What is La Tomatina?
La Tomatina Festival or what we would call "the tomato festival," is a tradition that has been around since 1945. This festival is like no other festival you have been to, where thousands of people from all over the world come together to participate in an enormous tomato battle. There are many different versions of how this tradition came about. All we can say for sure is that some unknown reason led to a tomato tradition that carries on today.
The festival takes place in the town of Buñol, in Spain. Since Buñol is a small town you may want to stay in Valencia, which has more options for lodging. If you are staying the entire week it is also advised you stay in Valencia since there are more activities to choose from there. Since Valencia isn't too far away, you can take a bus, train, or taxi to the town of Buñol for the tomato battle. Although the battle is only on one day, this week long festival is comprised of parades, music, fireworks, and different activities.
The Red City
At the Plaza de Pueblo in the center of the town is where trucks bring the thousands of tomatoes, and people get equipped. A competition is always held before the battle. A ham is placed at the top of a large greasy pole from which people try to climb and pull down. Once the ham is down, a water canon fires and the battle begins. Since everyone tries to climb the pole and it is slippery, sometimes the ham isn't reached. However this doesn't stop the fun. At 11 a.m. whether someone gets the ham or not, the water canon will be fired to commence the game. Once that canon blows, the tomatoes start flying and the city runs red.
After exactly an hour the fight ends with the second blast of the water canon. The canon signals a cease-fire, and all tomato throwing must come to a halt.
If you are worried about being hurt during the madness, don't fret. The battle is only for fun and you must squish the tomatoes before throwing them at each other. In addition you aren't allowed to bring anything that can harm each other or rip each other's clothing. It is solely a "tomato food fight."
Advice for the Battle
As the town is painted red, so will you. Therefore be sure you go in clothing you don't mind throwing away after the battle. The streets will be completely filled with tomato juice, making it slippery. Wear shoes with a good grip so you can run around without slipping every other minute. It is encouraged that you wear gloves and goggles so no tomato juice splashes into your eyes. Since this is a once in a lifetime experience you may want to bring a waterproof camera as well. If you need to commute afterwards, a change of clothes will be more comfortable.
Save the Date
As the yearly tradition holds, the battle will begin on the last Wednesday of August. Although you may enter Buñol for free, you must have a ticket to access the battlegrounds and other festivities. There are many travel packages that include lodging, transportation, and parties to go to throughout your stay.
If you are interested in taking part in this "red party" be sure to get your tickets and enjoy the festival on August 27.
This article is copyrighted by Travelers Today, the travel news leader
