By Joel Langton
The 830 Times
CIUDAD ACUÑA, Coah., Mexico — More than 10,000 people packed the historic plaza in Ciudad Acuña on Saturday as the annual Las Vacas “Running With the Bulls” festival delivered a full day of high-energy entertainment and cross-border economic impact.
While the three-day event included the crowning of a Tourism Queen on Friday and a barbecue champion on Sunday, Saturday proved to be the centerpiece, with bulls, burros and even greased pigs entertaining crowds during a nearly 10-hour event.
Organizers designed the course around the plaza, giving spectators multiple vantage points to safely watch the action. Unlike traditional bull runs through city streets, participants here navigated a contained course, where animals could approach from multiple directions.
The setup created a different kind of challenge. Rather than sprinting in a straight line, runners found themselves in a game of reaction and awareness, dodging bulls and other animals as they entered the course at timed intervals.
The event was built for entertainment — and organizers say it delivered.
“We had more than 10,000 people come in and out of the plaza during the 10-hour event,” said José Santos Gómez Arizpe, president of the Ciudad Acuña Chamber of Commerce. “We estimated a $1.5 million economic impact from visitors, and 90 percent of the restaurants set up in the plaza sold out, while the rest reported strong sales.”
The crowd included a noticeable number of Del Rio residents, underscoring the event’s cross-border appeal. Organizers made access easy, setting up parking near the port of entry with shuttle service transporting visitors directly to the plaza.
Del Rio Mayor Al Arreola, who attended with members of the city council, said events like Las Vacas highlight the importance of regional partnerships.
“It’s a great partnership, and I walked around the plaza and saw people from Houston and San Antonio,” Arreola said. “Restaurants were full on both sides. We need partnerships like this with Acuña that benefit both communities.”
Arreola, who also manages Zales Jewelers in Plaza del Sol Mall, said he saw the impact firsthand in Del Rio.
“Saturday, Sunday and Monday, we had people shopping with us who wouldn’t normally be here, and they said they were here because of the bulls,” he said.
He also credited collaboration between the two cities’ chambers of commerce.
“José and Blanca really worked together to make this a success,” Arreola said, referring to Gómez Arizpe and Del Rio Chamber of Commerce Executive Director and CEO Blanca Larson.
Local hotels also reported a boost tied to the event weekend.
“About three days out, we started getting reservations,” said Rose Soto, general manager of La Quinta & Hawthorn Extended Stay by Wyndham Del Rio. “It helped give us a good week.”
Polo Del Rio, President of Del Rio Management Company, that has Ramada Inn and Cripple Creek Steakhouse in their portfolio, said they saw a 20 percent upsurge in business as well, with many guests saying they were there for the Las Vacas event.
With strong attendance, full restaurants and increased hotel traffic on both sides of the border, Las Vacas proved to be more than just a spectacle — it’s a driver of regional tourism and economic activity and shows what can happen when Del Rio and Acuna work together.
