Overview
About the event
La Tomatina began in the 1940s in the small town of Bu?�ol, Spain. The exact year is debated, but many believe it started in 1945. During a local parade, a group of young people decided to join in on the festivities in a rather unusual way.
They grabbed tomatoes from a nearby vegetable stand and began throwing them at each other, sparking an impromptu food fight.
The chaos and fun of the moment caught the attention of others, and soon, more people joined in, turning it into a town-wide event.
The following year, the same group of young people intentionally brought tomatoes to the parade, eager to relive the fun. The tradition quickly took root, and each year, more people participated in the tomato fight. In the 1950s, the festival was briefly banned by local authorities, who saw it as too unruly.
However, the public outcry was strong, and the ban was lifted. By the 1980s, La Tomatina had grown into an official event, attracting participants from around the globe.
They grabbed tomatoes from a nearby vegetable stand and began throwing them at each other, sparking an impromptu food fight.
The chaos and fun of the moment caught the attention of others, and soon, more people joined in, turning it into a town-wide event.
The following year, the same group of young people intentionally brought tomatoes to the parade, eager to relive the fun. The tradition quickly took root, and each year, more people participated in the tomato fight. In the 1950s, the festival was briefly banned by local authorities, who saw it as too unruly.
However, the public outcry was strong, and the ban was lifted. By the 1980s, La Tomatina had grown into an official event, attracting participants from around the globe.
