The Pamplona Festival
The Pamplona Festival
Running with the Bulls
– also known as the San Fermin Festival or Sanfermines– is held in Pamplona, Spain every year from July 5-14. The most famous part of the festival is the bull run or encierro when 12 bulls charge through the streets of the old city. Although the festival begins on July 6, the bulls do not run until July 7 and then run for 7 consecutive mornings at 8 a.m. until the end of the festival. Anyone over the age of 18 can run with the bulls and there is no charge to participate.
The Festival in Numbers
- 1 million people attend the festival every year
- Pamplona has just 2400 hotel beds
- Festival runs every year July 6-14
- 15 bulls run every morning July 7-14
- On peak days (like July 7 & 8 or on weekends) 3500 people run with the bulls
- Pamplona has a population of 300,000
Pamplona Festival History
Pamplona Festival
Pamplona’s first festivals were held in the 12th century. They were essentially livestock shows with the occasional bullfight. For almost 300 years the festival was held in autumn until the city changed the date to July. The festival is held to honor of San Fermin, Pamplona’s patron saint.
Religion has taken second seat to the bull runs but Spanish bull runners still pay homage to San Fermin’s statue before the run and there was a famous procession bearing the statue from city hall to a local chapel.
For more info visit the official homepage :Running of the Bulls
