Ever felt the irresistible urge to chuck a tomato at someone? If you have, congratulations — you’re halfway to experiencing Spain’s wildest, messiest, and most delightfully absurd festival: La Tomatina.
Thousands of people, a sea of ripe tomatoes, and a town ready to embrace the chaos — this is La Tomatina for you.
Sounds tempting? Then grab your goggles, wear something you don’t mind ruining forever, and let’s dive into the juicy details of this legendary tomato fight!
Image Credit: Getty Images, Irina Starikova.
What is La Tomatina festival?
La Tomatina is a massive food fight festival held annually in Buñol, a small town in Spain. Participants throw overripe tomatoes at each other in a fun and friendly battle that turns the streets into a red, squishy mess. It’s a one-of-a-kind event that attracts people from all over the world.
Did you know? Tom Daley is also a fan of La Tomitina! Check out his recommendations for things to do after the festival, as well as other sporting events happening in Europe this summer.
When is La Tomatina festival?
La Tomatina takes place on the last Wednesday of August each year. Mark your calendars, because this is one fiesta you won’t want to miss.
La Tomatina dates
- 28 August 2024
- 27 August 2025
- 26 August 2026
- 25 August 2027
- 30 August 2028
- 29 August 2029
- 28 August 2030
Image Credit: Getty Images, Sergi Formoso. Image Location: Buñol, Spain
Where does the La Tomatina festival take place?
The festival is held in Buñol, a charming town located about 20 miles west of Valencia. It’s a beautiful spot with a relaxed vibe… until the tomato fight begins!
Getting to Buñol is a breeze, especially by train. The C3 suburban line from Valencia-Nord station runs every hour like clockwork. Just hop on a Renfe Cercanías train from Valencia Estació del Nord, and in just a little over one hour, you’ll find yourself in the heart of the action.
Pro tip: Book your tickets in advance through the Trainline app to avoid the last-minute rush.
Why is the La Tomatina festival celebrated?
La Tomatina is celebrated simply for fun! There’s no deep historical or religious significance — just pure, unadulterated joy and community spirit.
How did the La Tomatina festival start?
Legend has it that it all started in 1945 with a street brawl near a spilled vegetable stand. People began tossing tomatoes at each other, and that’s how the world’s biggest food fight began. The tradition stuck; and now, it’s a globally renowned event that draws thousands of revelers.
How many tomatoes are used in La Tomatina festival?
Brace yourself: around 150,000 kilograms (about 330,000 pounds!) of tomatoes are used during the festival. These tomatoes — which are overripe and not very tasty — are distributed evenly along the route by six trucks to make sure enough sauce will be flying around.
Image Credit: Getty Images, Sergio Leon. Image Location: Spain
Is the La Tomatina festival a waste of food?
While it might seem wasteful, the tomatoes used are low-quality and not fit for consumption. Plus, the festival brings significant economic benefits to the local community through tourism.
Is it free to go to La Tomatina?
Unfortunately, no. Since this wild party became so famous in the 2000s, organizers decided to regulate it. Now, attendance is limited to 20,000 ticketed entries to manage the crowd and ensure safety.
You’ve got two options: snag the basic entry ticket from €15 to get into the fun, or splurge a bit for extras like a cloakroom, a cool T-shirt, a hearty Valencian paella plate, drinks, and even access to the epic after-party.
Is the La Tomatina festival worth going to?
Absolutely! If you’re up for a unique adventure and don’t mind getting a little messy, La Tomatina is an experience of a lifetime.
Read also: discover Spain’s famous landmarks, food, and culture
How to get La Tomatina festival tickets?
Tickets and packages can be purchased online from the official La Tomatina website. Prices typically range from €15 to €80. The tickets are personalized, non-refundable, and can only be picked up by the person named on them. If someone else needs to collect them, they’ll need a written okay from the ticket owner.
Does La Tomatina festival sell out?
Yes, tickets sell out fast, so grab yours as soon as they’re available (the €15 tickets are already sold out!).
Image Credit: Getty Images, (c) flydime. Image Location: Buñol, Spain
Is there an age limit for La Tomatina?
La Tomatina welcomes participants aged at least 14 years old, but preferably 18 and up for the tomato mayhem. It is not recommended for the little ones due to the event’s chaotic nature. However, kids can still get in on the fun with La Tomatina Infantil — aka Tomatina Kids — a special version just for them held the Saturday before the main event.
