Is it Worth Going to La Tomatina?
What is La Tomatina?
La Tomatina is a chaotic once-in-a-lifetime event touted as the ‘World’s Largest Food Fight.’ Every year on the last Wednesday in August, the sleepy town of Buñol near Valencia in Spain turns into the battleground for a massive tomato fight. It lasts for an hour of relentless, messy mayhem where over 20,000 people toss 150 tons of overripe tomatoes at each other just for fun. The streets become a sea of red as people batter and dance among flying tomatoes.
La Tomatina is a Spanish tradition that dates back to the 1940s, when a light-hearted street fight broke out during a parade, and young rebels grabbed tomatoes from a nearby market and used them as weapons. What started as a spontaneous scuffle soon grew into an annual celebration and was officially recognized in the 1950s. Today, it is a globally known event that draws partygoers and thrill-seekers who love playful chaos and quirky adventures. Although it may seem wasteful, the tomatoes used are of poor quality and not fit for eating. Plus, the festival brings significant economic benefits to the local area through tourism.
Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara served as the catalyst for the La Tomatina craze among Indians. The cinematography and depiction of the event in the film were so stunning and captivating that most Indians started dreaming of experiencing it at least once. But is it really as portrayed in the movie? Read on to find out more.
What Happens During La Tomatina?
The day usually starts with music, dancing, and lineups as people wait for their turn at lockers, food, beverages, and bands, among other things. As the event approaches, you’ll see masses of people walking toward Plaza del Pueblo (Buñol’s main square). Once there, it’s impossible to move—the crowd is extremely dense. Loud music and cheering fill the air as everyone enjoys the lively festive vibes. Before the tomato fight starts, a unique ritual called the Palo Jabón takes place, where competitors try to climb a greased pole to reach a ham at the top. The tomato war officially begins once the ham is retrieved or after several attempts have been made. You can be sure the festivities start at 12:00 am regardless.
When the cannon blast goes off, trucks loaded with tons of overripe tomatoes arrive in the town centre and drop their load on the ground. The crowds begin to pick up the tomatoes and start hurling them at each other. The trucks continue their journey across the tightly packed space, forcing the already jammed crowd to squish further to let them pass and dropping more tomatoes as they go. A handful of residents perch on top of the trucks, pelting the crowd with tomatoes. For about an hour, the narrow streets are alive with thousands of people laughing, slipping, and tossing squished tomatoes in all directions. Everyone joins in on the frantic, festive, chaotic tomato battle. To prevent injuries, participants are instructed to smash the tomatoes before tossing them, and everyone has to stop once the official signal is given.
When the second signal goes off, the brawl comes to an immediate halt, leaving the streets saturated with tomato pulp. The street is carpeted with tons of tomatoes, and you’ll be trudging through ankle-deep lumpy tomato mush. Everyone then heads down to the river to clean up and rinse off. Alternatively, you can be washed down by locals and kids who enjoy spraying participants clean. Following the fight, fire vehicles and hoses wash down the streets, which are left wonderfully clean thanks to the acidity of the tomato. The festivity continues in many plazas throughout the city. There is music, dancing, food, and celebrations, making it not just a messy battle but also a vibrant cultural festival.
Is La Tomatina Worth Going?
La Tomatina is undeniably a one-of-a-kind and quirky experience that cannot be replicated anywhere else. It’s not just a food fight; it’s a lively, festive explosion of energy where multitudes of people gather to have fun. You’ll have to see it to believe it. Thousands of people laughing, dancing, and relishing the absurdity of being splattered with tomatoes. Tossing tomatoes, giggling nonstop, and jumping into the chaos can be incredibly liberating. For many, it’s pure happiness in its simplest form—something goofy that sparks joy.
Travelers from around the world come together to bond over the chaos, and you might even make friends you’ll stay in touch with long after the festival ends. The vibrant event offers plenty of opportunities to capture colourful, funny, and Instagram-worthy moments. The photos and videos you take home will be cherished keepsakes and lifelong conversation starters.
All this may seem very appealing, but the reality is somewhat different. Is the event really worth the hype, the mess, and the travel? To be honest, La Tomatina isn’t for everyone. I wouldn’t recommend it. Allow me to explain why.
