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What is La Tomatina?

Tomato fight, anyone? Get the inside scoop on La Tomatina.
On the last Wednesday of August, the sleepy town of Bunol, Spain, which has a population of just 9,000, becomes home to the world’s biggest food fight: La Tomatina, the annual tomato-throwing festival. The pulpy fiesta began in 1945 and continued for many years as an informal event where locals brought their own fruit for tossing. Today the festivities are organised by the city council, which brings in 175 tonnes of ripe tomatoes that are then offloaded from seven trucks. The battle lasts for precisely one hour, beginning and ending with cannon shots. The second shot signals the end, and everyone must put down their tomatoes. Fire engines, locals and even the revellers then take it in turns to spray the streets clean. This year’s festival was another very messy affair, but if you missed out on the fun, it means you’ve got plenty of time to get ready for La Tomatina 2018.

HOW DID LA TOMATINA BEGIN?

There’s no shortage of rumours as to how the tradition in Bunol, which is a 30- minute drive from nearby Valencia, got started. Was it the result of a neighbourhood dispute ending (as these things do) in the hurling of ripe tomatoes? Or perhaps it started as a playful romp between townsfolk after a delivery truck spilled its cargo of tomatoes? No one knows for sure. But we do know that locals had such a good time throwing tomatoes at each other that they decided to make it an annual affair. Although the event used to attract up to 40,000 visitors yearly, local authorities began selling tickets themselves in 2013 to keep the numbers down.

WHERE DO YOU GET TICKETS?

Around 15,000 tickets were available to the general public this year - 5,000 tickets are allotted to locals -meaning competition to join in the juice-soaked mayhem has become fierce. The tickets cost €10 (around £9) each and can be reserved on the Bunol Town Council website. Guests then need to arrive in the town first thing in the morning to collect a much-coveted wristband. However there are also many companies offering guided tours to the festival which depart from Valencia, Madrid and Barcelona and also include an entry ticket.

WHAT TIME SHOULD YOU GET THERE FOR?

Traditionally at the very start of La Tomatina a slice of ham is placed on the top of a large and very greased pole. A reveller then has to reach the ham and pull it down to officially kick things off. Although many try every year, few have been able to complete this task, so the festival usually starts when the clock strikes 11am. Understandably, lots of people arrive early to watch the hordes climb over each other in an attempt to bag the meat. To get a good view, it’s best to arrive at about 7am.

ARE THERE ANY RULES?

There are a few official rules to keep the festival safe and fun for everyone. The number one instruction is that only tomatoes should be thrown. Anything else can be dangerous. The council also advises everyone to smash each tomato before hurling, to soften the blow. Lastly, nothing can be chucked after the second cannon shot.

WHAT SHOULD YOU BRING WITH YOU?

Everything - and we mean everything - is going to get doused in red juice. If there’s something you don’t want to get wet and stained (passports, mobile phones, purses, etc.), do not bring them. This goes for your clothes and shoes as well. Only wear items you don’t mind getting ruined. Also, as the event is packed out every year, it is best to avoid open-toed shoes - flip flops in particular. Finally, if you want to take pictures, do it with a waterproof camera (ideally a disposable one).

HOW TO CONTINUE THE PARTY

Thanks to rousing before and after-parties, the festivities at La Tomatina extend well beyond the devoted hour dedicated to tomato-throwing. So you can keep the party going for several days. Two close by ticketed events take place in Valencia, which is just a two and a half hour flight from London. The La Tomatina pre-party - a foam party - is the newest addition to the Tomatina calendar and begins the day before the festival. The La Tomatina after-party is no less wild.
Ready to get messy?

Check out our holidays to Valencia and if you’re in the party spirit, take a look at our best carnivals in the world.
 

Pssst. Head to the Discover homepage for our latest articles.



Author: Daisy Carrington

Last updated: 09.01.2018

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