20,000 Join La Tomatina, Throw 165 Tonnes of Tomatoes in Buñol

On the morning of August 30, more than 20,000 people descended on the small town of Buñol in eastern Spain, hurling 165 tonnes of tomatoes across its streets in the world‑famous La Tomatina festival. The event, which began in 1945, has grown into a global attraction, drawing visitors from every continent to participate in the annual tomato‑throwing showdown.

The festival is held on the last Wednesday of August and is organized by the local council and a volunteer committee. Participants line up in the town’s main square and, after a brief safety briefing, are released to fling the tomatoes in a controlled, one‑minute blast. The tomatoes are sourced from nearby farms, and the town’s infrastructure is temporarily closed to traffic to accommodate the crowd and ensure safety. After the fight, volunteers clean up the streets, and the town’s residents help restore the area to its pre‑festival condition.

La Tomatina remains a symbol of communal joy and culinary playfulness, and the 165 tonnes of tomatoes underscore the sheer scale of the event. The festival’s organizers continue to emphasize safety protocols and environmental stewardship, ensuring that the tradition can be enjoyed responsibly by future generations.