Get Out!: Día de Muertos, Korean pop, and burgers with a side of basketball

Well, now it looks like springtime is finally (finally!) here, but let’s not spook it away, being Halloween and all. Let’s just hope the temperature holds, as we get a piece of Korean culture taking over Chacarita while the Buenos Aires burger scene heads to the basketball court for a showdown with Mendoza. 

This week’s agenda also brings vintage treasures to Caballito, mezcal cocktails and Día de Muertos celebrations to Mixtape, and contemporary art to an inhabited building. Book lovers can browse rare editions at Palacio Libertad, while music fans have plenty to choose from, including Fishbone’s genre-bending rock, Lisa María’s debut album and a night of electronic rock at ArtHaus. 

Whether you’re chasing a dance floor, a good drink or an unusual cultural outing, the Herald’s got you covered. 

Halloween scares at Usina del Arte Oct. 31, 2 to 7 p.m. (workshop); 4 p.m. (show); 8 p.m. (concert)
Usina del Arte (Agustín R. Caffarena 1)
Free admission; reserve tickets at usinadelarte.ar

Usina del Arte is getting into the Halloween spirit with an afternoon of spooky crafts, puppet theater and a symphonic tribute to horror cinema. From 2 to 7 p.m., children can make ghost and pumpkin masks at the Halloween en la Usina visual arts workshop. At 4 p.m., Mundo Arlequín takes over the auditorium with Un show de terror, mixing puppets, live music, games and comedy. 

The evening ends at 8 p.m. with Terror Sinfónico, performed by La Orquesta del Multiverso under Clara Ackermann, with Chacho Garabal as general director. Expect iconic scores from “Psycho˝, “The Exorcist” and “Halloween” in a live celebration of cinematic chills.

AL HUESO: Art beyond the white cube Oct. 30–Nov. 1, various hour slots
AL HUESO (Humboldt 1271, Chacarita)
Tickets available online

Forget the white walls and neatly arranged stands: AL HUESO is taking over an inhabited building in Chacarita for three days of art that spills out of galleries and into everyday life. Organized by TACHA, the fair brings together 28 projects across a 1,100-square-meter space, with a packed program of performances, live music, poetry, book presentations, talks and audiovisual screenings.

Friday’s opening features an edible-art banquet by ecofeminist collective VIBRAMUJER, followed by a book presentation and Proyecto Siberia, a live improvisation blending poetry, electronic music and dance. Saturday brings an open-mic poetry session, a ceramic and 3D-printing demonstration, conversations about contemporary art and live projection mapping. On Sunday, visitors can join a participatory hopscotch tournament, explore experimental publishing and catch a musical performance inspired by Charly García.

An audiovisual shorts program runs throughout the weekend, while installations and activities unfold across the building’s different rooms. Expect less of a conventional art fair and more of an invitation to get involved.

“The Exorcist” in 35 mm Oct. 31, 9 p.m.
Cine York (Juan Bautista Alberdi 895)
Free admission; first come, first served. Limited capacity.

Few horror films have left a mark like William Friedkin’s “The Exorcist” (1973). The director’s supernatural nightmare follows a 12-year-old girl whose disturbing behavior leads a priest to attempt an exorcism. 

Screening in 35 mm, the 122-minute classic still unsettles audiences with its almost documentary-like realism, turning an ordinary family home into the setting for something unthinkable. More than five decades after its release, its power lies in making the impossible feel terrifyingly real.

Hanguk Fest brings Korean culture to Chacarita November 1, noon–7 p.m.
Parque Los Andes (Av. Corrientes and Jorge Newbery)
Admission: Free

Rescheduled from last week, Hanguk Fest invites Buenos Aires to keep celebrating Korean culture. The free festival will feature more than 50 stands offering traditional food, K-beauty products and merchandise, alongside music, dance and family-friendly activities. Part of Tecweek 2026, the festival celebrates the Hallyu, or Korean wave, that has brought the country’s music, food, fashion and entertainment to audiences worldwide.

Food options start at AR$10,000, while beauty brands KoraSkinLab and Skinko will showcase Korean cosmetics. Influencer Filum will discuss hanbok, Korea’s traditional clothing, and creator Luisina Delulu will share tips for discovering K-dramas. 

The main stage will host K-pop competitions, choreography classes, DJ sets and a BTS tribute by Korem and Mati Pergolini. Traditional performances include Korean dance and percussion, Yoon Company Danza Coreana and Nuripae Samulnori. Visitors can also try Korean calligraphy, brush lettering and traditional knot-making. 

Antique Book Fair Oct. 28 to Nov. 1, 2 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Palacio Libertad (Sarmiento 151)
Free admission

Some books are meant to be read, others to be hunted down. The 19th Buenos Aires Antique Book Fair invites bibliophiles, curious readers and collectors to browse centuries of printed history. This year’s theme celebrates Argentine literary avant-garde movements, marking 100 years since the publication of landmark novels “Don Segundo Sombra” and “El juguete rabioso.”

Alongside rare books, special editions, engravings, maps and vintage posters, visitors can explore the Espacio Taller, where bookbinders, illustrators, printers and craftspeople demonstrate their trades.

Gastro Japo Food Week + Yatai Fest Oct. 28–Nov. 8
Japanese restaurants across Argentina

“Tabemashou,” or “let’s eat,” is the invitation behind the eighth edition of Gastro Japo Food Week, a nationwide celebration of Japanese cuisine organized by Club Gastro Japo. Participating restaurants and food businesses will serve special menus and offer promotions, giving diners a chance to discover new spots or revisit old favorites. Unlike a food fair confined to one location, this event unfolds across restaurants in different cities and provinces. Find participants on the interactive map.

