STORY: A Mexican town marked May Day on Friday (May 1) with their annual donkey festival to honour the hard-working animal and maintain their tradition alive.

The National Donkey Festival is a twist to the Labour Day in the 16th-century rural Mexican town of Otumba, in the central State of Mexico.

The festival included a polo game played on a donkey's back, donkey racing and a donkey costume contest.

The winner of the 2026 costume contest, Beky, paraded dressed as a bee in an attempt to raise awareness about the decline of pollinators and their impact on the environment, its owner Claudia Martinez said.

The event's origins trace back to 1965, when residents of Otumba, who relied heavily on donkeys for labour, decided the hardworking animals deserved recognition.

DESCRIPCIÓN DE IMÁGENES

SHOWS: OTUMBA, STATE OF MEXICO, MEXICO (MAY 1, 2026) (REUTERS – Access all)

1. VARIOUS OF DONKEYS PARADING WITH COSTUMES

2. AUDIENCE APPLAUDING DONKEYS

3. DONKEY WEARING FLAGS AND MEXICO'S NATIONAL SOCCER TEAM UNIFORM

4. AUDIENCE WATCHING COSTUME CONTEST

5. DONKEY NAMED BEKY DRESSED AS A BEE

6. BEKY'S OWNERS RECEIVING FIRST PLACE PRICE

7. (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) MERCHANT AND OWNER OF BEKY, FIRST PLACE IN COSTUME CONTEST, CLAUDIA MARTINEZ, SAYING:

“The idea behind participating was to send a message to people about the importance of living creatures on our planet Earth—such as the little bee—and, in connection with that, to show respect for donkeys. It’s about demonstrating that they can participate without being mistreated, that natural horsemanship has now evolved, and that they can learn without us hurting them in any way—instead, through rewards, right? Like petting them.”

8. BEKY DRESSED AS A BEE

9. (MUTE) DRONE SHOT OF OTUMBA DONKEY FESTIVAL AND RACE TRACK

10. (MUTE) DRONE SHOT OF PEOPLE WATCHING RACE TRACK

11. VARIOUS OF DONKEYS RACING

12. (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) JOCKEY, RAMON VALERIANO, SAYING:

Year after year we take part in this great donkey festival. And it is a tradition that should not be lost because they are very noble little animals, in danger of extinction, we have to care for them like a pet, I care for him like a pet, I no longer use him in the field."

13. DONKEY POLO PLAYERS AWAITING MATCH

14. BALL ROLLING ON FIELD

15. DONKEY POLO PLAYERS CHASING BALL

16. (MUTE) DRONE SHOT OF DONKEY POLO MATCH

17. DONKEY POLO PLAYER AFTER SCORING

18. (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) DENTIST AND VISITOR, FERNANDA NIETO, SAYING:

"We were very drawn to the little donkeys, especially because they are in danger of extinction and it seems to me a lovely event, small, cute and we hope to return soon."

19. VARIOUS OF DONKEY IN WORLD PEACE COSTUME WITH U.S. PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP FIGURE SITTING ON A MISSILE