Like the idea of pelting strangers with ripe tomatoes on the streets of a tiny Spanish town – and getting cheered for it? This is La Tomatina, the world’s biggest (and messiest) food fight. Held annually in Buñol, Spain, this one-of-a-kind festival draws thousands for a single hour of pure tomato-fueled chaos.
Here’s everything you need to know before diving into the juicy chaos – literally.
What is La Tomatina?
La Tomatina is an annual festival where thousands gather in the streets of Buñol, located 40 kilometers (25 miles) from Valencia in Spain, to hurl overripe tomatoes at each other – all for fun. It’s a fast, furious, and surprisingly friendly food fight that lasts exactly one hour.
What started as a spontaneous scuffle in 1945 has grown into a ticketed event. There’s no competition, no winner – just pure mayhem. Locals tarp their storefronts and trucks unload mountains of tomatoes. By midday, the streets run red.
When is La Tomatina?
La Tomatina takes place on the last Wednesday of August each year, right in the heart of Buñol’s week-long town festival. The tomato fight itself kicks off around 11am, following the tradition of someone climbing a greased pole to retrieve a ham (yes, really).
Once the signal goes off, it’s an hour of non-stop tomato throwing. By noon, it’s over – and the clean-up begins. If you’re planning to go, arrive early as the streets fill fast.
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Why is La Tomatina celebrated?
The history and origin are little bit murky, but the most popular theory is that a food fight broke out during a local parade in 1945, when a group of young people got into a scuffle near a vegetable stand. Tomatoes flew, the crowd loved it, and the town kept the tradition alive.
Over the years, it became an official event and more of a party.
How many tomatoes are thrown in La Tomatina?
Every year, around 150,000 kilograms (over 330,000 pounds) of tomatoes are loaded onto 6-7 trucks and driven into Buñol just for the fight.
It’s it a waste of food? Well, the tomatoes aren’t for eating – the ones used are overripe and no longer fit for consumption. They’re sourced locally and dumped into the streets by the truckload.
How many people attend La Tomatina?
Every year, around 20,000 to 22,000 people show up for the battle of the tomatoes. This includes both locals and visitors who squeeze into Buñol’s narrow streets for the ticketed event.
A cap on participants was introduced in 2013 to keep the event manageable and sustainable in a small town, which only has around 9,000 residents.
How much does it cost to go to La Tomatina?
A basic ticket costs around €15, which gets you into the main tomato fight. Locals get in free – but everyone else needs a wristband.
Of course, you can upsize with bundles that include goggles, a t-shirt, or locker access. There’s even a VIP option if you want to chuck tomatoes from a truck (for a cool €500+).
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What should you wear to La Tomatina?
Dress battlefield‑ready! You want to be wearing old clothes you don’t care about – they’ll likely get ripped, stained, and very smelly. A white tee over a sports bra or swimsuit is popular.
Wear closed, grippy shoes instead of sandals or flip-flops. They’ll either get lost or stepped on in the tomato torrent. Goggles (swimming or ski) are a pro tip to protect your eyes – tomato juice is acidic! And finally, you want a waterproof pouch or zip-lock bag for your phone, some cash and ID.
What are the rules of La Tomatina?
Even chaos needs order, so there are some simple rules.
- First rule: squash your tomatoes before throwing. Nobody wants a solid tomato missile that hurts!
- Don’t throw anything but tomatoes – no bottles, no hard objects.
- Keep a safe distance from trucks and don’t climb on them.
- Respect the local residents and their property.
- If you get aggressive or ignore the rules, you’ll be shown the exit – no first warnings.
- Final rule: have fun and get messy!
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What happens before and after the tomato fight?
Before the fight, Buñol buzzes with great vibes – there’s music blasting as locals and visitors gather in the streets. It kicks off with the famous “palo jabón” (greased pole with a ham on top). Spectate as people climb up to grab the ham – once successful, the battle is on!
After the hour-long tomato chaos, the town shifts gears. Everyone rinses off in nearby fountains or with hoses, then many head to post-fight parties filled with food, drinks, and dancing. An official cleanup crew swings into action fast, turning the red-soaked streets back to normal by nightfall.
Did you we cover everything you wanted to know about La Tomatina? Let us know in the comments…