ONE-DAY FESTIVAL INCLUDES FORTY 1,500-POUND BULLS, ONE ENORMOUS TOMATO FOOD FIGHT, MUSIC, BEER AND COWBOYS
Bringing the Spanish tradition of the running of the bulls to the United States!
Face the adrenaline rush of a lifetime as you run beside 1,500-pound bulls stampeding down a quarter-mile course, then celebrate with thousands of thrill-seekers in a massive, day-long festival that also features our insane tomato food fight, Tomato Royale!
Just how awesome is it? Watch the video and find out!
The Great Bull Run and Tomato Royale are coming to the Hawthorne Race Course, located just 9 miles outside of Chicago in Cicero, Ill., on Saturday July 12, 2014. The thrilling, day-long festival appeals to runners and spectators alike for being an Americana version of the world-renowned Running of the Bulls, which has taken place in Pamplona, Spain for centuries (and is celebrated July 7-14 of 2014), as well as La Tomatina, which has taken place in Valencia, Spain for the past 69 years. Marking the first time the event has come to the United States in a nationwide series, The Great Bull Run has been featured on ABC’s Shark Tank, ESPN and NBC’s TODAY. www.thegreatbullrun.com
The Great Bull Run and Tomato Royale are an ultra unique form of entertainment, designed explicitly for the thrill-seeking and fun-loving individual. A bucket list event for so many around the world, The Great Bull Run’s co-founders Rob Dickens and Brad Scudder were inspired to bring these two time-honored Spanish events to the United States, making the once-in-a-lifetime experiences both more accessible and dynamic. With renowned entrepreneur Mark Cuban of Mark Cuban Companies famously investing in The Great Bull Run on Shark Tank this past April 2014, a total of 25,000 participants have turned out for previous Great Bull Runs and Tomato Royales, including a 72-year old woman in Texas, and fans calling it “the thrill of a lifetime,” The Great Bull Run is well on its way to being among the greatest of American festivals. The following outlines each component of the event:
I. Running with The Bulls: Saturday July 12, 2014 11am-1:30pm: Runners will experience the thrill of a lifetime as they enter a ¼ mile stretch of Hawthorne Race Course’s track with two sets of twenty 1,500-pound bulls who run at a clip of 35 miles per hour.
Rob Dickens, Co-Founder of The Great Bull Run, who has run with the bulls nearly one dozen times himself, clarifies that no sprint or running training is necessary to run with the bulls, just a heavy dose of courage, a willingness to grab life by the horns, and a desire for the kind of rush that comes from doing something so unusual. “We amp up the excitement factor by partnering with Lone Star Rodeo out of Crofton, Kentucky, to handpick the best and rowdiest bulls this side of the Atlantic. At the same time, we’ve decreased the risk of serious injury by providing course fencing for runners to climb and, most importantly, selecting bulls without sharpened horns like those in Spain,” says Dickens.
The Great Bull Run’s Running with The Bulls at Hawthorne Race Course will occur between 11am and 1:30pm in six different sessions on Saturday July 12, 2014. Tickets are currently on-sale online for $55 until June 20, 2014 and then for $60 until July 8, 2014 at www.thegreatbullrun.com. A ticket includes: One running with the bulls; One Tomato Royale food fight; Access to the day-long festival featuring great music, tasty food, fun games and cold beer; Access to all spectator areas for both The Great Bull Run and Tomato Royale; One Great Bull Run t-shirt; One Great Bull Run bandana; One beer (if 21 or over). Participants must be 18+ to purchase tickets.
II. Tomato Royale: Saturday, July 12, 2014; 3pm: Arguably the country’s most epic food fight, Tomato Royale takes place after the running with the bulls and adjacent to its track. Tomato Royale is inspired by Spain’s famous La Tomatina festival, which dates back to 1945. When the music starts, participants sprint to the massive mound of tomatoes piled in the center of the arena and the food fight begins. In this wild and friendly battle, it’s every man for himself as tomatoes are hurled at family, friends and strangers. Each Great Bull Run ticket also includes entry to Tomato Royale, but non Bull Run participants can join in the fun too. Tickets solely for Tomato Royale are currently on-sale online for $40 until June 20, 2014 and then for $45 until July 8, 2014 at www.thegreatbullrun.com. A ticket includes: One Tomato Royale food fight; Access to the day-long festival featuring great music, tasty food, fun games and cold beer; Access to all spectator areas for both The Great Bull Run and Tomato Royale; One Tomato Royale t-shirt; One beer (if 21 or over). Participants must be 14+ to purchase tickets.
Spectators: Whether seeking the thrill of watching people run with bulls or throwing tomatoes at one another, spectators are welcome. Options for viewing areas consist of stands, bleachers and standing room areas next to both The Great Bull Run track and Tomato Royale arena. Tickets are currently for sale online for $10 until July 8, 2014 at www.thegreatbullrun.com. Children 13 and under are free.
Safety and Concerns: The Great Bull Run has now held six events at various locations across the country with 25,000 people participating in total. There are obvious risks associated with running with real bulls, but of all participants, only two have required significant medical attention (one for a broken wrist and one for a broken pelvis) – an injury rate much lower than an average college football game. There have been no deaths in The Great Bull Run. The bulls used in The Great Bull Run are well cared for by Lone Star Rodeo and an onsite veterinarian. There is absolutely no animal abuse or cruelty at any time. The bulls are transported in accordance with all laws and regulations governing the transport of animals. Tomato Royale is mindful of food waste and makes every effort to source tomatoes that are unfit for human consumption.
For current updates of The Great Bull Run and Tomato Royale, visit Facebook at www.facebook.com/thegreatbullrun and Twitter at www.twitter.com/thegreatbullrun.
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