Bandanas, bikinis, bros...BULL

Moments after thousands of people cheered the fake death of two Starboard staffers dressed in a $10,000 fake bull costume, Steve Montgomery gave a sigh of relief.

The crowd was a huge, and everything went as smoothly as it could go, said Montgomery, who owns the Starboard.

This year’s July 9 event marked the 20th anniversary of the Starboard’s Running of the Bull, and eventgoers didn’t waste any time filling up the restaurant’s parking lot. People began showing up by 8:30 a.m., and by the time the 5th annual kids’ run was over three hours later, the line to get in stretched around the corner and halfway up New Orleans Street.

The night before the running, July 8, Montgomery briefed town council on the next day’s events.

“It’s something I’m looking forward to getting behind me,” he said. Council members shook their heads in agreement.

Montgomery said it’s hard to believe how much the event has grown in two decades. It began as a silly event with a few dozen people, he said. Now, he continued, it’s basically created a fourth huge weekend for the town.

“It’s a laughable event,” he said.

Montgomery said participation with Delaware Department of Transportation officials, Delaware State Police, Dewey officials and Dewey Beach Patrol has gotten so good over the past few years the action plan meeting the morning of the event doesn’t take any time at all.

All day long there was a police presence at the entrance. Midway through the day it was three Delaware State Police officers from Troop 4 deterring shenanigans and corralling participants in the Starboard parking lot.

It was Delaware State Police Cpl. Troy Ralston’s second time policing the event. He complimented Montgomery on creating an event that’s safe and fun for everyone.

“Monty has done a lot to set this up right,” he said. “Plus, the people-watching is good.”

People-watching is why Candy Yauchulis has been renting a condo in Izzy Plaza across the street from the Starboard parking lot on Saulsbury Street for seven years.

“It’s just fun,” she said.

Acknowledging that many of the event’s participants begin drinking not long after the sun rises, Montgomery said he provided 600 cases of bottled water to keep people hydrated.

“It doesn’t matter what kind of shape you’re in, if it’s hot and humid the drinks are going to affect you,” he said.