La Tomatina is a food fight festival held on
the last Wednesday of August each year in the town of Bunol near to
Valencia in Spain. Thousands upon thousands of people make their
way from all corners of the world to fight in this 'World's
Biggest Food Fight' where more than one hundred metric
tons of over-ripe tomatoes are thrown in the streets.
The week-long festival features music,
parades, dancing, and
fireworks. On the night before the tomato fight,
participants of the festival compete in a paella cooking
contest.
Anywhere from 20,000 to 40,000 people come to this huge
tomato fight, greatly expanding Bunol's normal
9,000 person population. There is limited accommodation for people
who come to La Tomatina, so many people take the easier option of
staying in nearby Valencia just 38km to Bunol by
bus or train. In preparation for the dirty mess that will ensue,
shopkeepers use huge plastic covers on their storefronts in order
to protect them from the carnage.
Getting Ready!
The famous tomato truck.
