BUÑOL, Spain. The streets of Buñol, a small town in eastern Spain, were drenched in red on Wednesday as thousands of revelers took part in the world-famous Tomatina festival, hurling overripe tomatoes at each other in a joyous, messy celebration.
This year, approximately 22,000 participants descended upon Buñol, located 40 kilometers (25 miles) west of Valencia, to engage in the hour-long tomato battle that marks the festival’s climax. The participants, dressed in white, were soon covered head to toe in tomato pulp, transforming the town into a sea of red.
Seven trucks distributed a staggering 150 tons of ripe pear tomatoes to the eager crowd, which included many international visitors. While local residents of Buñol can join the festivities for free, non-residents pay an entry fee of 15 euros ($16.70). Despite the cost, the event draws participants from around the globe.
“We love tomatoes! That’s why we decided to come, and we had a fab time,” said Taylor, a visitor from Australia, who joked that she and her friends would “make some spaghetti to have with the sauce” after the festival.
The tomato-throwing frenzy kicked off with the traditional signal: a firecracker explosion. The firecracker is ignited once a daring participant successfully climbs a slippery, soap-lathered pole to retrieve a leg of ham hanging from the top—an iconic prelude to the battle.
Senam, a participant from Kenya, described the experience as “beautiful, wonderful, creative, mind-blowing,” capturing the essence of the festival’s appeal.
As the tomato fight came to an end, cleaning crews equipped with water hoses took to the streets to wash away the remnants of the battle. The tomatoes, known for their natural acidity, left the town’s streets gleaming after the cleanup.
The tomatoes used in the festival are specifically grown for the event and are considered too sour for consumption.
The origins of the Tomatina date back to 1945, when a group of young people accidentally knocked over a parade participant while trying to get a better view. In the ensuing chaos, tomatoes from a nearby stand were thrown as impromptu weapons until the police intervened. The following year, locals recreated the scene, bringing their own tomatoes to continue the fun. Although the event was temporarily banned during the 1950s under General Francisco Franco’s regime, it returned in 1959 with regulations, evolving into the globally recognized event it is today.
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.
