July 8, 2017 - The Central Business District will once again echo with the sound of plastic baseball bats whacking buttocks on Saturday (July 8), starting at 8 a.m., as the annual Running of the Bulls takes place for the 12th time in downtown New Orleans
New Orleans hosts the 11th annual Running of the Bulls downtown where the ruthless Derby Girl bulls hunt down participating runners.
Derby girls fight the heat chasing down running participants in their heavy and elaborate garb Saturday, July 8, 2017.
Over 200 derby girls get ready at the Sugar Mill for the Running of the Bulls event that takes place down Convention Center Boulevard Saturday, July 8, 2017.
Safety is important at the Running of the Bulls event and every girl is fitted with knee pads and a helmet and only hollow wiffle bats are used Saturday July 8, 2017.
New Orleans hosts the 11th annual Running of the Bulls downtown where the ruthless Derby Girl bulls hunt down participating runners.
A man lurches out of the way at the 11th annual Running of the Bulls downtown where the ruthless Derby Girl bulls hunt down participating runners and give them a love tap on the tush.
"Sawed-off Bobbie" is a Big Easy Roller girl from Mississippi. "I was in the Navy for 14 years and I missed that camaraderie," says Bobbie. "I found that again in Roller Derby and that's what I see today as: a celebration of sisterhood and fun."
Derby girls acting as bulls for the Running of the Bulls dress in costumes with horns on their helmets for the race.
Derby skates at the 11th annual Running of the Bulls event in downtown New Orleans Saturday, July 8, 2017.
A girl stands in shock watching person after person fall off a mechanical bull at the Running of the Bulls event in downtown New Orleans Saturday, July 8, 2018.
New Orleans hosts the 11th annual Running of the Bulls in honor of the traditional festival in Pamplona, Spain, where the ruthless Derby Girl bulls hunt down participating runners.
New Orleans hosts the 11th annual Running of the Bulls downtown where the ruthless Derby Girl bulls hunt down participating runners and give them a love tap on the tush.
Mayling Walker, 42, from Algiers Point straddles the mechanical bull for eight seconds before being thrown off at the 11th annual Running go the Bulls celebration in New Orleans Saturday, July 8, 2017.
The crowd-voted winner of the costume contest holds up her crown at the New Orleans running of the Bulls celebration Saturday, July 8, 2017.