La Tomatina is an annual festival that takes place in Bunol, Spain, about 30 miles west of Valencia. But don’t go expecting calm sauce tastings and culinary delights, as La Tomatina is essentially a food fight with one weapon: tomatoes.

Over 50 years old, this unique festival draws approximately 20,000- 50,000 participants each year. Tomatoes are trucked in from all over Spain with the sole purpose of being catapulted into anyone in the area.  People who choose to participate are encouraged to wear protective eye wear and gloves. The actual tomato tossing only takes place for an hour, but the town celebrates with a week long festival that includes live music, delicious food, and general good times.  Origins of the festival vary depending on who you ask and the aftermath is a sight to be seen, as the streets run red with sauce.  The hour long food fight begins and ends with the launching of a rocket, and once it’s over, no more tomatoes may be thrown. The town immediately begins cleaning the streets with hoses and once the tomatoes are rinsed away, the streets are left cleaner than before due to the acidity of the fruit.   If you’re looking to get messy on your next vacation in Spain, this may be the event for you!

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