San Fermin in Nueva Orleans

An amazing experience the New Orleans way. What a way to celebrate such a great event in Nola. After signing up for the event and as time got close the organizers did a great job communicating with the runners till the day of the event. We picked up our packets the day before at the sugar mill and that was well organized. The day of the event we arrived early and food trucks were ready, music was on and drinks vendors were all in place. The run/ Bulls chase was just a heck of an experience, see the photos attached. They tell the story. After the event the party continued on. A special event and very creative.

Great people having a great time. My only complaint is the price of beer. $5 a can is a bit much. Feels like the vendors are taking advantage of a charitable situation by jacking their prices up. I can promise you that next year I'll be bringing all my own booze. Be sure to get your packet early.

This event was awesome! First time trying it and I will be back next year for this event. Located at the Sugar mill near the convenient center, I definitely recommend staying at one of the hotels within walking distance so you can stumble back to your room. You have to be there early by 6:30am and plan to start drinking by 7am. The run/ Walk is fun with tons of entertainment to see. Only con to this event is you have to be up early.

This is one of those magical, elusive, ephemeral New Orleans events that takes place early in the morning (extremely early for people like me), and therefore I've missed it every year. Until now. Thanks to my early-events accountabilibuddy, Lindsay A, I made it to my very first Running of the Bulls this weekend, and it was freaking FANTASTIC. Seriously one of the coolest, most fun and random events I've seen in New Orleans, and if you've ever been here, you know that's saying a lot. I'd honestly rate this in my top five all time favorite annual NOLA events, along with the 610 Stompers Debutante Ball (which is brand new, they've only had it once so far), the St. Anne parade on Mardi Gras day, and... hm. I'll have to get back to you on that. You show up at 7:30 dressed in all white, with a bit of Yelp red around your neck, your waist, your head, what have you. There's some kind of ritual religious ceremony thing at 8 or so, then get ready to get your ass smacked by roller derby girls wielding plastic or foam bats. Don't think it doesn't hurt, though! It totally does. One of the roller derby girls told me they hit chicks in cute outfits harder, which she then proceeded to demonstrate on me. It stung. Badly. It's hard to explain, so just go. Check it out next year. This is worth getting up early for. I mean it. Way better than Zulu, IMO, which was a bit disappointing my first time. (St. Anne is better.) Get there on time. Eat breakfast. Have a blast. Pro Tip: You can park in the Harrah's garage, and then gamble for a bit after the parade for free parking! Night Owls: Really, truly, absolutely cannot get up early enough to make it? Then stay up all night! The 12 Bar on Fulton throws a pre-party all-nighter for people who find it easier to stay up until 7:30 am than to get up at 7:00am for the event. This is either a great idea or a terrible one. Probably both, actually. But good to know. There's a good chance I'll do that next year. Bonus FYI: Get your very own Original Yelper red Yelp bandana to wear! Just let me know if you want one, and I'll make sure to get it to you. ;)

OLE! El Encierro I have known "El Padrino" for years... literally and I always support his Running of the Bulls event.This is an annual event that I really love. Along with all the summer runs comes the running of the bulls... and then the after party. The Big Easy Rollergirls done hats with horns and smack you with large plastic bats.. did you not expect there to be pain?? along with the Rolling Elvi and other usual suspects at events like this. It is a take on the founder's experience in Spain and the running of the bulls and it is made perfectly NOLA.They encourage you to dress the part aka wear white with red neckerchiefs and red sashes (as if you were in Spain) if you find yourself running out of options you can always score some on the merchandise page of their website http://www.nolabulls.com it also gives you a history and the scoop on what to expect.The after party is at Ernst and usually runs into the mid afternoon or people scatter around the warehouse district and grab bites to eat. Either way its always a good time and a good turnout for the event.

El Encierro! The running of the bulls!!!You wear white with a bit of red cloth around your neck. The roller derby girls wear skates, horns, and bring plastic bats and paddles. They're the bulls. Wake up early because it starts at 8 AM (preparty beforehand). You run from the 3 legged dog down to Ernst and they chase you and smack you. You will feel the pain!!! Just like everything else in New Orleans there are bands and drinks and partying after the run.

This is one of those events where you can truly say "Only in New Orleans". You have to wake up at the ass crack of dawn on a Saturday, pay someone 15.00 to have women on skates with bats chase you for a mile in the middle of July heat and yet it's awesome! Sure there are real bulls in Spain but I'd rather run with my only worries being a partially spilled bear or a bruise on my ass from an over zealous roller derby girl. The San Fermin in Nueva Orleans is more than just the mile run. There are events all weekend that center around the mile long roller derby girl beat down. I'm describing it like I'm some sort of S & M fanatic. Anyway, there is a wine dinner on the Thursday night before, a few concerts, and of course the actual 'Running of the Bulls'. All of this and portions of the proceeds go to charity. It's a blast to do with friends, kids or just by your self. There are 1,000's of new friends to meet while you are there. They have beer stands set up and are serving at 6am as well as a few food trucks for breakfast or lunch. It's a bucket list New Orleanian item and you won't regret it. Well you may regret it if you have too many beers and get gorged by the wrong kind of bull.

SFNO is my favorite event of the year. Lots of fun, lots of good food and drinks. It may be hot, but it's worth the sweat. I know a lot of people don't register, but it's well worth it to be able to go inside into the air conditioning and get drinks and food and entertainment.

A fantastic and relatively new annual festival and tradition to add to our list of kick ass events in New Orleans! Yes the actual run is very short, fast, and early but actually this is a 3 or 4 day fun filled event that you can wear your uniform of white with accents of a red sash and bandanna everyday. It generally kicks off on a Thursday with a wine dinner, Friday is the El Txupinazo party, Saturday at 8am is the actual running of the roller derby bulls (El Encierro) with an after party til around Noon, Saturday night is the Fiesta de Pantalones, and the grand finale is Sunday for the El Pobre de Mi brunch and party. So if you were counting they actually cram 5 separate parties into 4 days but if you do it right it is just one long party. Yes the roller derby girls will painfully whack you with their bats so run fast. I've been doing this from the beginning and have only missed it due to having to be out of town for work requirements once. The secret for beginners is don't TRY to wake up for the 8am running just stay out all night instead!

Got my butt spanked at this event and it was enjoyable! You get drunk, and run from roller derby girls in regalia chasing you with wiffle bats. It's in July, so I probably won't ever get a chance to do this again, but it was worth every second.