Thousands take part in the running of the bulls at Spain's San Fermin festival
Thousands of thrill seekers took part in the running of the bulls at the San Fermín festival in the northern Spanish city of Pamplona.
The festival attracts hundreds of thousands of tourists. In the run, six bulls guided by six tame oxen charged along a route through Pamplona’s streets for around two minutes and 30 seconds before reaching the bull ring.
The festival was made famous by Ernest Hemingway’s 1926 novel “The Sun Also Rises.”
The bulls that run each morning are killed in the afternoon by professional bullfighters. Animal rights activists annually campaign against the festival, claiming it is cruel to animals.
Almost everyone in Pamplona wears the traditional white shirt and pants with red sash and neckerchief during the colorful festival.
A municipal music band makes it's way through the crowd as revelers pack the main square during Pamplona's famed running-of-the-bulls festival in Pamplona, Spain, Saturday, July 6, 2024. (AP Photo/Alvaro Barrientos)
Revelers run with bulls from La Palmosilla ranch accompanied by steers during the first day of the running of the bulls at the San Fermín fiestas in Pamplona, Spain, Sunday, July 7, 2024. (AP Photo/Alvaro Barrientos)
Revelers cool off with water thrown from balconies during the start of Pamplona's famed running-of-the-bulls festival in Pamplona, Spain, Saturday, July 6, 2024. (AP Photo/Alvaro Barrientos)
Revelers drink from leather wine sacks as they pack the main square before the official start of Pamplona's famed running-of-the-bulls festival in Pamplona, Spain, Saturday, July 6, 2024. (AP Photo/Alvaro Barrientos)
Revelers drink from leather wine sacks as they pack the main square during the official start of Pamplona's famed running-of-the-bulls festival in Pamplona, Spain, Saturday, July 6, 2024. (AP Photo/Alvaro Barrientos)
A reveler drinks wine as she attends the official start of Pamplona's famed running-of-the-bulls festival in Pamplona, Spain, Saturday, July 6, 2024. (AP Photo/Alvaro Barrientos)
Revelers run with bulls from Victoriano del Río ranch during the third day of the running of the bulls at the San Fermín fiestas in Pamplona, Spain, Tuesday, July 9, 2024. (AP Photo/Alvaro Barrientos)
Members of San Fermin Comparsa adjust their costumes at the San Fermín fiestas in Pamplona, Spain, Monday, July 8, 2024. (AP Photo/Alvaro Barrientos)
Members of San Fermin Comparsa adjust their costumes at the San Fermín fiestas in Pamplona, Spain, Monday, July 8, 2024. (AP Photo/Alvaro Barrientos)
Revelers hold newspapers as they sing a song to San Fermin at Santo Domingo street ahead of the second day of the running of the bulls at the San Fermín fiestas in Pamplona, Spain, Monday, July 8, 2024. (AP Photo/Alvaro Barrientos)
Revelers run with bulls from Cebada Gago ranch during the second day of the running of the bulls at the San Fermín fiestas in Pamplona, Spain, Monday, July 8, 2024. (AP Photo/Alvaro Barrientos)
Revelers run with bulls from the Jandilla ranch during the sixth day of the running of the bulls at the San Fermín fiestas in Pamplona, Spain, Friday, July12, 2024. (AP Photo/Alvaro Barrientos)
Revelers hold up red neckties as they pack the main square during the start of Pamplona's famed running-of-the-bulls festival in Pamplona, Spain, Saturday, July 6, 2024. (AP Photo/Alvaro Barrientos)
Women dressed in red and white San Fermin's color enjoy the fiesta at the San Fermin fiestas in Pamplona, northern Spain, Sunday, July 7, 2024. (AP Photo/Alvaro Barrientos)
A cow jumps over a group of revelers laid on the ground of the bullring during the fourth day of the running of the bulls at the San Fermín fiestas in Pamplona, Spain, Wednesday, July 10, 2024. (AP Photo/Alvaro Barrientos)
Pablo Hermoso de Mendoza, left, a Spanish ''rejoneador'' or mounted bullfighter, waves to fans in the bullring after his last performs during a horseback bullfight at San Fermin Fiestas in Pamplona, northern Spain, Saturday, July 6, 2023. (AP Photo/Alvaro Barrientos)
A picador prepares before entering in the bullring during a bullfight at the San Fermin fiestas in Pamplona, northern Spain, Sunday, July 7, 2024. (AP Photo/Alvaro Barrientos)
A picador rides along the bullring during a bullfight at the San Fermín fiesta in Pamplona, Spain, Monday, July 8, 2024. (AP Photo/Alvaro Barrientos)
A ''Recortador'' avoids a bull in the bull ring during the Recortadores festival at the San Fermin fiestas in Pamplona, northern Spain, Sunday, July 7, 2024. (AP Photo/Alvaro Barrientos)
People applaud during a horseback bullfight at San Fermin Fiestas in Pamplona, northern Spain, Saturday, July 6, 2023. (AP Photo/Alvaro Barrientos)
Spanish bullfighter Diego Urdiales prepares during a bullfight at the San Fermin fiestas in Pamplona, northern Spain, Sunday, July 7, 2024. (AP Photo/Alvaro Barrientos)
A ''Recortador'' jumps over a bull in the bull ring during the Recortadores festival at the San Fermin fiestas in Pamplona, northern Spain, Sunday, July 7, 2024. (AP Photo/Alvaro Barrientos)
A ''Recortador'' is gored by a bull in the bull ring during the Recortadores festival at the San Fermin fiestas in Pamplona, northern Spain, Sunday, July 7, 2024. (AP Photo/Alvaro Barrientos)
A picador performs during a bullfight at the San Fermín fiesta in Pamplona, Spain, Monday, July 8, 2024. (AP Photo/Alvaro Barrientos)
Spanish bullfighter Juan Leal performs during a bullfight at the San Fermín fiesta in Pamplona, Spain, Monday, July 8, 2024. (AP Photo/Alvaro Barrientos)
Spanish bullfighter Juan Leal, second right, with his assistants before entering the bullfight at the San Fermín fiesta in Pamplona, Spain, Monday, July 8, 2024. (AP Photo/Alvaro Barrientos)
Bullfighter Jesus Enrique Colombo performs in the bullring during the final day of the San Fermin Festival in Pamplona, northern Spain, Sunday, July 14, 2024. (AP Photo/Alvaro Barrientos)
Spanish bullfighter Sebastian Castiellla falls to the ground after being pushed by a bull in the bullring during a bullfight at the San Fermin Fiestas in Pamplona, northern Spain, Tuesday, July 9, 2024. (AP Photo/Álvaro Barrientos)
Bullfighter Andres Roca Rey performs in the bullring during a bullfight at San Fermin fiestas in Pamplona, northern Spain, Friday, July 12, 2024. (AP Photo/Alvaro Barrientos)
Spanish bullfighter Emilio de Justo waves to fans in the bullring during a bullfight at the San Fermin Fiestas in Pamplona, northern Spain, Tuesday, July 9, 2024. (AP Photo/Álvaro Barrientos)
Photos by Alvaro Barrientos
The selection was curated by AP photo editor Courtney Dittmar in Tokyo.