People around the world stuck each other with tomatoes as Spain’s famous Tomatina street battle took place again on Wednesday after a two-year hiatus due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
Truck workers unloaded 130 tons of overripe tomatoes along the main street of the eastern town of Bunol for participants to throw, drenching the area with red pulp.
Up to 20,000 people were expected to attend the festival, and paid 12 euros per ticket to get the privilege. The streets of the town were hosed down and the jubilant people showered within minutes after the hour-long noon battle ended.
Held on the last Wednesday in August, the event was inspired by a 1945 food war between local children in a tomato-producing town.
Media attention in the 1980s transformed the event into a national and international event, attracting participants from all over the world.
A local official said he expects foreign tourist arrivals to fall this year, mainly due to ongoing concerns over the novel coronavirus in Asian countries.
Participants wear swimming goggles to protect their eyes, but clothing such as T-shirts and shorts remain covered with pulp.
In addition to being the first battle since before the pandemic began in Spain in 2020, this year’s celebration marks the 75th anniversary of the event and 20 years since the festival was declared an international tourist attraction by Spain. had the added incentive of becoming
