Share: 

Running of the Bull returns to The Starboard Aug. 21

Dewey Goes Pink set Oct. 9; events signal return to normalcy, organizer says
July 16, 2021

Expansion of premises for two signature Dewey Beach events were given unanimous approval by town commissioners July 9, signaling a return to normalcy, according to organizer Steve “Monty” Montgomery.

Montgomery, owner of The Starboard, said both the Running of the Bull and Dewey Goes Pink were canceled in 2020 due to the pandemic.

The Running of the Bull is typically held in June, Montgomery said, but he pushed the date as late as possible to Saturday, Aug. 21 in light of COVID. 

A parody of the Running of the Bulls in Pamplona, Spain, the event includes a morning kids run on the beach, usually with Washington Capitals and Nationals mascots, the Starboard Shark and, of course, the bull itself.

Festivities continue at The Starboard with live entertainment and the bull run, comprising more than 1,000 runners decked in signature colors red and white, followed by the bull fight. In 2019, the last year the event was held, actor and Delaware native Ryan Phillippe played matador.

The event is a big deal to folks in town, Montgomery said, with $6,000 to $8,000 in proceeds going toward the Rehoboth Beach Volunteer Fire Company annually. This year, Montgomery said he’s shooting for a $15,000 to $20,000 donation to the department.

Montgomery’s lighthearted request for Mayor Dale Cooke to serve as the celebrity bull was met with laughter from council, but received no commitment from the town leader serving his final term.

Resident Jeffrey Smith spoke in favor of the kids Running of the Bull, saying it’s a marketable event for the town and a lot of fun for adults as well.

The 10th annual Dewey Goes Pink 5K is set for Saturday, Oct. 9 and benefits the Delaware Breast Cancer Coalition. The event wasn’t held in 2020 due to the pandemic, Montgomery said, but T-shirt sales still netted a $68,000 donation to DBCC. New this year will be a golf tournament, Montgomery said. So far, the event has raised more than $900,000, he said.

“This year, I’m sure we'll be guaranteed to top $1 million in 10 years, which is great,” Montgomery said.

Subscribe to the CapeGazette.com Daily Newsletter