La Noche De La Nostalgia is easily the biggest night out of the year in Uruguay… Even bigger than Christmas or New Year’s Eve!
What is La Noche De La Nostalgia you ask? Celebrated the 24th of every August, it might as well be a national holiday. In 1978, owners of a local radio station came up with the idea to celebrate the night before Uruguay’s Independence Day, August 25.
They organized a dance party featuring old-time pop hits from the 50s, 60s and 70s (hits from the 80s and 90s are incorporated today). Why “oldies?” To help everyone remember all time musical classics… hence the name La Noche De La Nostalgia. Local radio stations feature these classic pop songs starting at the beginning of the month all the way up until the night of the big celebration.
Today, everyone around the country takes part in the celebration… young, old, city people and country folk alike all turn out for La Noche De La Nostalgia. It’s not unusual to see whole families out together to celebrate. Whether it’s at one of the huge open-bar tent parties around Montevideo, or at a house party hosted by friends or family, just about everyone gets in on the celebration.
It’s the perfect night for such a celebration… with the 25th of August being a National Holiday; everyone has the day off work and can sleep in to recover from their long night of celebrating.
We’ll be having a few friends over for a celebration of our own… home cooked Mexican food. Yum. I guess that’s our way of conjuring of a bit of nostalgia for San Diego.
I’m sure the guys will go out for a few drinks afterward… not sure where yet since we’ve read that everywhere sells out. I’m sure they’ll find somewhere to join in on the celebration. Next year I’ll get to celebrate La Noche De La Nostalgia in true Uruguayan style as well (unfortunately it’s a just a little bit too much excitement for this pregnant woman this year).
But, for those of you do want to go out and celebrate, here are a few of the biggest parties to check out (if they aren’t already sold out!):
La auténtica Noche de la Nostalgia de Oceano y Zum-Zum
Address: Hipódromo Nacional de Maroñas (Montevideo Comm)
Cost: entry + drinks UY$ 1100 (inc vat.) per couple (single tickets will be sold at the door if remaining)
Reíte de la nostalgia (Laugh at Nostalgia)
This is an “anti-nostalgia” party running for its fifth year
Location: Centro, Rondeau and Colonia / ex-Plaza
Additional information: www.fotolog.com/reidelanostalgia
Rock to the Future
Location: SONIC, Buenos Aires 584
Cost: UY$ 150
Noche de los recuerdos (Night of Memories)
Location: Carrasco Polo Club (Servando Gomez and Camino Carrasco)
Cost: UY$ 400
More events can be found by clicking here.
There are also a couple of other Uruguay blogs that have written about La Noche De La Nostalgia that you may want to check out: