Running with the Bulls, New Orlean's Style

Bob and I went to New Orleans this weekend to attend the 10^th annual San Fermin en Nueva Orleans Festival, aka the Running of the Bulls, which coincided with the event by the same name in Pamplona, Spain.

The festivities began Thursday evening with a Spanish Wine Dinner at the stately Bourbon Orleans Hotel . . . 

 . . . and was hosted by “Governor Bernardo Galvez,” a Spanish military leader and governor of colonial Louisiana from 1785-1786.

In addition to fabulous Spanish food and wines, we were entertained by the talented guitarist Daniele Spadavecchia.

There are various pre-parties and post parties associated with the festival, but the REAL party – the Running of the Bulls -- takes place early Saturday morning. Bob and I woke up at 6:00 a.m. and walked from Hotel Le Marais to the event site, The Sugar Mill, across from the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center. The party had already started.

In true quirky New Orleans style, the "bulls" are roller derby girls (especially New Orleans' own Big Easy Roller Girls) from around the country who rollerblade after the "runners" and bop the runners' butts with big plastic or foam baseball bats. At 8:00 a.m. sharp, thousands of runners took off, pursued by over 300 roller girl bulls. “Running” is a misconception. Truly it’s more like an easy stroll.

Look out!

The runners dress in traditional white pants and shirt with a red sash and bandanna. But the bull costumes steal the show. I love their creativity!

Hard to tell but it's a red dinosaur head.

An alien?

After the one mile course (hey, it’s New Orleans in July and it’s hot out there!) the party begins in earnest with more food, drinks, music, mechanical bull rides, a dunk tank, an Ernest Hemingway look-a-like contest, and more.

This event is a fundraiser for Beth's Friends Forever (a cancer victim fund) and Animal Rescue of New Orleans. Special thanks to the New Orleans Hotel Collection for being a San Fermin sponsor and hosting the Spanish Wine Dinner!