More than 20,000 people take part in annual Tomatina event in Eastern Spain

Friday, August 30, 2019

More than 20,000 people were seen pelting tomatoes at each other with ripe tomatoes in the annual “Tomatina” street battle in a town in eastern Spain that has turned out to be a major tourist attraction.

The festivity saw 145 tons of tomatoes offloaded from six trucks into crowds packed in Bunol’s streets for the midday hour-long battle Wednesday.

All the participants and the surrounding streets were awash in red tomato pulp. However, participants wear swimming goggles to protect their eyes.

Organizers wash the streets down right after the event ends at noon. All participants use public showers.

The event, which costs 12 Euros (about $13) for a basic ticket, was inspired by a food fight between local children in 1945 in the tomato-producing region.

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