La Tomatina 2024 in Spain: your ultimate guide to the wildest festival

When the last Wednesday of August rolls around, you know it's time for the world's most chaotic festival.

In Buñol, Spain – located 40km (25 miles) west of Valencia – the La Tomatina festival is a zany, fun-filled event where 20,000 enthusiastic tomato-throwers gather each year. If you’ve ever wanted to join in the tomato-flinging fun, here’s everything you need to know to make the most of this extraordinary celebration.

What is La Tomatina?

The ticketed chaos unfolds in Plaza del Pueblo, the main square of Buñol, and along Calle Cid. At around 9 am, the palo-jabón—a tall, greased pole with a ham at its peak—is raised high. A wild rush begins as people compete to knock it down.

At exactly 11 am, whether or not anyone has successfully grabbed the ham (which is quite rare), a firework signals the waiting trucks to dump over 100 tons of overripe, mushy tomatoes into the square. For the next hour, participants engage in a lively, chaotic tomato fight—until a second firework marks the end of the fun.

What’s the story behind this quirky tradition?

The festival traces back to 1945, as per the La Tomatina website, when a disagreement during a cultural parade in Buñol led to a market stall filled with vegetables being targeted by an excited crowd. Locals reportedly revived the food fight the following year, bringing tomatoes from their homes. After a ban in the early 1950s, a 'tomato burial' protest in 1957 helped La Tomatina gain official recognition. Since 2013, the festival has required tickets to cap attendance at a somewhat manageable 20,000 participants.

You haven’t truly experienced La Tomatina unless you…

Are still discovering remnants of tomato in your hair, up your nose, under your nails, and even between your cheeks for days or weeks after the event.

Essential items to bring for La Tomatina

Most importantly, bring a change of clothes, including footwear. You can often leave this on the coach heading to Buñol; if not, use a dry bag backpack. Buñol City Council now offers showers, allowing you to freshen up somewhat before reboarding your bus.

If you plan to capture the action with a GoPro, pack a chest strap so your hands are free for tossing tomatoes (or protecting yourself from incoming ones). Also, consider a fully waterproof phone case with a sturdy neck strap if you dare to take your phone along.

What to wear at La Tomatina

Opt for old clothes and closed-toe shoes with good grip, plus swimming goggles to shield your eyes—the acidic tomato juice can sting! Ski goggles work too, but they can be easier to knock off. Leave your hat at home.

Since outer layers often get torn off during the chaos, women should wear a fitted sports bra or crop bikini top with swimsuit bottoms underneath, while men should don a snug Speedo.

How long does the tomato battle last?

The tomato throwing typically lasts for about an hour, wrapping up after the second firework goes off.

La Tomatina: your essential “do” list

• Do... make sure your tomatoes are completely squished before tossing them. This helps prevent injuries, though be warned—others might not be as careful.

• Do... remember to look up! Locals often join in the fun by showering festival-goers with their own tomatoes from above the square.

• Do... keep an eye on your friends and those around you. La Tomatina can get quite chaotic, so if you're not a fan of crowds, mess, or discomfort, this festival may not be for you.

• Do... stop throwing tomatoes when the second firework sounds. That’s your signal that the fun is over.

• Do... check your travel insurance. The festival ticket includes insurance; ensure it provides sufficient coverage for your needs.

La Tomatina: the “don’t” list

• Don’t... waste your time trying to dodge the flying fruit. Just embrace it!

• Don’t... wear any jewelry, especially hoop earrings, as they can easily get yanked out.

• Don’t... bring bottles or hard objects; they won’t be permitted in the festival area.

• Don’t... get too close to the tomato trucks; you definitely don’t want to end up under those tires.

• Don’t... overindulge in alcohol the night before (or the morning of). The smell of rotten tomatoes in the hot sun is unpleasant with a hangover. Make sure to hydrate before entering the festival, as it can get very warm while waiting for the fun to start.

• Don’t... be rough. Pushing, shoving, and intentionally tearing others' clothing is unacceptable.

How can I get to La Tomatina?

It takes about an hour by bus to get to Buñol from Valencia. All festival tickets purchased through the La Tomatina website now include same-day return bus transport from various cities in Spain, such as Barcelona, Madrid, Alicante, Almería, Benidorm, Dénia, Calpe, and Cartagena, allowing you to just come for the (messy) day if you prefer. Note that buses from Barcelona leave at 3:30 am.

What should I do to ensure I have an exciting story to tell?

Try your hand at climbing that greased pole.

What’s the biggest no-no at La Tomatina?

Don’t bring anything to the festival that you wouldn’t mind losing.

Where should I stay?

Most festivalgoers who aren’t just visiting for the day choose to stay in Valencia, so make sure to book your accommodations early.

You can also reserve hostel and hotel options via the La Tomatina website if you want to socialize with fellow attendees. Various other providers, including Busabout, offer festival packages as well.

If you’re traveling on your own, consider staying in Buñol for the entire week of festivities, which includes music, dancing, parades, and fireworks. The night before the tomato fight features a paella cooking competition. Book as soon as possible to secure your lodging in town.

Can I bring children to La Tomatina?

There are no age restrictions at the festival, but we advise against bringing young children as it can get quite chaotic (dozens of injuries occur each year). It’s easy to lose track of each other in the crowd, so if you do bring kids, establish a meeting point before the festivities start, and use a permanent marker to write your phone number on their arms.

A safer option for children is the La Tomatina Infantil (Tomatina Kids) event for ages 4–12, which takes place in Plaza del Pueblo the week before the main festival. This year’s “mini battle,” lasting up to 40 minutes, is scheduled for noon on August 24.

What can I do after the festival?

Staying in Valencia offers the advantage of easy access to the official after-party in the city, with tickets available on the La Tomatina website. As the birthplace of paella, Valencia is a stunning coastal city that’s definitely worth exploring afterward.

Is La Tomatina a waste of food?

The low-quality tomatoes used for the festival are typically overripe or already spoiled, so they wouldn’t have found a better fate in someone’s salad.

I missed this year—how can I start planning for next year?

Tickets for 2024 are already available and are expected to sell out quickly—so make your reservations soon. Make sure to bookmark the official ticket site to be among the first to grab 2025 tickets, which will be released several months prior to the event.

Continue planning your trip to Spain:

Discover the best of Spain with these 5 road trips Tips for exploring the country with kids What you should know before traveling to Spain 13 ways to experience Spain on a budget