Vintage finds and vinyl grooves in Caballito Oct. 31, 4:30–7:30 p.m.

Galpón Caballito (Av. Avellaneda 1359)
Free admission

Thrift hunters, take note: @flako.thrift is bringing a vintage clothing pop-up to Galpón Caballito, with secondhand finds from Polo, Dickies, Carhartt, Levi’s, Tommy Hilfiger and more. 

The afternoon will feature a DJ set by @sant.da.man, vinyl sales by BB Discos and Monoestéreo Discos, and coffee and treats from Café Galpón. Drop by to browse, dig through records and grab a coffee without spending a peso on admission.

ArtHaus’ Séptimo dancing night Nov. 4, 11.30 p.m.
ArtHaus (Aguirre 1410)
Tickets and details online

ArtHaus’s phone-free music series Séptimo returns for its third edition with Varese, the duo bringing an electronic-rock soundtrack to the venue for an 80-minute show. This time, the audience gets to call the shots: fans can vote for the songs they want to hear through Varese’s website, shaping a one-off setlist for the night. 

Phones must be stored in sealed bags during the performance, keeping the focus on the music and the shared experience.

CôChinChina’s Miércoles Salvaje Nov. 4, from 9 p.m.
CôChinChina (Armenia 1540)

Midweek calls for a good drink, and Miércoles Salvaje is ready to deliver. The traveling cocktail club, founded in 2019 by bartenders Diego Zelaya and Luis Ferrer, returns to CôChinChina for an evening of cocktails, music and bar-side mingling. 

Zelaya brings more than 15 years of experience in mixology, while Ferrer is known for his creative approach to bartending and his work across Argentina’s food and drink scene. The itinerant project gives Wednesdays a livelier twist, bringing its relaxed, celebratory spirit to different venues around town.

Día de Muertos & Mezcal at Mixtape Listening Bar Oct. 29, from 4 p.m.
Mixtape Listening Bar (Franklin D. Roosevelt 180)
Masterclass: free admission with RSVP

Mixtape Listening Bar and Pájaro Agave Spirits are teaming up for a Mexican-inspired double bill centered on mezcal. At 4 p.m., Pájaro Agave founder Beatriz Maida and agave-spirits specialist Pablo Pignatta will lead a masterclass exploring mezcal-making, its traditions and its uses in cocktails. From 9 p.m., the bar will celebrate Día de Muertos with agave-based cocktails, a special taco menu and DJ Maguisound spinning sonidera cumbia exclusively on vinyl.

Admission is free, but advance registration is required and spots are limited. 

POP UPS Wood-fired pizza and coffee for Nómada’s fifth birthday October 31, noon–8 p.m.
Nómada (Av. Jorge Newbery 3719,)

Eléctrica Pizza joins specialty coffee shop Nómada to celebrate its fifth anniversary with a pop-up devoted to wood-fired pies. The menu features five varieties, including Argenta with mozzarella, tomato sauce and green olives; Magic Mushroom with portobello and pine mushrooms and truffle oil; and 4 Fantásticos, loaded with four cheeses and citrus syrup. 

Nómada will also serve specialty coffee, pastries, cakes, wine and vermouth. The celebration includes an open studio by VK. HOME and a vinyl DJ set by Juan Innato.

Burger battles and a one-on-one showdown Oct. 31, 4 p.m.
Williamsburg (Av. del Libertador 3883, Paseo de la Infanta)
Tournament registration: AR$20,000

Who makes the better burger: Buenos Aires or Mendoza? On Saturday, Williamsburg and Mendoza-based Burgang will settle the score with a culinary showdown and a one-on-one basketball match at La Jaula de Clutch. The menu pits Williamsburg’s signature Dylan, featuring blue cheese, caramelized onion and arugula emulsion, against Burgang’s Golden Boy, a Burgerpalusa 2023 winner topped with bacon, buttered onion, smoked pepper sauce and a crispy hash brown. Both will be available in a special combo. 

Meanwhile, players representing each city will battle on the court, with an open call for participants. Registration includes a cheeseburger, fries and a soft drink. Prizes include a custom silver ring and AR$1 million. The event will be postponed in case of rain.

MUSIC Diego Frenkel October 29, 8 p.m.
La Fábrica (Fitz Roy)
Admission: AR$60,000

Frontman of iconic Nineties band La Portuaria, Frenkel will showcase old hits with songs from his solo career and also covers of artists that influenced his music. He named the show “A través de otras canciones” (Through songs).

Nina, Burt & George November 1, 9:30 p.m.
Bebop Club (Uriarte 1658)
Admission: AR$15,000

Sultry soul singer Nina Portela takes on the songbooks of Burt Bacharach and George Gershwin, performing their sophisticated pop classics. She will be joined by Guille Raíces on piano, Andrés Dulcet on bass and Chino Piazza on drums.

Fishbone October 30, 9 p.m.
La Trastienda (Balcarce 460)
Admission: AR$65,000-100,000

Legendary alt-rock American band Fishbone returns to Buenos Aires with its explosive mixture of ska, punk, funk, metal, reggae and funk. Led by original singer Angelo Moore, their energetic shows have influenced many rock bands of the last decades.

Lisa María October 30, 9 p.m.
Artlab (Roseti 93)
Admission: AR$20,000

Gustavo Cerati’s daughter presents her first album amid rave reviews and great expectations. Her music is a sophisticated fusion of pop atmospheres, minimalism and sultry textures.

Andrés Calamaro October 30, 9 p.m.
Movistar Arena (Humboldt 450)
Admission: AR$45,000

This new concert by Argentine rock icon Calamaro marks his tenth show of the year at the arena with a capacity of 15,000 people. His “Como cantor” setlist presents nonstop hits from his four decades of career.