The Running of the Reindeer (Slideshow)

Don't worry: reindeer are herbivores

Sourdough Alaskans have a longstanding tradition of trying to make the rest of the world look like teat-suckling babies, and in an effort to not be outdone by the Basques in Pamplona with their famous Running of the Bulls event in July, they created a new event that celebrates homegrown hardiness and local wildlife.

In case you haven’t heard, Alaska has had a shortage of angry bulls since the Laurentian rotation and the breakup of Pangea. As a result, Fur Rendezvous organizers in Anchorage have taken it upon themselves to reinvent Spain’s classic event and give it an original arctic twist.

The Running of the Reindeer has been a Fur Rendezvous highlight for the past five years, and it shows no sign of letting up: an estimated 15,000 people clogged 4th Avenue for the event, and there’s already a countdown ticker for next year’s frenzy.

By state census records, approximately 2% of the entire state of Alaska showed up for the Running of the Reindeer

Want to join in the fray? Check out the Fur Rendezvous website for upcoming details.