Cerrillos: Festivals, History and Cycling

If you’re looking for hotels in Cerrillos, it helps to consider the themes that shape the town: cycling, religious traditions and historic sites. Some festivals return every year, while the competitions described here refer to specific editions. If you’re planning your trip around an event, check its date.

Cycling and festival dates

A cycling event is held every year in Cerrillos, including the Pre Desafío a los Cerrillos (PREDALC). At the seventh edition of the Desafío de los Cerrillos mountain bike competition, more than 250 cyclists from across the country took part at the INTA grounds. In June 2026, the Corona Bike Crew organized a dirt jump and pump track competition at Corona Bike Park, with support from the municipal government. Mountain biking, dirt jumping and pump track therefore represent different aspects of cycling in Cerrillos.

The Fiesta Patronal also provides a fixed date for travel planning: it begins on March 19 with a procession. Event schedules may change. If a particular festival or competition is essential to your trip, check the dates before booking.

History and local traditions

The “Pacto De Los Cerrillos” square commemorates a historic event from 1816 involving Generals Güemes and Rondeau. The Parroquia San José preserves images from the former church, which had collapsed. The new building dates from the 1980s and is designed in the postmodern style. These two places reflect different historical connections: the memory of a 19th-century event and the story of a church rebuilt.

On Día de Todos los Santos y Fieles Difuntos, families set up an offering table in the local cemetery in Cerrillos and bring photographs of deceased relatives. This tradition connects the observance with families’ personal remembrance. The poets Marcos Tames and Manuel J. Castilla are also part of the cultural connection to San José de los Cerrillos; the town is associated with both.

The “Manuel J. Castilla” railway station is part of the area’s railway history. It was an important railway junction served by the Ramal C13, which is currently out of service. The station thus points to an earlier role in rail transport, while the current status of the Ramal C13 should be distinguished from that history.

Cerro San José

The grotto on Cerro San José, a few kilometers from Cerrillos, houses an image of the saint. The hill can be reached on foot or on horseback. The Fiesta Patronal includes a torchlight procession in which the image of the patron saint is carried to the summit. The hill and the religious tradition are therefore connected both to a specific place and to the festival itself. If you’re planning to visit Cerro San José, check local conditions before setting out.

More places and festivals in Cerrillos Department

The wider Cerrillos Department is home to additional religious sites and festival traditions. The Santuario del Cristo de Sumalao houses the Cristo de Sumalao, an oil painting from the 16th century. A historical account of the festivities in its honor describes seven Fridays beginning at Easter. The novena began on the last Friday; the main celebration, with a procession of the image, took place the following Sunday. The historical celebration also included a traditional market with numerous stalls run by local traders, offering typical and regional products.

La Merced is also in Cerrillos Department. On September 24, a festival in honor of the Virgen de la Merced is celebrated there with a large procession and a gaucho parade. These regional examples complement the places and traditions of Cerrillos with a look at other religious festivals in the wider destination.

For the broader travel overview: Cerrillos Department.