By Joel Langton
The 830 Times
Ciudad Acuña’s Running With the Bulls festival is right around the corner March 20-22, and organizers say the three-day event will give visitors plenty to do.
“We are going to have an event every seven minutes,” said José Santos Gómez Arizpe, president of the Ciudad Acuña Chamber of Commerce, referring to Saturday, when people get to ‘run with the bulls’.
In addition to the bull runs themselves, when participants take to the streets and try to stay clear of the horns, there will be activities happening throughout the day Saturday. The street will be fenced in to keep the bulls and spectators separate.
Music, food vendors, parades and family activities will be spread throughout the downtown plaza area around Plaza Benjamín Canales capped off with a Saturday night concert, just a few blocks from the international bridge.
However, this year’s Las Vacas Running With the Bulls celebration will include events throughout the entire weekend, Gómez said.
Festivities will begin Friday with a coronation ceremony and opening activities in the downtown plaza area. Organizers say the ceremony will crown the festival’s tourism queen and officially kick off the weekend celebration.
Saturday will feature the main bull runs along with music, food vendors, parades and activities for families and children throughout the downtown district.
The weekend celebration will conclude Sunday with a cook-off and additional activities near the international bridge, bringing the three-day festival to a close.
While the event takes place in Acuña, local leaders say it could also bring an economic boost to Del Rio.
Reyna Diaz, president of the Del Rio Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, said the event is expected to attract visitors from across the region.
“We understand that the Running of the Bulls event taking place in Ciudad Acuña, Coahuila, Mexico, will attract many visitors to the region,” Diaz said. “We also know that our community of Del Rio will play an important role in welcoming those guests.”
Diaz said Del Rio businesses are ready for the influx of visitors.
“Del Rio is well prepared to support the influx of visitors, with plenty of hotels, restaurants and local businesses ready to accommodate their needs,” she said. “Our focus is to warmly welcome everyone traveling to the event and encourage them to spend time exploring our community.”
One local business owner said he’s excited about the event and knows it will have a positive impact on his accommodations. “Yes, the Running Las Vacas ‘callejonada’ was a great return event last year, and it is being well promoted and organized by our good neighbors in Acuña this year,” said Polo Del Rio, President of Del Rio Management Company, that has Ramada Inn and Cripple Creek Steakhouse in their portfolio. “It is bringing more people each year, and we are seeing that reflected in our reservations. Providing transportation at the border was a great idea, and it will help even more people visit and enjoy the Running Las Vacas festival. It’s a fun and safe event for families to attend.”
The transportation at the border refers to a feature that proved successful in 2025 — the shuttle service running between Del Rio and Acuña — which organizers plan to offer again this year.
Visitors can park at 2700 State Hwy. 239 Spur in Del Rio and the shuttle costs $5 per passenger, and riders will receive a bracelet that allows them to return to Del Rio. Visitors will still need a passport to cross the international bridge.
