La Tomatino Festival in spain
If you think of La Tomatina Festival, what’s the first thing that comes to your mind? Zindagi Milegi Na Dobara? That was one of those movies filled with multiple travel goals. Among the number of activities that the movie showcased, it was the La Tomatina festival, whose vibe and craze made many add Spain in their travel bucket list.
La Tomatina is a food fight festival held on the last Wednesday of August each year in the town of Buñol near to Valencia in Spain. Thousands upon thousands of people make their way from all corners of the world to fight in this 'World's Biggest Food Fight' where more than one hundred metric tons of over-ripe tomatoes are thrown in the streets.
La Tomatina festival comes with a chance to show you the festive side of Spain. This festival is combined with massive parades, fireworks and even a glorious Paella cooking contest. This is your chance to experience the best of Spain at one place.
The date for La Tomatina festival this year is 28th August 2019.
Festival Fact FileBuñol’s population of 9,000
Approximately 20,000 people come to attend the tomato fight
The festival begins at 11 AM
Plaza del Pueblo is the town center where the festival is organized.
The crazy, dancing crowd throwing tomatoes at each other gives you an amazing chance to come up with some nice photographs. So, if photography is your passion then you’ll love attending this festival. Nothing gives you better shots than hundreds of people covered in red tomatoes.
Places to see in BunolSan Luis Park
Cueva Turche
Masonic Cemetery
Parque Fluvial
Circuit Ricardo Tormo
RULES OF TOMATINO FESTIVAL
Do not bring bottles or hard objects as they can cause accidents and hurt other participants
Do not rip other people's T-shirts
You must squash the tomatoes before throwing them as this reduces the impact
Ensure you keep a safe distance from the lorries
As soon as you hear the second shot, you must stop throwing tomatoes
Spain’s rich food culture has given a number of dishes to the world. In fact, Spain Tourism organizes multiple food tours just to familiarize the visitors with their food culture. Tomatoes are the primary ingredient of the majority of their food preparations. It is used in salads, sliced on French bread or simply consumed like an apple.
This festival will offer you a chance to try tostadas con tomate, Basque-style, mini sandwiches called pinxtos, fried potato with spicy tomato sauce known as Spanish bravas. This list is just a summary of the huge array of cuisines offered at La Tomatina festival.
What to eat during La Tomatina?Paella
Arròs al forn (baked rice)
Arròs a banda (rice and fish)
Fideuà
Mona de Pascua
Bunyols (fritters)
The La Tomatina after party is headlined by some of the best DJs and musicians of the world. After the festival, when everyone cleans up, they return to these venues to finish that dance hangover that they are left with at the festival venue. These venues also offer great food and drinks perfect to end your festival experience.
The host city is itself bestowed with a rich history. The Castillo de Buñol is one of the popular Spain attractions which was constructed in the 13th century and has seen the rise and fall of multiple empires.
This castle sits majestically on a small hill between the Borrunes ravine and the Buñol River’s moat formation and is famous for its breath-taking architecture. During the festival, the castle hosts a number of musical concerts.
The one-hour tomato fight is such a big draw that it makes the little town of Buñol one of the most popular tourist destinations in the area. Accommodation is scarce and expensive in the town itself, so most arrive on packed trains from Valencia.
Tomatoes are apparently a natural disinfectant, meaning that after La Tomatina your skin will be cleansed of impurities. The town is also left surprisingly clean, with firefighters hosing down the streets – and people – after the battle.
La Tomatina is not just a short tomato fight. The week leading up to the main event is filled with parades, fireworks and paella cooking contests on the streets of the town.