city of Capitán Sarmiento, and a little further on, look for the signposted turnoff on the right that takes you straight into the town.
Hop in the car, pack your mate gear, and get ready to enjoy a weekend full of flavor and tradition in La Luisa. See you there!
📍 La Luisa, Capitán Sarmiento district (Province of Buenos Aires). Access via National Route 8.
📅 September19 and 20, 2026.
🎟️ Admission: Free.
⚠️ Please note: In case of bad weather, the event will be postponed to the weekend of September 26 and 27.
