Buñol Prepares for this years Tomatina

 

Preparations are underway for this year's 'La Tomatina', which is held in the streets of the Town of Buñol in the north of the region of Valencia.

As many as 40'000 participants from around descend on the Town, which is usually only home to 9'000 residents, to hurl tonnes of tomatoes at each other.

The fiesta is held every year on the last wednesday in August.

The hour long food fight, known as the 'Tomatina', leaves the town bathed in a bright red sea of tomato pulp.

Buñol's town council usually bring in around 100 tonnes of ripe tomatoes on trucks for the revellers who descend on the town to take part in the event that has now been taking place since the 1940's.

Regular participants come prepared wearing goggles and old clothes, some even shirtless, knowing that after the tomatoes have been thrown the council go through the area hosing down buildings and revellers with gallons of water.

Last year the Town spent 28'000 Euros of their 70'000 budget for the fiesta on tomatoes alone, with the balance being spent on security, mobile toilets, cleaning services and civil protection. The sums are expected to be similar this year.

The Fiesta has always been popular with tourists, however this year a flood of tourists from India are expected to attend the event. This is due to the Town, and the Tomatina itself, featuring in a number of popular Bollywood movies recently.