On August 28, the town of Bunol in eastern Spain was covered in red as about 22,000 people took part in the annual Tomatina festival. This popular event, held in the last week of August, involves participants throwing tomatoes at each other in a spirited and lively manner. Bunol, located 40 kilometers west of Valencia, saw seven trucks deliver 150 tons of ripe pear tomatoes to the crowd. Non-residents paid a fee of 15 euros to join in, while local residents could participate for free.

The festival began with a firecracker, signaling the start of the event. The first challenge was for a participant to climb a soap-covered pole to retrieve a leg of ham. Visitors from various countries, including Taylor from Australia, enjoyed the festival and planned to use the leftover tomatoes for making spaghetti sauce. Senam from Kenya described the experience as “beautiful” and “mind-blowing.” After the event, cleaning crews swiftly washed away the residue, and the tomatoes’ natural acidity made the streets clean and shiny. The tomatoes used are specifically grown for the festival and are too sour for eating. The Tomatina festival, which started in 1945 as a spontaneous fight during a parade, has become a cherished tradition despite a brief ban in the 1950s under General Francisco Franco’s leadership.