The crush of the crowds and the crushing tomatoes make this one of the wildest of Spanish festivals, but a lot safer than the Running of the Bulls in Pamplona. It is always held on the last Wednesday in August, but it has become so popular that it is wise to think ahead and reserve a place to take a quick shower, change your plastered tomatoed T-shirt and pants or shorts, and actually get some sleep!
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La Tomatina Festival was finally allowed and lo and behold, it became an official festivity. “As a result of the report of Javier Basilio” which was broadcast on Informe Semanal, a Spanish Television program, the festival started to become known in the rest of Spain.
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Festival Rules are as follows:
In the town of Dongguan in southern Guandong province in China, a tomato fight is held on October 19th, with an estimated 15 tons of tomatoes used.
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Milwaukee’s East Side Association, in the town of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, U.S.A., holds an annual Tomato Romp during the month of September in coordination with a Bloody Mary drinking contest. It has been held every year since 2009 and is limited to 250 people in a caged-in area.
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Images
Featured image/Graham McLellan, CC BY2.0. Face block-out supplied.
A wild festival/Carlesboveserral, CC BY-SA4.0
Tomatina, Buñol /Revolution_Ferg’s photostream, Flickr, CC BY-SA2.0. Face block-out supplied.
Tomatina tickets vector, Fair use
Tomatina Reno logo, Fair use
Tomato Romp/Alex Block, CC BY-SA2.0, Flickr. Face block-out supplied.
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