AI Generated Image
La Tomatina food fight draws foreigners and Spanish locals
AP News • • general
Key Points:
- Thousands gathered in Buñol, Spain, for the annual La Tomatina festival, a massive tomato-throwing food fight held on the last Wednesday of August, attracting over 20,000 participants this year.
- The event, which originated in 1945 and was once banned under Franco’s regime, has grown into an international attraction, with about 40% of recent participants being tourists.
- A surge in Indian visitors has been linked to the 2011 Bollywood film "Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara," which featured La Tomatina and inspired many, including first-time attendees from India.
- Participants pay a 15-euro ticket fee and follow the main rule to squash tomatoes before throwing to avoid injuries, with many wearing goggles and earplugs for protection.
- After the hour-long food fight, the town’s streets are cleaned, often leaving them cleaner due to the tomatoes’ citric acid, and communal showers are provided for participants.