It’s Overcrowded
Buñol is a little town with a population of roughly 10,000, but the event attracts over 20,000 visitors from around the world. The narrow streets get cluttered, and there are lineups everywhere. The Plaza del Pueblo, where the festival is held, is too compact for the number of attendees, so expect to be completely squeezed. It is so jammed that moving around is nearly impossible. Giant trucks loaded with tomatoes drive through the crowd repeatedly. When this happens, the crowd crush is so intense that it is a recipe for disaster. People are pressed together so tightly that it becomes extremely uncomfortable and claustrophobic. The management is pretty rude and will push and shove you to get through.
Risk of Injuries
Let’s not forget that we’re standing in a pool of squished tomatoes that can be extremely treacherous. If someone slipped and fell, they would suffer severe injuries. There is no security, barricades, or crowd management. If a stampede happened, I shudder to think of what could happen. The crowd is overwhelming, and it isn’t easy to stay together. To make matters worse, the loud music makes it impossible to talk on the phone.
Very Messy & Uncomfortable
Let’s move on to other issues. You signed up for a tomato fight, so you shouldn’t complain. Within minutes, you’ll be covered entirely in tomato pulp from head to toe. The juice will seep into your clothing, shoes, hair, and eyes. Being surrounded by thousands of sweaty strangers and soaked in tomato juice is not the most pleasant experience. After a while, many people start finding the smell of tomatoes unpleasant and sticky. Tomatoes are supposed to be crushed before throwing, but not everyone follows this rule. Even the locals sitting in the truck fling them without squishing. The tomatoes are not always fully ripe and soft. A forceful throw can sting, and it’s common to get tomato particles in your eyes or be smacked in the face.
Short Duration
Even though you spend hours planning, driving, and waiting, the tomato fight itself lasts only about an hour. Spending a whole day and putting in a lot of effort just for a one-hour event can be frustrating. Thought, to be honest, everyone wants to go back as soon as possible after the tomato fight, and have a hot shower to wash off all the dirt.
Security Concerns
Security is another concern. The crowded space makes it easy for petty theft to occur, resulting in the loss of personal possessions, such as phones, wallets, cash, jewellery, and keys. Tourists get carried away with easily accessible alcohol. They grow raucous, and several women complain about being inappropriately touched at the event. Every year, a rising number of minor crimes are reported. The rough crowds and occasional rowdiness make it inappropriate for children, seniors, or solo women travellers.
Lack of Facilities
The festival leaves you filthy, with tomato flesh plastered on your clothes, shoes, skin, and hair. Everyone needs a shower, but unfortunately, there is no proper setup for this. Walking around all day and returning to Valencia covered in red mess is not very appealing. There are a few designated showers, but the lines are long and painful. Locals pour water from their balconies; however, it is not very effective. A few people bring out garden hoses and are willing to help you wash off, but be prepared to wait a long time. Remember, thousands of participants are looking to cleanse their bodies of all the red gunk.
The last option is to go to the nearby river to wash off in the polluted water. It’s a long walk, and getting down to the river can be a bit tricky. There are no changing rooms, so attendees must change in the open. A few porta-potties are lined along the way and are free to use. However, by the end of the event, they are so filthy that you’d prefer not to go inside.
Lacks Authenticity
And lastly, La Tomatina doesn’t seem authentic. The only ones participating are the tourists. The locals stand on their balconies and watch and cheer from above. Occasionally, they’d toss a bucket of water or a few tomatoes from a safe distance. As a result, the festival seemed more like a commercial spectacle than a heartfelt tradition that has been celebrated for decades.
Final Words
In a nutshell, La Tomatina is an exciting, chaotic, and unforgettable festival. But it’s not quite what you see in pictures, videos, and movies. There are significant challenges, like crowded venues, hygiene concerns, poor infrastructure, bad management, and chaos. For some, these issues are part of the adventure. Others might find it more of a hassle than a worthwhile experience. If it’s on your bucket list, go ahead and check it out. Otherwise, you can easily skip it..
- By Seema