Traveling to new countries allows you to discover diverse cultures and traditions, opening your eyes to new experiences and perspectives. Spain, one of the most historical locations in the world, has an interesting tradition that has been passed on for generations. La Tomatina Festival is one of the oldest traditions of this country, which takes place every year and is a great war of throwing tomatoes and getting all red and nasty. Let’s learn more about the La Tomatina Festival.
La Tomatina 2024
La Tomatina Festival, or the festival of throwing tomatoes, is a cool celebration that takes place annually in Spain, attracting travelers from all around the world to explore and experience this lovely festival. On the La Tomatina festival day, you can see many Spanish people heading out to Bunol and fully preparing to experience this chaotic food fight.
La Tomatina 2024 is not only about a tomato fight but is also about gathering around for joy. Dances, food outlets, cooking competitions, and music are also a part of the events of this major festival. La Tomatina 2024 takes place on Wednesday, 28th August.
La Tomatina Festival Location
The town of Bunol, which is a small town in the province of Valencia, hosts the La Tomatina Festival, and La Tomatina 2024 is also going to unfold in this city.
The small town of Bunol is easily accessible by train or car, and it has a beautiful landscape and picturesque mountains that make this small city a lovely location with a nice and fresh atmosphere.
The location of the festival in Bunol is usually the Plaza del Pueblo or the main square of the city, and the streets of the city become the battleground for this chaotic tomato fight.
La Tomatina History
La Tomatina’s History dates back to the first event that happened in 1945. Although there are different stories about how it began, the most famous story describes a fight between two groups of young men in a parade using tomatoes.
In the following years, this fight and battle found its way somehow to the yearly parade and became an annual tradition, leading to a ban by the government. After many protests, the festival of La Tomatina was officially reclaimed and became a yearly festival in Spain.
Some people even believe that the ban on tomato fighting was the main reason that this festival became popular among the people of society, as they did everything to make this festival official, such as ironically having a funeral for a large tomato in a coffin.
Since those years, this festival has been very popular among Spanish people and also become very famous among international tourists.
La Tomatina Rules
La Tomatina Rules are easy and simple. These rules are determined by the city council for safety measures to ensure that everyone at the festival has a good time. Usually, during this festival, there aren’t any dangerous acts, and everything is controlled mainly by people.
La Tomatina Rules Include:
Prohibition of throwing other items except tomatoes.
Squashing tomatoes before throwing them is necessary for safety.
Following the directions of security staff is a must.
You should not throw tomatoes at buildings.
The bottom line, you should always avoid hurting other people in any way that you can think of.
How Many Tomatoes Are Used in La Tomatina?
The La Tomatina Festival, as its name suggests, needs many tomatoes for an epic battle. It is believed that during the La Tomatina Festival, more than 150,000 tomatoes are used for the battleground, and some of them are brought by the people.
Of course, these tomatoes are not the best ones, as most of them are overripe and specifically sourced for throwing at a cheaper price to ensure an amazing and enjoyable food fight.
La Tomatina Festival Tips
If it is your first time visiting La Tomatina 2024, we suggest wearing your old clothes to avoid getting any stains on your favorite t-shirts because the battleground can get challenging. Also, closed-toe shoes with good traction to avoid slippery floors are recommended.
Don’t forget that tomato juices can also get into your eyes, so wear good goggles. If you want to explore the area and find a great spot, make sure to get early to Bunol, as it can get very crowded.
Also, one of the challenges of the festival is the Palojabon, which is a greased pole with a Spanish ham at the top. Trying out this activity is a challenge. Lastly, make sure to watch your surroundings and follow the rules.
La Tomatina Facts
- The first event of La Tomatina was in 1945, and it all started with a simple food fight.
- There was a symbolic funeral of the tomato during the protests of making this festival official.
- The festival was recognized officially by the government in 1957.
- More than 150,000 tomatoes are used in this festival, which interestingly weighs around 100 tons.
- In the early 2000s, a ticketing system was introduced to manage the crowd and ensure safety.
- The used tomatoes in the festival are grown specifically for this event.
- La Tomatina has inspired many cultures and events in other parts of the world.
La Tomatina, Symbol of Freedom
The La Tomatina Festival is a part of the cultural identity in Spain. Mainly as a symbol of freedom and joy that people should be eligible to have. This festival is a reflection of the spirit of the Spanish people and gathers all humans for a purpose such as unity and community development.
Today, La Tomatina is a cultural heritage in Spain and has become a tourist attraction, leading to cultural exchanges while embracing the joy of it.
Why Should We Visit the La Tomatina Festival?
Visiting the La Tomatina Festival is a great chance to learn about the culture and traditions of old Spanish people in a joyful way. La Tomatina Festival isn’t just throwing juicy tomatoes at others; it’s about freedom and being able to have joy and fun, nonetheless what others tell you.
During this festival, you can engage with the community experience and the vibes of the battleground of this event and have fun. Taking photos and making memories while enjoying the local food and Spanish cuisine is the best experience that you can try in Bunol, Spain, at the La Tomatina Festival.
La Tomatina Ticket
La Tomatina is a popular festival, and sometimes it is hard to get into. So, make sure to purchase your tickets days ahead. La Tomatina Tickets can be purchased through the official website, with prices starting from 40 EUR. Based on different packages, the prices are also different.
Notably, there are also La Tomatina tickets for kids from 4 to 12 to enjoy their special Tomatina party.
La Tomatina Website: https://tomatina.es/en/
La Tomatina 2025
If you missed the La Tomatina 2024, don’t worry. You can still participate in La Tomatina 2025 and experience this festival as it happens annually in the small town of Bunol.
La Tomatina has many fans around the world, and each year, many tourists travel to Spain just to attend the La Tomatina Festival and enjoy its chaotic and fun battleground.
La Tomatina Festival takes place on the last Wednesday of August, and La Tomatina 2025 will be on Wednesday, 27th of August.
La Tomatina 2024: 28th of August, Wednesday
La Tomatina 2025: 27th of August, Wednesday
Similar Festivals to La Tomatina
As we said, the La Tomatina Festival was an inspiration for many cultures and countries. There are many similar festivals all around the world taking place in different countries that you can attend and still enjoy.
Battle of the Oranges (Battaglia delle Arance): This one is a battle with oranges that takes place in Ivrea, Italy.
La Raima: This is also another festival in Spain, where grapes are the main items instead of tomatoes.
Songkran Festival: This exciting festival is a water fight in Thailand.
Clean Monday Flour War: In Greece, during this event, people throw flour at each other.
Lastly
La Tomatina Festival is the world’s most interesting and fun festival annually in Bunol, Spain. This tradition has been a major reason for attracting a variety of tourists each year DURING August. La Tomatina Festival can be a great time to have some fun and explore the depth of this tradition while throwing tomatoes to the right and left and getting nasty and red!