When is the La Tomatina Infantil festival in 2024?
This year, in 2024, La Tomatina Infantil kicks off on August 24th at noon in Buñol’s Plaza del Pueblo. Designed for children aged 4 to 14, this mini battle lasts about 30-40 minutes, offering a safe and supervised way for them to hurl tomatoes and create memories.
Is La Tomatina the world’s largest food fight?
Indeed, it is! La Tomatina holds the title for the world’s biggest food fight, drawing in a hefty harvest of participants every year.
What is the max number of participants allowed in La Tomatina?
They cap it at around 20,000 participants to keep things safe and under control.
How to prepare for La Tomatina
Wear old clothes you don’t mind ruining, bring swimming goggles to protect your eyes, and secure your valuables in a waterproof pouch. Don’t forget to wear shoes that can handle the slippery, tomato-filled streets.
Image Credit: Getty Images, David Soanes Photography. Image Location: Valencia, Spain
Where to stay for the La Tomatina festival
Valencia is the best base for your La Tomatina adventure, with everything from budget-friendly hostels to fancy hotels. Buñol has only a few places to stay, so better book early if you want to be right in the thick of things.
What do people wear to La Tomatina?
Comfortable, old clothes and shoes you can discard afterward. Many people wear swimwear underneath to make post-fight cleanup easier.
What are the 5 rules of La Tomatina?
- Don’t bring bottles or hard objects.
- Don’t tear others’ clothes.
- Squash tomatoes before throwing them.
- Keep a safe distance from trucks.
- Stop when you hear the second warning firework.
Image Credit: Getty Images, Manuel Navarro. Image Location: Buñol, Spain
What rule is commonly ignored by participants in La Tomatina?
Despite the warnings, when the tomatoes start flying, so do the clothes. At La Tomatina, ripping shirts, dresses, and pants becomes the latest fashion craze on the tomato-splattered catwalk!
What can you not bring to La Tomatina?
Leave your bottles, hard objects, and valuable items at home. Safety first, fun second.
What happens the night before La Tomatina?
The night before, Buñol is alive with pre-festival parties. Don’t miss the paella cooking competition — a delicious way to kick off the festivities.
What happens on the Wednesday morning of La Tomatina?
On Wednesday morning, the first event is the “Palo Jabón”, where brave participants try to climb a greased pole to retrieve a ham at the top. Once the ham is dropped, the tomato fight begins!
How many hours does La Tomatina last?
The tomato fight itself lasts for about an hour, but the memories (and stains) will last a lifetime.
What time does La Tomatina start and end?
The battle starts at 12pm and ends by 1pm. Get ready to rumble!
What is the prize at the end of La Tomatina?
There’s no official prize, just the glory of having participated in the world’s biggest food fight and the stories you’ll have to tell.
Where does everyone go after La Tomatina?
After the fight, many head to the Buñol River or the public showers to clean off. The town also hosts a post-fight party to keep the fun going.
Image Credit: Getty Images, Vicente Suarez Belloch. Image Location: water route in Buñol, Spain
Where do people wash themselves after La Tomatina?
Most participants wash off in the Buñol River or use public showers set up by the town. Bring a change of clothes!
Who cleans up La Tomatina?
The town of Buñol takes care of the cleanup. Fire trucks and street cleaners are on standby to wash away the tomato carnage.
Is there music during La Tomatina?
Yes, there’s music throughout the event, adding to the festive atmosphere and keeping the energy high.
What is the difference between La Tomatina and Holi?
While both are colorful and chaotic, La Tomatina uses tomatoes and takes place in Spain, whereas Holi, the Hindu festival of colors, involves colored powders and is celebrated in India.
What is the English of La Tomatina?
“La Tomatina” means “The Tomato Festival.” Simple, straightforward, and totally epic.
Now that you’re armed with all the juicy details on La Tomatina, it’s time to ketchup on the action! Whether you’re ready to salsa with tomatoes, savor paella, or just relish the chaos, buckle up for an epic adventure. Download the Trainline app and get saucy with your plans for the ultimate tomato festival experience!
Header Image Credit: Getty Images, (c) flydime. Image Location: Buñol, Spain
