La Tomatina 2024: Witness the Epic Tomato Battle of Spain

August 14, 2024

Get ready for one of the most exhilarating, wild and messiest festival of Spain – La Tomatina 2024. This incredible event is just around the corner and it promises to give you an exciting experience of Spain. This wonderful festival is celebrated in the beautiful town of Buñol, Spain. When you go there and take part in the festival, you will witness most streets painted red and people laughing out loud as they have fun throwing tomatoes at each other. But, what is this festival all about? How should you celebrate it? Are there any rules to it? Know about all these and more in this highly curated La Tomatina Guide!

When is La Tomatina 2024?

If you are planning to go to Spain and take part in this Tomato festival then remember the date – 28th August 2024.

The La Tomatina festival is an annual celebration that usually takes place in August on the last Wednesday. On this day, the town of Buñol that is usually sleepy transforms into a lively, tomato-soaked playground.

The main event of this festival starts at 11 AM. However, the exhilaration and excitement around the celebrations start way before the actual event.

Pro Tip: Get to the festival area early so that you can grab a good spot to enjoy the best revelries of La Tomatina.

Although, the tomato event spans just one hour and ends at noon, you can have an amazing tomato fight experience during this time.

Also, make sure to book your tickets for the La Tomatina event in advance. Tickets start from around €10-€12 per person.

How to Reach Buñol?

Buñol is actually a small town that you will find near Valencia. You can easily reach there by first flying into Valencia. After that, you can take a train to reach Buñol. The entire journey lasts about 40 minutes. However, if you prefer to travel by Bus, then you can board a bus too. You will come across a variety of operators providing day trips to Buñol from Valencia.

Remember that the La Tomatina festival will be busy and packed with crowds. So, make sure to arrive early for a smooth tomato festival experience!

What happens at La Tomatina?

Here is how the schedule of La Tomatina will most likely look:

• 8 AM – The crowds will start gathering in the town centre. You should also go there as soon as possible to get the best spot.
• 10 AM – The game of palo jabón starts (you will get to know more about it later).
• 11 AM – A cannon is fired to signal the start of the tomato fight. Throw as many tomatoes as you want on strangers because the entire fight spans just one hour.
• 12 AM – Another cannon is fired which is done to signal the end of the fight.

1). The Palo Jabón of La Tomatina 2024

If you thought that La Tomatina includes just the tomato fight then think again. There is another tradition that is an exciting part of the festival – the palo jabón.

Before the main event begins, a quirky tradition i.e., the palo jabón takes place. In this event, a pole is greased and a piece of ham is placed on the top. The pole is then erected in the town square. Although the event seems foolish or brave, participants need to climb the pole to claim the Ham prize. If you don’t want to do it, just stand at a distance as others try hard to climb the pole. This event actually sets the tone for the main tomato fight event!

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2). The Main Event – Tomato Fight!

Around 11 AM, numerous trucks arrive bringing more than 100 tons of tomatoes into the town of Buñol. This is also your cue to get ready for the exhilarating event.

Beware as at the first signal, everyone will grab tomatoes to throw on each other. Travelers and locals from across the world indulge in the madness of tomato throwing. You may get hit with a tomato or you might get to throw some on others. You will slip and you will laugh too. Overall, it is a true tomato extravaganza that you won’t find anywhere else.

Another unique sight that you will get to see is that most streets will turn to red thanks to the tomato juice flowing!

3). It Doesn’t End at the Main Event – The After Party Awaits!

After the second signal, the tomato throwing stops – so, you should stop too (it is a strict rule!). Fire trucks will clean the streets and so will the participants. You can also lend a hand to quickly get the streets spick and span.

But, wait! There is more to it than just the main event. You can join the others and continue the revelry with music, dancing and lots of sangria. These celebrations usually extend till the night which means you get what you came for and then some more!

Rules of La Tomatina You Should Know

Although the La Tomatina seems like a chaotic festival, there are some rules that you need to follow. These rules are placed by the authorities so that everyone has a safe and enjoyable time:

1). Squish the tomato before you throw – Don’t throw the tomato as it is. Instead, you are required to squish the tomato and then throw it towards others. This should be done to avoid any sort of injuries.
2). No other objects of projectiles – You are only allowed to use tomatoes in the fight. You cannot bring other objects like water balloons to the main event.
3). Do not rip the clothes – Make sure that you are not ripping any of the participants clothes. Although it sounds tempting considering the chaotic nature of the festival, you are required to respect the rules of the festival.
4). Make way for trucks – Participants are requested to maintain a safe distance from the trucks that will be delivering the tomatoes for the fight. These trucks have been given the right of passage so make sure to allow them to travel freely.
5). Follow the event signals closely – The tomato throwing extravaganza begins and ends with a cannon shot. So, start and stop the tomato fight according to the signals.

