In 1945, during a parade of gigantes y cabezudos, young adults who wanted to be in the event staged a brawl in town’s main square, the Plaza del Pueblo. There was a vegetable stand nearby, so they picked up tomatoes and used them as weapons. The police had to intervene to break up the fight and forced those responsible to pay the damages incurred. This is the most popular of many theories about how the Tomatina started.
The following year the young people repeated the fight on the same Wednesday of August, only this time they brought their own tomatoes from home. They were again dispersed by the police. After repeating this in subsequent years, the tradition was established. In 1950, the town allowed the tomato hurl to take place, however the next year it was again stopped. A lot of young people were imprisoned but the Buñol residents forced the authorities to let them go. The festival gained popularity with more and more participants getting involved every year. After subsequent years it was banned again with threats of serious penalties. In the year 1957, some young people planned to celebrate “the tomato’s funeral”, with singers, musicians, and comedies. The main attraction however, was the coffin with a big tomato inside being carried around by youth and a band playing the funeral marches. Considering this popularity of the festival and the alarming demand, 1957 saw the festival becoming official with certain rules and restrictions. These rules have gone through a lot of modifications over the years.
Get Your Ticket with an Exclusive Discount
This year, Nest Hostels Valencia is teaming up with Happy Tours to get you access to this legendary festival.
Buy your ticket through the link below and use our exclusive discount code:
Here’s the link where you can get your tickets: https://www.happytours.es/la-tomatina.html
Don’t forget to use our DISCOUNT COUPON: NESTHOSTELS
What’s included?
– Private bus Valencia – Buñol.
– Entrance to the “Festivals all around” pre-party venue in Buñol
– Official entrance to La Tomatina.
– Entrance to the post-party venue “Festivals all around” in Buñol
– Private bus Buñol – Valencia.
– Official La Tomatina after party at night: surprise destination.
– One Sangria/beer in Fun zone of the festival.
– One plate of paella
– Happy Tours Staff.
Need a Place to Stay?
Stay with us at Purple Nest Hostel on the 26th, 27th, or 28th of August, and get an extra 5% discount on your stay when you book through our website
Discount code: TOMATINA25
PRO TIPS
– Wear old clothes (or swimsuit) because it will stain a lot.
– Wear closed shoes (no flip flops or barefoot), better old ones because you will most likely have to throw them away.
– Wear a pair of diving goggles to prevent tomato from entering the eyes (they are acidic and itchy in the eyes).
– Put mobile, camera, money etc. inside some plastic bags (more than one …).
– NO BACKPACKS WILL BE ALLOWED: take nothing more than the essential, and nothing of value or that can get wet.
