The final Wednesday in August marks Spain’s messiest competition. Held in Buñol, 40km (25 miles) west of Valencia, La Tomatina is a tomato-throwing spectacle that pulls 20,000 revelers every year. In case you’re planning on turning into a part of the human passata, right here’s all the data you want to squeeze probably the most out of this chaotic celebration.
Following a two-year COVID-19 hiatus, the competition is about to return on August 31, 2022. Here is all the pieces you want to go to earlier than you go.
What’s La Tomatina?
The (ticketed) mayhem takes place in Plaza del Pueblo (Buñol’s foremost sq.) and Calle Cid. At round 9am the palo-jabón, a big greased pole with a ham connected to the tip of it’s hoisted into the air and there’s a mad scramble as folks wrestle in opposition to one another to pull it down.
At exactly 11am, no matter whether or not somebody has efficiently grabbed the ham (which is uncommon), a firework indicators vehicles to begin tipping over 100 tonnes of overripe, squishy tomatoes onto the sq.. For the subsequent hour, everybody joins in a frenzied, cheerful, anarchic tomato battle till a second firework indicators the tip of play.
You haven’t achieved La Tomatina except you…
Aren’t nonetheless discovering bits of tomato in your hair, up your nostril, below your nails and between your butt cheeks for days and even weeks after the competition.
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What to pack
A change of garments (together with sneakers), which may usually be left on the coach you arrived on (if not, deliver a backpack-style dry bag). Buñol Metropolis Council now gives showers, so you may clean up to a level earlier than you get again on the bus.
Pack a chest strap for those who’re planning to movie the motion with a GoPro, as you’ll want your arms free for hurling tomatoes (or shielding your self from tomatoes being lobbed at you), and a completely waterproof cellphone case with a sturdy neck strap for your cellphone – for those who dare to deliver it.
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What to put on
Put on outdated garments and closed-in sneakers with respectable grip, and a pair of swimming goggles to shield your eyes – the acidic tomato juice can sting. Ski goggles will even work, however these might be pulled off extra simply. Go away your hat behind.
Outer layers generally get ripped off within the fray, so it’s beneficial that ladies put on a decent sports activities bra or a crop-style bikini prime and swim bottoms beneath, or comfortable Speedos for males.
How lengthy does the tomato battle final?
Count on the tomato tossing to final for about an hour. The chaos concludes after the second firework.
La Tomatina ‘do’ listing
Do guarantee tomatoes are squashed earlier than you throw them. It will assist to keep away from injuring somebody however be warned that others received’t at all times be so form.
Do bear in mind to search for. Locals take part by pelting festival-goers with their very own tomato provides from residences above the sq..
Do look out for your mates, and the folks round you. La Tomatina will get fairly hectic. In case you’re not huge on crowds, mess and discomfort, this isn’t the competition for you.
Do cease throwing tomatoes when the second firework goes off. It’s throughout, people.
Do examine your journey insurance coverage. Insurance coverage is included within the competition ticket worth, however examine it gives enough cowl for your wants.
La Tomatina ‘do not’ listing
Don’t hassle attempting to keep away from getting pelted with fruit. Simply let it occur.
Don’t put on any jewellery. Notably hoop earrings that may very well be painfully ripped out.
Don’t deliver bottles or exhausting objects. You received’t be allowed to deliver them into the competition space, anyway.
Don’t get too shut to the tomato vehicles. You actually don’t need to get pushed below these tires.
Don’t drink an excessive amount of alcohol the night time earlier than (or the morning of). The stench of rotting tomatoes within the mid-summer solar is not any enjoyable for a dusty punter. On that notice, drink loads of water earlier than you enter the competition; it will get highly regarded ready round for the enjoyable to start.
Don’t get too tough. Pushing, shoving and ripping folks’s clothes on goal isn’t OK.
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How do I get there?
It takes roughly an hour by bus to attain Buñol from Valencia. All competition tickets bought by way of the La Tomatina web site now embody return same-day bus transport from locations additionally together with Barcelona, Madrid, Alicante, Almería, Benidorm, Dénia, Calpe and Cartagena, so you may simply come for the day for those who like. Remember the fact that buses from Barcelona depart at 3:30am.
What ought to I do if I need to return with a narrative?
Go on, have a go at climbing that greasy pole.
What is unquestionably a foul thought?
Bringing something to the competition that you simply’re not snug dropping.
What are the present COVID-19 restrictions?
There aren’t any COVID-19 restrictions for the 2022 competition. In case you choose to put on a masks, there’s roughly zero probability you’ll nonetheless have it on when the hour’s up.
The place ought to I keep?
Most festival-goers (who aren’t simply busing in for the day) mattress down in Valencia, so guide early.
It’s also possible to guide hostel and lodge lodging by the La Tomatina web site for those who’re eager to mingle with different punters. A variety of different operators, together with Busabout, additionally supply competition packages.
In case you’re touring independently, contemplate staying in Buñol for the week-long celebration, which includes music, dancing, parades and fireworks. The night time earlier than the battle, a paella cooking competitors is held. E book as early as doable to safe lodging right here.
Can I deliver youngsters?
There’s no age restriction, however bringing younger youngsters isn’t beneficial because the competition can get very rowdy, with dozens of individuals injured yearly. It’s simple to develop into separated within the fray, so for those who do deliver youngsters, prepare a gathering level earlier than the competition will get underway, and use a everlasting marker to write your cellphone quantity on their arm/s.
A safer choice for youngsters is the La Tomatina Infantil (Tomatina Children) occasion (ages 4-12) held in Plaza del Pueblo the week earlier than the primary competition. In 2022, the ‘mini battle’, which lasts up to 40 minutes, is scheduled to be held at midday on August 22.
What can I do after the competition?
One of many advantages of staying in Valencia is the straightforward entry to the official after-party held within the metropolis, with tickets obtainable from the La Tomatina web site.
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Remind me how this messy competition got here to be?
In accordance to the La Tomatina web site, the competition started in 1945, when a kerfuffle throughout a Buñol cultural parade led to a market stall of greens falling sufferer to a fired-up crowd. Townsfolk reportedly revived the meals battle the next 12 months, bringing tomatoes from dwelling. After the competition was banned within the early 1950s, a ‘tomato burial’ held in protest in 1957 paved the way in which for La Tomatina to be acknowledged as an official competition. Since 2013, the competition has been ticketed to restrict attendees to a manageable 20,000.
Is La Tomatina a waste of meals?
The low-quality tomatoes bought cheaply for the competition are on the flip or already rotten, so they’re unlikely to have had an alternate future in somebody’s salad.
I missed out on this 12 months — how do I begin planning for subsequent 12 months?
Tickets usually go on sale a number of months earlier than the competition and might promote out, so bookmark the La Tomatina web site and keep watch over it for bulletins.
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