NEW ORLEANS, La. — From July 6-14th the town of Pamplona, Spain becomes a daredevil’s paradise, when people gather for Sanfermines. Many may not know it by that name, but they are sure to know about its main attraction: the Running of the Bulls (encierro). New Orleans now hosts its own homage to this event from July 10-12th, called the San Fermin in Nueva Orleans festival (SFNO), brought to you by Nola Bulls, LLC.
On July 10th, 2009, the third annual SFNO will commence with El Txupinazo (pronounced choo-pee-NAHT-so) at Rio Mar Seafood Restaurant at 800 South Peters St., from 6-9 p.m. The guest list for this event has been expanded to 300 in order to accommodate the growing popularity of the event. Tickets are expected to sell out, so attendees are encouraged to reserve them early. Email info@nolabulls.com for more information.
Saturday’s encierro begins precisely at 8 a.m. as in Pamplona and will once again feature the Big Easy Rollergirls as the bulls. This year also includes rollerbulls from leagues in Baton Rouge, Houma, Houston, TX and Jacksonville, FL. It will begin at the corner of Conti and Burgundy in the famous French Quarter. After gathering at the Three Legged Dog Bar at 6:30 a.m. for instructions, over 70 rollerbulls will be unleashed upon the runners (corredores). While death is highly unlikely, there’s always the threat of being battered by a foam-core bat or spraining an ankle! Either way, it will be “run at your own risk.” This year’s attendance is expected to grow significantly from the nearly 1,000 participants at last year’s encierro on July 12th, 2008.
After the encierro, the party continues at the Gazebo Cafe, located at 1018 Decatur Street. Tapas style food, sangria, Marques de Caceres and Dona Paula wines, Stella Artois beer, Old New Orleans Rum and Port of Barcelona Gin drinks, Obsello Spanish Absinthe, Cult Energy Drink and live music and DJ’s will be on-hand for all to enjoy.
SFNO 2009 will also introduce two new events. Saturday night’s Fiesta de Pantalones (Pants Party) at Chickie Wah Wah (2828 Canal St.) features Los Po-boy-Citos and Dr Gumbo’s Spanish Soundsystem, with doors opening at 8 p.m., and the show starting at 9 p.m. Sunday’s Pobre de Mi (Poor Me) at 12 p.m. will close the festival at a soon-to-be disclosed venue. Revelers will have a chance to relive the glory of SFNO 2009 and watch or participate in a Hemingway Contest. For more information on all events, visit www.nolabulls.com.
A part of the proceeds for SFNO 2009 will go to Animal Rescue New Orleans (ARNO), an organization created and dedicated to the rescue and aid of abandoned and homeless animals in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina in Louisiana and Mississippi, including responding to the immediate needs of those animals in need of medical care, or who have been neglected, abused and deprived of love. ARNO promotes the foster, adoption, and reunion of pets with caretakers, as well as spaying/neutering of all companion animals.
Nola Bulls, LLC was founded 2007 and is a provider and promoter of entertainment and cultural events in the New Orleans area.
