Allariz Bull Festival (Festa do Boi)

If you are thinking of wandering around the historic centre of Allariz during the first week of June then it would be best to strap on a pair of running shoes and be prepared to get a move on if you want to avoid coming face to face with 1000 kilos of agitated beef steak. The Bull Festival is upon us.

    Unlike Pamplona, in Allariz one bull at a time is let loose to run the narrow cobblestoned streets. Only vaguely under control of the ten or so straining men at the other end of the rope from the horn activity the bull basically thunders around in pretty well any direction it wants. There will be plenty of people prepared to run ahead of the bull in a test of their nerve and speed – some who have trained for months and others whose training would appear to consist solely of drinking copious amounts of beer just minutes before setting off; a good recipe for broken bones and a ride to Ourense hospital. My advice is to forgo the adrenalin rush and find a safe vantage point to watch in safety. There are plenty of other activities going on during the week with traditional music groups performing during the day and night, special baby bull runs for the children and a large communal dinner for all the people who live in Allariz.
   

This is also the festival of Corpus Christi so early on Sunday the women of Allariz rise early and decorate the streets with flowers in preparation for the parade of the Corpus led by the priest. Allariz is an attractive village but it is even more so when filled with flowers

 The Festa do Boi of 2012 will be held from June 02 to June 10 and the officially published times of the bull run are as follows but I recommend that you check the posters at each entrance to the old city which will have any changes listed. Best of all keep an ear out for the sound of the extremely loud “bomb” fireworks that are set off as a warning the bull is about to be released and then again when the run is over.

Sunday June 3 20.00

Monday June 4 08.00 y 21.00

Tuesday June 5 08.00 y 21.00

Wednesday June 6 08.00 y 20.00

Thursday June 7 08.00 y 20.30

Friday June 8   08.30 y 13.30 y 20.30

Saturday June 9   13.30 y 20.30

Sunday June 10    13.45