Spanish Bull Running Festival Cancelled in Pamplona

The Spanish San Fermin Bull Running Festival that is held every July for 8 days from the 7th to the 14th has been cancelled for the first time since the 1930s and the Spanish Civil War on account of the European Peninsular country’s high COVID-19 infection rates.

The San Fermin Festival is an annual tradition to honour the Spanish Saint Fermin which is held in the city of Pamplona and includes trade fairs, bullfights, and most importantly, the 903-yard-long bull running that is started off by the sound of a firecracker.

Almost 20,000 participants known as the ‘mozos’ drench themselves in Sangria and run with 6 bulls and 6 steers from the market to the bull ring while getting egged on by the millions of visitors and on-lookers. At the end of the run, professionals take over for the bullfighting, a tradition that is rather looked down upon by the country’s animal rights activists even though the festival and bullfights themselves are protected under Spain’s constitution due to its heritage.

Pamplona and Old Town, where the festival is held, is known for its tourist attraction, but due to the fight against the virus, only a limited number of people are allowed into the area to keep restaurants running since this industry makes up about one-fifth of the yearly revenue in those 8 days.

To keep tourists and locals alike to from back next year for San Fermin, a massive sign saying ‘#WeWillExperienceThem’ hangs from the front of City Hall.

Have you ever experienced the festival? What’s your favorite part? Let us know in the comments and let us share your story on our Instagram with the world!