La Tomatina

stag party

More about Stag Do La Tomatina...

La Tomatina is the most famous and most awesome food fight on the planet. If you've seen Bugsy Malone, La Tomatina is like the end fight scene but instead of marshmallows its tomatoes. And instead of kids it's adults doing the throwing. And showing in Spanish. So really it's nothing like Bugsy Malone. It's awesome!

If going to La Tomatina isn't on your bucket list then you're not doing it right. It's carnage. Complete and utter, publicly sponsored, socially acceptable carnage and you can be right in the thick of it. But just in case you've been living in a cave, on Mars and don't know what the event entails here's all you need to know...

• La Tomatina is a festival involving throwing tomatoes at other grown adults
• There are no sides, the fighting is indiscriminate ("You don't know man, because you weren't there!")
• It takes place in the main square of a small, provincial town
• Each year 145,000 kg (130 tons) of tomatoes are thrown
• The battle lasts just 1 hour
• It starts with ham, on a pole
• Locals try to climb the slippery pole and grab the ham balancing on top
• After the fighting, firefighters hose down the streets to clean them
• The acidity in the tomatoes actually leaves the town looking cleaner
• There are just 7 rules...

1. Don't throw bottles or hard objects
2. Do not tear or throw tee-shirts
3. Squash tomatoes before throwing them to avoid hurting others
4. Keep a safe distance from the trucks delivering the tomatoes
5. You MUST stop throwing after the second starter pistol shot
6. Follow the directions of security staff

The most important thing to know is that it is every bit as awesome as it sounds. We'll arrange transport from Valencia to the town of Bunol where the action happens. You'll be given event T-shirts (it's traditional to wear white or red for the battle) and wristbands. It's then one giant ketchup flavoured fight club.

Our top tips are;

• Bring a waterproof camera
• Be prepared to throw away your clothes
• But make sure you bring clean ones to change into
• Wear flip-flops, they will be trashed so have spare shoes as well
• Stick together, over 20,000 people will be squeezed together
• Don't wear jewellery
• Goggles are easier to clean than eyeballs

Good luck!