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Where to stay for La Tomatina 2024?

One of the most important things that you should take care of is the accommodations. Finding the right place to stay for La Tomatina can make your entire festival experience even more memorable.

You can consider staying in Buñol. This will mean that you can stay right in the heart of the festivities. You won’t need to worry about catching a bus or a train either. However, planning to stay in Buñol means you will have limited hotels and accommodation options to book. These tend to fill up fast as the dates of the festival get nearer. High demand can also lead to higher prices which can pinch your pocket if you are running on a budget!

Then there is the option of staying in Valencia. Although, it is around 40-50 minutes away you will have a lot more options than Buñol. The stays may be usually affordable compared to the ones in Buñol. You can also check out the amazing city before or after the La Tomatina event. However, make sure to arrange your transport at least a day before so that you don’t miss out on the festivities. Start early from Valencia so that you can reach the festival venue on time!

You can choose from a wide range of accommodation options like Hotels, Hostels, Airbnb’s or even camping. All you need to get started is a Spain Visa Appointment!

What to Wear to La Tomatina?

Since you are planning to attend the La Tomatina, it is important that you choose the right outfit. You will need to select something that is comfortable, protected and is ready for a messy but good time!

You will be surprised to know that it is a tradition to wear a white t-shirt. If you have one then try wearing it. Additionally, it will show all those tomato stains beautifully. Or if you have some old clothes then you can wear them too. This way you don’t have to ruin your new clothes!

Apart from this, you should go with shorts or lightweight pants so that you can easily move. Pair up your clothes with a pair of closed-toe shoes so that you can protect your feet from tomatoes and slippery streets.

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Protective Gear You Should Carry to La Tomatina

You should carry some protective gear so that you don’t mess up any of your valuable things.

Try carrying sunglasses or preferably goggles. This is important because there will be a lot of tomato throwing and tomato juice. You wouldn’t want to get that into your eyes. If you want to click some pictures then carry a waterproof camera. This way you won’t get your camera damaged and click some great pictures too. Everyone has a smartphone so make sure to carry a waterproof case along with it!

Pro Tip – Bring a change of clothes because you will need them after the tomato fight is done.

Do’s and Dont’s of La Tomatina 2024

Here are some do’s and dont’s that will help you enjoy a wonderful La Tomatina experience:

The Do’s of La Tomatina

• Arrive early to the festival venue so that you can get a good spot.
• Drink plenty of water before and after the main tomato fight event.
• Make sure to squish the tomatoes before throwing them at others.
• Respect the local rules and stick to them for a hassle-free festival experience.
• Make sure to be mindful of the local property. Avoid throwing tomatoes on buildings or vehicles.
• Try making some friends while you are in Buñol. By the end of the tomato fight, you will have gotten some friends that may stick around for life!

The Dont’s of La Tomatina

• Do not bring any valuable items like jewellery. It is most likely that they will get damaged or lost.
• Don’t wear your best clothes or new clothes as you know, they will get ruined.
• Do not throw anything other than tomatoes. It is against the locally established rules and it is dangerous too.
• If you are not prepared to climb the greased pole in the game of palo jabón then don’t do it. You might injure yourself if you do!

Can I bring children to La Tomatina?

If you have children and wish to travel to Spain to participate in La Tomatina 2024, the first question that comes to mind is, “Can I bring my children to La Tomatina?”

The good news is there are no age restrictions, so you may bring your children. However, the La Tomatina is a bit of a wild event. It is generally recommended for adults or people aged 16 and above.

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However, if you still want to go to Spain to see the tomato festival and enjoy it with your kids, you need to lay down some ground rules. The complete family must stay together throughout the event. That’s because the intensity of the crowds can be overwhelming. Or, you can come early and grab a spot that is relatively less crowded. This way you and your kids can be in a safe space and enjoy the event. Bring extra protection like full-coverage goggles for eyes and ear plugs for kids. If you want to leave quickly, make sure to have an exit strategy. This way you can easily leave, should the need arise!

Conclusion

The La Tomatina 2024 festival promises to be one of the wildest and exciting festivals that you can ever enjoy. You may see this as a food fight. But on the inside, this wonderful event is a celebration of community, joy and most importantly – letting loose!

So, what is holding you back? Apply for Spain visa from London, pack your bags and jet off to Spain. The La Tomatina preparations are in full swing and you are the one that the beautiful town of Buñol awaits!

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