National Pehuén Festival: Aluminé celebrates its sacred tree

Every Easter week, when the pehuén trees drop their pine nuts, Aluminé celebrates the tree that gives it its identity. The National Pehuén Festival has been held since 1988 and brings together the Mapuche communities of the area with locals and visitors: the planting of a pehuén, a parade, rodeo, a fair and big night-time shows, on the banks of the Aluminé River with the poplars already golden.

The sacred tree and its fruit

Pehuén, the Mapuche name for the monkey puzzle tree (araucaria), is everywhere in Aluminé and in the anthem of Neuquén province. Its fruit, the piñón, was the staple food of the Mapuche people, and the tree is sacred to the communities. Gathering piñones is still an ancestral practice: they are picked up from the ground, respecting the forest, and were once bartered for flour, yerba mate and oil. The festival coincides with that harvest.

If you plan to gather piñones, there are rules: in 2026 the season in Neuquén ran from March 7 to April 20, only from the ground, with no tools that harm the tree and a limit of 30 kilos per person for local residents.

What to see and do

• The planting of a pehuén opens the festival, with the tayil (a sacred Mapuche chant) performed by the communities, organized by the Consejo Zonal Pewence and the Municipality.
• Civic, military and gaucho parade in front of the Municipality: more than 200 riders took part in 2026.
• Gaucho skills at the Julián Parra grounds: horse taming, rodeo riding (grupa surera and bastos con encimera) and barrel racing.
• Crafts and local producers’ fair, with food, local craft beer and products made with piñones.
• Night shows by national and regional artists: in 2023 La Konga closed the festival and Turf and Nahuel Pennisi played; in 2026, Campedrinos, Rodrigo Tapari and Maggie Cullen, among others.

When it takes place

It is held over the Easter long weekend, which falls in late March or in April depending on the year. In 2026 it ran from April 3 to 5, with the main stage at the Municipal Sports Center. In 2022 and 2023 admission was free. The program of each edition is announced by the Municipality of Aluminé.

Aluminé fills up: in 2023 the last night drew more than 12,000 people, and in 2023 and 2026 occupancy reached 100%. Book well ahead. See accommodation in Aluminé.

Make the most of the trip

Autumn is a great time for rafting on the Aluminé River, which runs calmer at that time of year: the Upper Aluminé section starts at Lonco Luan and the Abra Ancha section is more family-friendly. Nearby are the Ruca Choroy circuit, with lagoons surrounded by pehuén trees, and Villa Pehuenia.

Getting there

Aluminé lies on provincial route 23, about 110 km north of Junín de los Andes and about 60 km south of Villa Pehuenia. From the city of Neuquén it is about 330 km via route 22 to Zapala and then routes 46 and 23. Route 23 has gravel sections and roadworks: check its condition before you travel.