22.000 people from all over the world. 150.000 kilos of tomatoes.
The population increases with a few 100 % every year in the Spanish small town of Buñol during La Tomatina, the world’s biggest food fight.
Are you thinking about checking this unique event off your bucket list?
I took the complete 2-night experience, and it’s one of the craziest things I’ve ever done. Here are all the details about why, the different options, and everything else you need to know to get the most out one of the world’s most flipped festivals.
La Tomatina 2024 will take place on the 28th of August. You can already buy your ticket, it always sells out.
All Kinds Of People Are Checking
Off La Tomatina From Their Bucket List
People between 18 – 65 years old, from all over the world, representing every profession and personality, attend La Tomatina.
A woman in her 60s is wearing tomato earrings and tells me how she’s had La Tomatina on her bucket list for years. “I’m so happy to finally be here.”
A couple is here to kick off their honeymoon celebration, and several groups of friends and solo travelers have made their way from Australia, the US, the UK, Asia, Latin America, and different parts of Spain, for La Tomatina.
There Are Experiences Organized By
Locals Who’ve Attended La Tomatina
More Times Than You Can Imagine
I’m attending La Tomatina with Festivals All Around, a locally-run agency started by Pepe. Pepe grew up in Valencia, and has been to about 15+ Tomatinas. His dad used to come home from La Tomatina when he was a kid, all drained in tomatoes
“Even if I can’t tell you where, you will find pieces of tomato somewhere on your body a week from now.. It will be one of the craziest days of your life.”
Pepe is also organizing the biggest official events surrounding La Tomatina (more about those below), such as the Official Tomatina After Party.
You Can Experience La Tomatina In Combination With The Best Of Valencia
The full 2-Night La Tomatina Experience introduces you to some of Valencia’s highlights. It kicks off on the Malvarrosa beach in Valencia with free flow of Sangria. Pepe’s mom is cooking paella for everyone, other local friends and family members are helping out.
You might also like: The Best Places To Eat In Valencia
You will miss Paella, Valencia’s most typical dish, when you leave.
There Is A Rooftop Pre-Party
At night we head to the Official La Tomatina Pre Party at a rooftop club perfect for watching the sunset.
Beer Pong can get pretty emotional.
We’re about 50 people in total, everyone is chitchatting with everyone. People are happy, mingling, talking about tomorrow’s tomato fight.
You Won’t Know What To
Expect, Which Is Kind Of Nice
We start the day of La Tomatina with a 6am breakfast buffet, before taking off for Buñol. No one knows what to expect, and that makes it even better.
We arrive just as the sun rises. As you can see, all set.
The usually sleepy little town is full of energy. The population has increased from 9.000 to more than 30. 000. Locals are hanging out from their windows, playing music, and throwing water on everyone using big hoses and buckets. People are selling traditional street food.
So much is going on at the same time. The locals seem to have as fun as everyone who’s visiting.
The La Tomatina Free-Flow Sangria
Party Is Worth Coming Here For Alone
By 8.am we’re having our first sangria at the official pre-party venue. Yes, if you’re doing the 2-day experience there are 2 pre-parties. The ambiance is great. Like a unique, giant Friday after-work, just much better.
People are walking around in all kinds of outfits.
Mingling wearing a bull mask found on the local market is perfectly normal when you’re about to experience La Tomatina.
Some are dancing on stage, and you’re welcome to join.
That’s Pepe dancing to the left From dancing, to DJ:ing, and helping out with the food. He’s everywhere. Like that guitar guy from the 90ies movie ‘There’s something about Mary.”
A group of Brazilians are wearing matching outfits, just as during the Rio Carnival.
Anything goes.
The energy level is high, time flies. “If this would end right here, I’d already be satisfied. This is amazing” a guy from my group tells me, as we move towards the fight location.
There Is Pole With a Ham That
People Are Ready To Die For
We find a spot next to the legendary pole (more about the pole under FAQ below). People are climbing it as if their life depended on it, with no mercy.
Check out the video below and you will see what I mean.
Before I saw this live I thought about giving it a shot. I agree with the woman who’s answering in Spanish when her friends tell her to climb up – Go up, what?! Oh no, no no…
There are people and music everywhere.
Some are running around with water pistols, and others take you down with buckets filled with ice cold water.
Letting Go Of Everything Is Amazing
11.00 the start signal goes off and the tomato trucks start to roll in.
The objective is simple. Smash as many as possible within the next hour, until the last truck has passed. Photo: LA Times.
After a few minutes there are tomatoes everywhere. You don’t know who you hit. You just hit. You’re on your own. It’s crazy and intense, like nothing I’ve ever experienced before.
I stop for a second to just look around, and it’s surreal. How we are all there throwing tomatoes on each other like kids. It’s something incredibly liberating about hitting someone with a tomato in the head. You will understand what I mean when you are doing it.
It makes no sense at all – but it is soo much fun.
La Tomatina in action. One of those things you have to experience to really understand.
The Shower After Tomatina Might
Be The Best One You’ve Ever Had
Once the fight is over, locals are standing ready with hoses outside of their houses, helping everyone to get clean. There are also showers where you can get (the worst) tomato off.
