TUCSON, Ariz. (March 24, 2025) — In Defense of Animals is thrilled that the Cinco de Mayo Bull Run Festival at Old Tuscon has been canceled. 

The event is based on the highly controversial annual Running of the Bulls in Pamplona, Spain. It is traumatizing to the animals who are exploited for entertainment and profit, and dangerous for the human participants. 

The Bull Run Festival held six previous events in Arizona and Nevada over the last three decades, but this would have been its first in the Tucson area. It was set to be held on May 3 and 4 at Old Tucson Studios and 12 bulls would have been goaded to chase participants through a quarter-mile, 15-foot wide run 11 times over the weekend.

Historically, the famous bull run in Pamplona, Spain, is dangerous, with “thrill seekers” suffering bruising and other injuries. There is footage of participants stumbling and covering their heads, avoiding the bulls' horns, and narrowly escaping being trampled. Deaths have even occurred. 

The unwilling animal “participants” are subjected to fear, stress, and trauma due to the chaotic, loud, and crowded environment. Bull runs have no place in a progressive, modern society. 

In a March 18 memo, the county administrator for Pima County said that the contracted vendor failed to provide proof of the required insurance as required by the county. The manager of Old Tucson Studios also confirmed that the event organizers had been unable to provide the required insurance. 

While the lack of required insurance is the stated reason for the cancellation, In Defense of Animals feels strongly that pressure from its supporters calling and sending messages made a difference.  

Over 11,500 people signed an In Defense of Animals’ alert calling on Old Tucson Studios and American Heritage Railways to cancel this event. 

There's still an outside chance that the event could be rescheduled if the promoter provides the required proof of insurance, but unless that happens, it will remain canceled.

“Tormenting animals for entertainment is cruel while encouraging others to do so for profit is unacceptable. We are grateful that Pima County has protected animals and the public who would undoubtedly be harmed by this event. Failure to provide proof of the required insurance halted the Bull Run Festival after thousands of advocates contacted Old Tucson Studios and its owner American Heritage Railways urging the cancellation,”  said Brittany Michelson, Campaign Specialist for Captive Animals at In Defense of Animals. “Regardless of the reason, we are celebrating the fact that it has been canceled and that animals will not be exploited in this archaic and dangerous event. Animals do not exist for human entertainment, and bull runs have no place in a modern, progressive society.” 

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Contact: 

Brittany Michelson, brittany@idausa.org, 928-420-0727

In Defense of Animals is an international animal protection organization with over 250,000 supporters and a history of defending animals, people, and the environment through education and campaigns, as well as hands-on rescue facilities in California, India, South Korea, and rural Mississippi, since 1983. www.idausa.org/endcowboycruelty