For the first time, a national organization is bringing a little bit of Pamplona, Spain to Dade City with The Great Bull Run.
The vent will find a home at Little Everglades Ranch, 17951 Hamilton Road, in Dade City March 8, with various running times throughout the day. And those attending will have a chance to watch, or if they dare, actually run with the bulls.
“The runners are ultimately responsible for dodging the bulls when they come through, but we’ve taken additional measures to decrease the risk of injury and make this event accessible to everyone, not just the craziest thrill seekers out there,” said Rob Dickens, co-founder of The Great Bull Run, in a release.
Bull running can be dangerous, however. Over the past century, the bull run in Spain has cost the lives of 15 people. Even the American version has had a couple injuries — primarily a broken wrist and a broken pelvis. But Dickens says that’s just two people out of more than 10,000 who have participated so far — an injury rate lower than an average high school football game.
“The track fencing allows runners to climb over or slide under to avoid bulls, and there are several nooks in the fence where runners can hide,” Dickens said. “But the most important thing is that the bulls we’re using don’t have sharpened horns like the ones in Spain, which greatly reduces the risk of goring.”
The bull run is followed by the Tomato Royale, a large food fight with hundreds of people.
Tickets starts at $30 for Tomato Royale participants, $50 for bull runners, and $10 for spectators. Runners have to be at least 18, while food fight participants need to be at least 14.
For more information, visit TheGreatBullRun.com.