The buses take us back to the hostel. I’m having one of the best hot showers of my life.
The La Tomatina After Party
Will Level Up Your Whole Experience
After having seen everyone all covered in tomatoes, people look extra fly that night when it’s time for the official La Tomatina After Party.
Pepe introduced the official La Tomatina After Party a few years ago, and many say that it has increased the level of the whole Tomatina event.
The venue is chic, with different areas for dancing, talking, eating, having a drink, or whatever you might feel like.
There are pools, where even the famous Instagram flamingo is floating around. If you don’t have your shot with it yet, this might the time. Different DJs are mixing electro and house with some hip hop. Everyone is letting themselves go.
The Different Ways To
Experience La Tomatina
You can make your own way to
Buñol and just attend the event
You will have a fun and crazy experience of about 1 hour, which then will be over. There are local events taking place in Buñol before and after the event. If you speak Spanish and are good at networking, you can probably find your way to a few of these.
You can come here on a Day Package
Whether you’re traveling from Valencia, Madrid, Barcelona or somewhere else, you can buy a One-Day package and get everything organized for you. Including the Sangria Pre Party and the Official After Party. This is a good option if you’re short on time.
You can come here on a
complete 2-Night Experience
You come to Valencia the day before, and spend the night here once the main event is over. This gives you more time to connect with people and get excited. This is what I did, and what I recommend as the best way to get the most out of the event.
La Tomatina is about much more than just throwing tomatoes. It’s about the people you meet, the conversations, the excitement. It’s about the good times, the surrounding events, which are as fun as Tomatina itself, and the memories and new friends you’ll leave with.
Are You Ready To
Experience La Tomatina?
20.000+ people come to La Tomatina every year for a reason.
It‘s about letting yourself go, being present, being crazy, and forgetting about what’s “appropriate” or “right” for a while.
I loved the experience, and there is a big chance that you will, too.
Check out the options and book your experience. Use the code “goingtotomatina10” for a 10% discount – no matter which package you choose.
Common Questions Answered About La Tomatina
Photo: Travel And Leisure
How did La Tomatina start?
Even if there are different rumors, the most accredited story of how La Tomatina started is from the last Wednesday of August in 1945. A few youngsters in Buñol took part in the Giants and Big-Heads figures parade. Somehow they managed to cause one participant’s big head to fall off, which resulted in a big fight.
People started to throw tomatoes from the nearby fruit and vegetable stall on the town square, until the local police ended the war.
The next year, a group of young boys planned a new dispute and brought their own tomatoes. Their example was followed over the coming years, and so La Tomatina was born.
Who Should Experience La Tomatina?
Tomatina attracts a more mixed crowd than you can imagine. From 18-65+, across nationalities, professions, and personalities.
How many tomatoes are being used at Tomatina?
Approx. 150,000 kilos of tomatoes.
Isn’t this food waste?
No, these are tomatoes that don’t pass the control to be sold and can’t be eaten. They are rotten and would just be dumped (please don’t eat them).
What do the locals in Buñol think about the event?
While the event has changed from what it used to be, and it of course exist different opinions, locals still take part. Only 17,000 tickets go on sale, while 5000 are reserved for Buñol’s residents to get free access. La Tomatina also brings hundreds of thousands euros into the local economy. I felt very welcome. It’s always important to show respect, and remember that the line between fun and annoying can be fine with events of this size.
What is the ham about?
There is a ham, and yes it’s hard to take it down (check out this video). The idea used to be that the event only should start when someone took the ham down. These days, the ham is just additional entertainment. The event always starts at 11.00, no matter how it goes with the ham. Even if it looks like you’d become a millionaire if you manage to take it down, based on the effort people put in, you “only” win the ham.
Should I wear glasses?
I think it’s worth wearing, but you will still get tomatoes in your eyes. Some people don’t think they matter. You can buy them for 5€ before the event at the agency’s HQ.
Are there any rules at La Tomatina?
Tomatoes should be crushed first, so that they don’t hurt that much. From experience, I can say that lots of people don’t follow this rule though, which brings us to the next question… (see Tomatina Rules for more info).
Does it hurt?
Yes, it can hurt if people don’t crush the tomatoes. I was hit in the head so many times, from all angles. The adrenaline helps you manage. Don’t worry, you will be fine. 😉
Any strategy needed?
Just go all in and have fun. I was standing close by the ham pole, where there was a place with water where you can wash your eyes if needed. It’s very crowded everywhere though.
How dirty will I get?
Very. Don’t wear clothes you care about.
What about food and stuff?
You can buy food on-site at the different venues. You will also have some free time in between the events on the last day where you can try restaurants close by the hostel.
What to pack for the 2-Night La Tomatina Experience?
- Normal casual clothes for 3 days
- Swimwear in case you feel like going to the beach
- Clothes that you don’t care about for La Tomatina (including closed shoes)
- Something nice for the After Party if you want (even if you can be casual here too)
- Waterproof protection for your phone in case you feel like taking pictures
For more information and updates, see Festivals All Around’s Website and social media (Facebook, Instagram, YouTube).
Questions? Let me know in the comments!
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