Every weekend of February 2013, from Saturday 2nd, the “Carnaval Porteño 2013” (Buenos Aires Carnival) will take place at different neighborhoods, with the participation of 17 thousand artists, 112 "murgas" (carnival bands), and over one thousand drums and percussion instruments.

The parades will be held from 7 PM to 12 AM on Saturdays, Sundays and Carnival Holidays (Monday 11th and Tuesday 12th).

Murgas and carnival are the artistic expressions of the marginal neighborhoods, their songs and urban folk customs. The lyrics of these songs are called "criticas", and combine the social denunciation with humor and dancing. What identifies the "murga porteña" from others are their costumes (frock coat, gloves, top hat, and stick), the drums with cymbals, and the various traditional rhythms used to differentiate every neighborhood.

Where to watch the parades:

All the events are free of charge.

The government of the City of Buenos Aires presents a program of cultural activities that starts next Saturday, January 12th, 2013, and will last until Sunday, February 24th, consisting on over 100 free events, including: musical shows, drive-in movies, theater plays, activities for children, circus, performances open air "milongas", and numerous musical events, every day during January and February 2013.

There are many options for kids: on Fridays and Saturdays at 8:30 pm, open air movie projections at the Amphitheater of Parque Centenario, with animation movies from independent directors; circus shows at Polo Circo; and special activities on Saturdays and Sundays at Feria de Mataderos.

The drive-in movie theater for adults will be set up at the Rose Garden, on Av Libertador & Sarmiento, every Saturday and Sunday at 9:00 PM. There will also be stalls for spectators without a car. The first showing will be the Argentine movie "La Suerte en tus manos", directed by Daniel Burman, on Saturday 12th, followed by “Infancia Clandestina”, “The Avengers”, “Querida voy a comprar cigarrillos y vuelvo”, “REC3”, “Masterplan”, “El último Elvis” and “Elefante Blanco”.

On weekends, open air milongas at Usina del Arte, Pedro de Mendoza 501 (La Boca), on Saturdays and Sundays, starting at 5:30pm, from January 26th to February 3rd, with artists like Alberto Podestá, Maria Graña, Orquesta de Horacio Salgán, among others, and tango lessons and exhibitions.

Ballet shows will be presented at the Amphitheater of Parque Centenario (Av. Angel Gallardo & Leopoldo Marechal): January 22, 23 y 24: Condición aérea. And February 21 and 22: Las 8 estaciones - Ballet of Teatro General San Martín

At the stage of Costanera Sur (Puerto Madero) Folklore shows with Chango Spasiuk, Luis Salinas, and Los Nocheros, on February 1, 2, and 3, at 8:30pm.

And two big open air shows at the Obelisco, Av. 9 de Julio & Corrientes:

January 19, 8:00 pm: Argentinian popular singer Palito Ortega presents “Por los caminos del rey”

January 20, 8:00 pm: The great tango dancer Mora Godoy presents: “Amor Tango”

All the activities are free of charge.

To see complete schedule of activities visit Verano en la Ciudad website (in Spanish only).

The third edition of the Festival Shakespeare Buenos Aires, organized by the Ministry of Culture of Buenos Aires, will take place from Friday 8 to Saturday 18 of February, 2013. During those days the public will be able to enjoy various performances and free activities which honor the great William Shakespeare, with the aim of disseminating the author's classics and expand the cultural and tourist offer in the city of Buenos Aires.

Programming includes theatrical productions, workshops and special activities, all free of charge. The Festival will open on Friday 8 at 7 PM, at Teatro Shakespeare (located in Puerto Madero-Costanera Sur), with the stage production "Ser o no ser" (To be or not to be) by the Spanish company El Gato Negro.

The workshops and master classes ("The Classroom") will provide professionals, students or Shakespeare enthusiasts with a space to research and deepen their knowledge of his works. There will be three opportunities to meet Richard Twyman, an experimented Royal Shakespeare Company (RSC) and National Theatre director: the workshop "Shakespeare Interpretation for actors" at Centro Cultural Recoleta; an open talk at Teatro Shakespeare; and a master class together with Laura Silva and Patricio Orozco.

All the activities and shows of the Festival are free and do not require tickets. Admission to the shows is on a first-come, first-served basis and subject to venue capacity.

All workshops require advance registration through the Festival´s website and are aimed at actors and acting students. The Shakespearean walks and bike rides also require advance registration as the number of participants is limited.

Coinciding with Valentine's Day, a special screening of the film Romeo and Juliet will be presented on Thursday 14 at the amphitheater of Parque Centenario.

Venues:

Amphitheater Parque Centenario: Av Angel Gallardo and Leopoldo Marechal, entry on Lillo (Caballito)

Centro Cultural Recoleta: Junín 1930 (Recoleta)

Museo del Humor, Av de los Italianos 851 (Puerto Madero)

Shakesperare Theater, Av de los Italianos 751 (Puerto Madero)

For more information, day by day program, and registrations visit Festival Shakespeare Buenos Aires official website

The Chinese New Year 4711 will be celebrated at the Chinese Quarter and Barrancas de Belgrano. On this occasion, to mark the start of the Year of the Snake, a special two-day celebration will be held, on Saturday, February 9, 2013, from 2pm to 12am, and Sunday, February 10, 2013, from 10am to 8pm.

This is the most important celebration in the Chinese culture. More than 100 food and cultural stands distributed along Barrancas de Belgrano and the streets Arribeños and Mendoza will provide a festive, attractive and memorable environment for visitors. 

The main stage, with large screens, lights and sound will be located in Las Barrancas de Belgrano, Plaza de la Glorieta (Sucre & 11 de Septiembre). The mega event will feature the traditional Dragon Dance and Lion Dance, inaugurating this year the "Snake Corridor"; Oriental martial arts; traditional Mulan dances; Tea Ceremony; Chinese calligraphy exhibition; Origami; as well as Tango Shows with live orchestra; choirs of young Argentine singers who will sing Chinese songs and Chinese artists who will sing traditional and modern themes; 2 Korean and Japanese percussion (taiko) groups; Chinese horoscope.