BUÑOL, Spain. Thousands of revelers flooded the streets of Buñol on Wednesday for the 80th anniversary of Spain’s world-famous “La Tomatina” festival, hurling 120 tons of overripe tomatoes in a one-hour battle that turned the town red with pulp.
Up to 22,000 participants joined the spectacle, paying €15 ($17.50) each for tickets that drew both local residents and tourists from across the globe. “When it’s going on, it’s just a blur of tomatoes,” recalled Adrian Columb of Ireland, who attended in 1999. “It was a blast.”
The origins of the festival trace back to 1945, when a food fight between local children sparked what would become an annual event. Although briefly banned in the 1950s under Spanish dictator Francisco Franco, La Tomatina grew in popularity through the 1980s with the help of media coverage, eventually gaining international recognition. In 2002, Spain declared it an official international tourism attraction.
The festival has only been suspended twice in recent years, during the coronavirus pandemic in 2020 and 2021. The tomatoes used are not for consumption but are grown specifically for the event, said Buñol Deputy Mayor Sergio Galarza. “If La Tomatina didn’t exist, these tomatoes wouldn’t be cultivated because there wouldn’t be a need for them,” he explained. This year’s supply came from Don Benito, more than five hours away.
Although the event has no teams, scores or referees, guidelines encourage participants to squash the tomatoes before throwing to minimize injuries. Many wear goggles and earplugs for protection, but mishaps still occur. “A friend of mine finished with two black eyes,” Columb said, noting his friend’s height may have made him an easy target.
The tomato fight ends with the firing of a cannon, after which participants head to communal showers while the town’s streets are cleaned with hoses. Remarkably, the citric acid from the tomatoes often leaves the pavement cleaner than before.
Over the years, La Tomatina has inspired similar events in Florida, London, Amsterdam, Colombia, and India. Still, for Buñol locals like Galarza, the festival remains deeply tied to its origins. “The truth is that it’s exciting because year after year, you can see how La Tomatina grows and evolves,” he said. “You can enjoy a festival that is super wholesome.”
Paraluman P. Funtanilla
Paraluman P. Funtanilla is Tutubi News Magazine's Marketing Specialist and is a Contributing Editor. She finished her degree in Communication Arts in De La Salle Lipa. She has worked as a Digital Marketer for start-up businesses and small business spaces for the past two years. She has earned certificates from Coursera on Brand Management: Aligning Business Brand and Behavior and Viral Marketing and How to Craft Contagious Content. She also worked with Asia Express Romania TV Show.
- Paraluman P. Funtanilla
- Paraluman P. Funtanilla
- Paraluman P. Funtanilla
- Paraluman P. Funtanilla
