what is la tomatina

La Tomatina is an annual festival held in the town of Buñol, in the Valencia region of Spain, where participants engage in a massive tomato fight by throwing ripe tomatoes at each other. It is considered the biggest food fight in the world and takes place on the last Wednesday of August as part of a week-long celebration in honor of the town’s patron saint, San Luis Beltrán. The festival originated in the mid-20th century from a spontaneous or planned tomato-throwing brawl among locals and has since grown into a globally recognized event attracting thousands of visitors from around the world. The tomato fight lasts for about an hour, and participants are encouraged to squash the tomatoes before throwing to avoid injuries. Over the years, the event has also become ticketed to manage the number of participants, limited to around 20,000 people. The festival is not only a moment of fun but also a local tradition celebrating community and joy. The event usually starts with a fun contest of climbing a greased pole to capture a ham, and once it ends, the tomato fight officially begins. This unique and vibrant festival has a rich history of overcoming bans and restrictions and is now officially recognized as a significant cultural event in Spain.