RUNNING OF THE BULLS

FIESTA DECLARADA DE INTERÉS TURÍSTICO REGIONAL

FESTIVITIES AND TRADITIONS

11 AGO 2024

BLANCA

BLANCA

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Information

Declared of Regional Tourist Interest on 8 March 1990, it is held in August, on an unspecified date, but always before the 15th.

In August 2023 there are 4 running of the bulls scheduled:

  • Traditional Encierro, Friday 11th, at 15:30 hours.
  • Encierros de la Gran Vía:  Sunday 13thMonday 14th and Tuesday 15th, at 12:00 hours.

They may have been held since the 17th century, as Antonio González Barnés, on page 193 of volume II of the Gran Enciclopedia de la Región Murciana, mentions that the bullring was built in 1658 and had a capacity of about two thousand people.

The custom is to run from the corral located in 'El Hundío' through the various streets of the old town for about 800 metres to the portable bullring.

At five o'clock in the afternoon, a time that can vary from one year to another, a rocket is fired, and the revelry and fun that has been going on for several hours begins to wane; with a second rocket (warning) the nervousness begins and people start to look for the right place to run or take refuge (balconies, barriers, windows...) and, finally, the third rocket sounds and it is the signal that the corral gates open, making way for the bulls. Fear, excitement and a host of sensations are unleashed; the brave young and not so young run with the bulls to the bullring.

It is not uncommon for the occasional bull to turn back, contributing to a longer, even hours-long run.

On other occasions the bulls have "escaped", that is to say, they have left the route and have wandered through the streets of the village at their own pace with the consequent danger that this entails, but in one way or another this has been resolved without any serious incidents for the villagers.

Text provided by Ángel Ríos Martínez, official chronicler of Blanca.

Available Dates

Timetable

15:30 PM, 12:00 PM.

Price

Free.

Other events

How to Arrive?

In Blanca

Versión accesible
Bono Turístico