STORY: Residents of San Francisco de Asis in Venezuela's Aragua state celebrated the feast day of Saint Francis of Assisi on Friday (October 3) with a tortoise race featuring 80 painted and decorated competitors, the largest participation in recent years.

Children and adults gathered outside the San Francisco de Asis church to cheer on their tortoises, luring them toward the finish line with lettuce as part of what organizer Manuel Franco described as a beloved tradition done "with enthusiasm" to entertain the community, especially children.

The winning tortoise, a 20-year-old named Roberto owned by Victor Martinez, claimed first place in his debut race.

According to resident Claudia Barrios, the tortoise races have become "one of the most striking and emblematic events" of the annual patron saint festivities.

The celebration precedes October 4, the official feast day commemorating the life of Saint Francis of Assisi, patron saint of animals.

DESCRIPCIÓN DE IMÁGENES

SHOWS: SAN FRANCISCO DE ASIS, ARAGUA, VENEZUELA (OCTOBER 3, 2025) (REUTERS - Access all)

1. VARIOUS OF BEGINNING OF TORTOISES’ RACE, CELEBRATING THE DAY OF SAINT FRANCIS OF ASSISI

2. TORTOISES RACING

3. TORTOISES HEADING TOWARDS DIFFERENT DIRECTIONS

4. TORTOISES RACING

5 . VARIOUS OF CHILDREN LURING TORTOISES WITH VEGETABLES TO MAKE THEM ADVANCE TO THE FINISH LINE

6. RESIDENT OF SAN FRANCISCO DE ASIS, CLAUDIA BARRIOS, WITH HER TORTOISE

7. (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) RESIDENT OF SAN FRANCISCO DE ASIS, CLAUDIA BARRIOS, SAYING:

"For this date our town gets all dressed up because these are the patron saint festivities in honor of our patron, who is, excuse the redundancy, Saint Francis of Assisi. Part of these activities like the tortoise races is one of the most striking and emblematic events that has been gaining prominence each year."

8. TORTOISES PAINTED AND DECORATED FOR THE RACES

9. VARIOUS OF TWO TORTOISES BEING NEAR EACH OTHER

10. VARIOUS OF PAINTED TORTOISES

11. PARTICIPANT, JIMENA BLANCO, WITH HER TORTOISE IN HER HANDS

12. (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) PARTICIPANT AND RESIDENT OF SAN FRANCISCO DE ASIS, JIMENA BLANCO, SAYING:

"We do this every year, people who have tortoises come, bring them and compete."

13. CHILDREN WITH TORTOISES

14. PAINTED TORTOISE

15. ORGANIZERS GIVING OUT PRIZES TO THE PARTICIPANTS

16. (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) TORTOISE RACE ORGANIZER, MANUEL FRANCO, SAYING:

"This is part of our tradition, we carry it in our hearts and we do it with enthusiasm and we try to make sure people have a little fun, especially the children."

17. TWO PARTICIPANTS SUPPORTING THEIR TORTOISE IN THE RACE

18. TORTOISE RACING

19. VARIOUS OF CHILD LURING TORTOISE WITH LETTUCE TO MAKE IT ADVANCE

20. VARIOUS OF VICTOR MARTINEZ SHOWING HIS TORTOISE NAMED ROBERTO, WINNER OF THE RACE

21. (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) OWNER OF THE TORTOISE NAMED ROBERTO, WINNER OF THE RACE, VICTOR MARTINEZ, SAYING:

"This is his first time competing, I didn't come last year but I did this year, and I feel proud to have achieved victory.

REPORTER ASKING: What's the tortoise's name and how old is it?

“Roberto is 20 years old."

22. VARIOUS OF TORTOISES DURING RACE

23. CHILD LURING TORTOISE WITH LETTUCE TO MAKE IT ADVANCE.