Bunol's Tomatina: 22,000 Revelers Paint Town Red in Annual Food Fight

On August 28, 2023, the streets of Bunol, a small town in eastern Spain, transformed into a sea of red as the annual Tomatina festival unfolded. This unique event, held on the last Wednesday of August each year, drew approximately 22,000 participants who engaged in a massive tomato-throwing battle.

The festival, which has been declared a Festivity of International Tourist Interest by Spain, saw seven trucks distribute 150 tons of overripe pear tomatoes to eager participants. These tomatoes, specifically grown for the event and considered too sour for consumption, became the ammunition for the hour-long food fight.

Participants, many of whom traveled from abroad, donned white attire that quickly became splattered with tomato pulp. Non-residents paid a fee of 15 euros to join the festivities, while Bunol locals enjoyed free entry. This entry fee was introduced in 2013 due to the event's growing popularity.

"We love tomatoes! That's why we decided to come and we had a fab time. We'll make some spaghetti to have with the sauce."

The event commenced with a traditional challenge: participants attempted to climb a slippery pole lathered in soap to retrieve a leg of ham hanging at the top. Once successful, firecrackers signaled the start of the tomato battle.

For safety reasons, participants were encouraged to wear protective goggles and gloves. Additionally, tomatoes had to be crushed before throwing to reduce their impact.

Senam, a visitor from Kenya, described the experience as "beautiful, wonderful, creative, mind-blowing." This sentiment is shared by many, as Bunol's population of around 9,000 swells to over 20,000 during La Tomatina.

After the hour-long frenzy, a cleaning crew armed with water hoses, some sourced from Roman aqueducts, began the task of removing tomato residue from the town's streets. Interestingly, the natural acidity of the tomatoes aids in the cleaning process, leaving the streets gleaming.

The Tomatina festival has a colorful history dating back to 1945. It originated from a spontaneous brawl during a parade, where youngsters used tomatoes from a nearby stand as projectiles. The following year, youths recreated the altercation, bringing their own tomatoes. Despite being briefly outlawed in the 1950s under General Francisco Franco's fascist dictatorship, the festival resumed in 1959 with certain rules in place.

Over the years, La Tomatina has inspired similar events worldwide and has been featured in various films and documentaries. The festival was paused in 2020 and 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic but has since returned with full vigor.

As the sun set on another successful Tomatina, participants and locals alike looked forward to the traditional paella cooking contest held the night before next year's event, continuing a tradition that has become a beloved part of Spanish culture and a unique attraction for visitors from around the globe.