More bulls scheduled for Mesquite celebration

Thursday, May 20, 1999 | 10:47 a.m.

Those who chickened out of running with the bulls in Mesquite last summer will really have something to crow about at this year's event.

Officials, who on Wednesday released details of this year's Mesquite Running of the Bulls Festival, said this year's participants will have more chances to run, on a longer course and in front of more bulls.

And they won't be your average flower-sniffing Ferdinand types, either.

"Most of the bulls will be your regular fighting bulls and rodeo bulls, but there will be a few in each run that are feistier," Stephanie Sharp, event spokeswoman, said.

Feistier than a rodeo bull? Break out the good running shoes.

The second annual Mesquite Running of the Bulls festival is July 9-11 at the Mesquite City Arena, formerly called the city fairgrounds. Activities open at 7 p.m. July 9, with a celebration and concert by Ricky & the Red Streaks.

Officials have scheduled four bull runs this year, each of which will be limited to 500 participants -- not counting bulls. There will be 20 of those in each run, instead of a dozen like last year.

Runs are scheduled at 9 and 10 a.m. July 10 and 11. Participants must be at least 18 years old, Sharp said. Food, a rodeo cowboy competition and other activities will run throughout each day and evening.

The Mesquite event coincides with the 400-year-old running of the bulls tradition in Pamplona, Spain. Sharp said she was in Spain during the festival but skipped heading over to see the bull-running event.

"I was traveling alone, and I didn't want to find myself in the middle of Pamplona with all the drunks and weirdos," she said. "They line the streets and party all night, then in the morning run out in front of the bulls."

Mesquite's event attracts a more civilized bull-runner. No one who is intoxicated or has been drinking is allowed to participate. Weirdos probably are OK.

Last year's event attracted about 600 runners and 10 times as many spectators. This year officials are expecting 2,000 runners and at least 10,000 of those satisfied to simply watch.

Cost of registration for runners is $65 by June 30. Those who register after that pay $75, Sharp said. For information, call (877) 786-2855.