Image credit Flickr CC: agsaran
WELCOME TO THE WORLD’S LARGEST FOOD FIGHT!
If you are thinking of heading to the village of Buñol, near Valencia, for this year’s tomato-throwing La Tomatina Festival, be warned that you now need a ticket to take part!
The annual festival, which takes place each year on the last Wednesday in August, has been attracting such huge crowds that a ticketing system has had to be introduced. Only 20,000 tickets will be issued (40,000 people attended last year’s festival) at a cost of 10 euros each – creating a new “sauce” of income for the local council! 15,000 of the tickets will be made available to the general public, with the other 5,000 reserved for local residents. You can buy your tickets at this website (in English)
Happy throwing!
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wow! very nice article. Was very informative since i am doing my college project about la tomatina 2014 and about tomato festival spain culture. It was very helfpul for my project, Thanks again, Cheers. Team – tomatina 2014
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The picture tells it all. Think I’d pass on the tomato throwing. 🙂
Me too! 🙂
You weren’t in the picture? hahaha
It looks messy but a great idea to raise funds 🙂
Yeah – a sponsored tomato throw!! Great idea!
Helpful bit of info for those planning to attend. If only…
😉
Shame for the many people who will turn up without tickets and wont be able to get in. Thought I’d try to do my bit to let them know!
😉
That looks crazy! 20,000 people who don’t get to attend this year will be really disappointed. 🙂
It IS crazy, Cathy – I wonder who ever thought of it in the first place?!!
Me too! I was surprised in Spain and Portugal how many creative ideas there were!! 🙂 Are you attending?
Ummmm …. NO!
Funny! 🙂
Marianne, when I read your questionI couldn’t help answer, because I love to find out about the origins of Spanish customs and fiestas I happen to have found out a little bit about La Tomatina. I had always though it must have originated as a fun way of using up old tomatoes which were too ripe to sell! Nothing so rustic! Apparently it all started in 1944 as a ‘protest’. A group of young lads had been banned by the Town Hall from participating in the traditional summer parade of the village of Buñol (I can’t find out why, exactly!). They began throwing tomatoes around as a protest to the councillers who had banned them from the parade and had such a good time, they decided to do it again the following year. The idea simply ‘caught on’ and now, ironically enough, it’s the Town Hall who encourages the whole thing! Not surprising as thousands of visitors swamp the town every year! The idea behind it then is a protest against authoritarian rule, the ‘establishment’ and such like!
I hope you don’t mind such a long comment. I’m following all your articles with great interest!
OH really? Well, thanks for that information Marie – how interesting! Especially this year as the local council will profit out of the Festival to the tune of 200,000 euros!
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That looks like great fun albeit somewhat messy
I’m sure it IS great fun, Dallas – I can’t help but think about all the clearing up!!
Hi marianne,
I have always wanted to do/see this! Think of all that gazpacho we could make! Thanks for posting the ticket website.
You’re welcome, Marie ….. yes, gazpacho heaven!!
I guess crowd control is that important ? Hmmm didn’t know getting tomatoes hurled at you would be in such high demand 😉 ouch!
Hopefully they are quite ripe!
🙂
I think I will pass this year! But it is better than mud wrestling.
Hahaha … yes, I guess so!
I think I’m too up tight these days to do it myself, but I’d love to photograph it! 🙂
I wonder how people protect their cameras? 🙂
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“hahaha” – I think I will drop the tomato in my salad with garlic, mozzarella di bufala campana and use freshly grated cucumber instead… 🙂 🙂 😉
Very well captured… 🙂
Probably a wise choice, Drake 🙂
This looks like so much fun!! i would love to be able to attend it someday….
Yes, it does, and I hope the get the chance one day 🙂
Sauce of income, lol! Those people who paid their 10 quid to get in will be kicking themselves – they were well and truly squeezed and lathered!
Indeed!
Oh dear, no thank you! 😆 That looks a bit messy to me. I would just want to clean up there..hehehehe
Hahaha …. me too, Sophia!
hehehehe…glad to hear I am not only one. 😆
What an experience that must be!
Hmmmm ….. not sure I fancy it myself though, Angeline! I keep thinking about how they clean it all up again, afterwards 🙂
I always miss all the fun! 🙂
There’s still plenty of time to get your ticket, Arthur – if there are any left! 🙂