La Tomatina is the world’s largest food fight, which occurs on the last Wednesday in August almost every year since 1945. It takes place in the small town of Bunol, Spain. One hundred and fifty tons of overripe tomatoes are loaded into industrial-sized trucks and then dumped into the streets. An estimated, twenty thousand people participate in the one hour free for all. This is, by far, the most unusual and exciting festival I have ever attended. No matter what age you are, everyone should experience it at least once. Here is a breakdown of the whole festival and a few tips to help make your trip to La Tomatina an enjoyable one.
There are only two hotels in Bunol which makes it difficult to find accommodations. Most participants start the festival in Valencia. Valencia is the third largest city, in Spain and is only about 24 Miles (30 kilometers) from Bunol. Package deals are available online which usually include Lodging, tickets, and a bus ride. Some packages also include goggles, t-shirts, and even after party tickets. Mid-morning, the buses fill up and ascend upon the outskirts of town. The population grows from 6,000 to 20,000 in just a few hours.
Once in Bunol, there is a short walk to the center of town where the festival is held. The crowd is electric with excitement and music fills the air. The streets are lined with vendors selling beer and sangria to fuel the festivities. We found this to be almost as much fun as the actual tomato fight. Once the crowd arrives, a two-story-high flagpole is covered in grease and a whole ham is placed at the top. When someone manages to retrieve the ham the tomato fight begins. Since this is nearly impossible, at 11:00 am a firework goes off, the trucks roll in and the food fight begins anyway.
When the tomatoes arrive, the crowd goes wild. It is impossible to fathom unless you have experienced it yourself. There is a lighthearted and childlike enjoyment in the breaking down of societal norms and throwing food at total strangers. After one hour of tomato-filled chaos, a second firework signals the end of the battle. By now, the streets are flowing red with tomato juice. The crowd disburses and fire trucks move in to hose off the mess.
After the festival people need a place to clean off. Many locals are entertained by spraying their water hoses on the people who are covered in tomatoes. The crowd then moves back to the outskirts of town where the festivities continue. This takes place around noon so there are many great food options lining the streets, and don’t forget the sangria. The party continues until late afternoon when most of the participants board one of the buses and return to Valencia. This is where most of the after parties are held and continue well into the night.
Tomato throwing chaos at La Tomatina
Official Rules
- Do not enter with glass bottles or hard objects
- Do not tear or throw your t-shirt, or anyone else’s
- Keep a safe distance from the tomato trucks
- Squash the tomatoes before you throw them. This makes them softer.
- Stop throwing tomatoes when you hear the firework at 12:00 pm
- Follow the directions of the security staff
- No backpacks or bags allowed
Tips For Navigating the Festival
- Everything you read about La Tomatina says that you need to wear goggles. Most of the people we talked to said they didn’t like them because they fogged up. We chose not to wear them so we could see a little better, but be forewarned there is a bit of a sting.
- Do not wear flip flops or sandals they will be destroyed by the crowd and you will have to walk barefooted the rest of the day.
- Wear clothes that you plan on throwing away. They will be stained with tomato juice and quite possibly torn by the crowd.
- Do not bring a camera or your smartphone, it will be damaged. If you must, I recommend a GoPro with a waterproof case. Even with a tough camera like a GoPro, there is still a possibility for it to be damaged.
- Drink alcohol responsibly. Spain is hot during the summer and the heat from the crowd can be intense. Also, petty crime is prevalent so you want to be fully alert.
- If you are wary of crowds pick a spot at the festival with a cross street so you can exit easily if the crowd gets too intimidating or you feel uncomfortable. The tomato chaos is only happening on one street in town.
- If you have young children there is a separate La Tomatina for the little ones the Saturday before the main festival. It starts at noon and ages four to fourteen are welcome.
- Don’t get mad when you get hit in the head with a tomato, that’s the whole point. Right? Be lighthearted and have fun and La Tomatina will be the experience of a lifetime.
