News

Tons of overripe tomatoes become projectiles in Spain’s ‘Tomatina’ food fight

Revelers throw tomatoes at each other during the annual "Tomatina" tomato fight fiesta, in the village of Bunol near Valencia, Spain, Wednesday, Aug. 27, 2025. (AP Photo/Alberto Saiz) Photo: Associated Press


By ALICIA LEÓN Associated Press
BUÑOL, Spain (AP) — Thousands of people from around the world seeking a uniquely messy thrill spent one wild hour flinging bushels of overripe tomatoes at each other during Spain’s “Tomatina” celebration Wednesday.
The mother of all food fights painted a packed central street in the eastern town of Buñol deep red as revelers squished, smashed and hurled 120 tons of the overripe fruit. Tarps covered building fronts as an estimated 20,000 people let loose amid screams and laughter.
Every article of clothing and pretty much every inch of bare skin and hair ended up covered in a pulpy mush, with many wearing white shirts that quickly were stained pink. Thumping music gave the event the vibe of a rave. Organizers wearing green shirts slowly opened a path for trucks loaded with the tomatoes to bring in the ammunition.
Buñol, with a population of around 10,000, was one of the towns affected by devastating floods in eastern Spain beginning Oct. 29, 2024. That is why this year’s slogan is “Tomaterapia,” or “Tomato Therapy” in English.
This year marks the 80th anniversary of the tomato tossing that party lore says began in 1945 for local children. Since then “Tomatina” has grown to an eye-catching event that now draws a significant international crowd and only has been skipped twice due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Amid the collective abandon, a left-wing political party backed an initiative by local residents to fly Palestinian flags and a banner against Israel’s military campaign in Gaza during this year’s “Tomatina.”
The only guideline during the free-for-all is to squash each tomato before throwing to reduce its impact. Even so, some participants opt to wear protective goggles and earplugs.
For those worried about the waste, organizers say the tomatoes are grown specifically for the “Tomatina” and not edible anyway. Organizers say that the tomatoes used in the party don’t meet the quality control standards for human consumption. They say if there were not used in the “Tomatina” they would be thrown away. This year’s supply hails from a town over five hours away.
A cannon shot told participants the battle is over. As their adrenaline drained, revelers used communal showers to clean up while workers hosed the crimson slurry off the streets.
___
Joseph Wilson contributed to this report from Barcelona, Spain.

News

2 hours ago in Entertainment

Paul Thomas Anderson’s ‘One Battle After Another’ brings revolution to the (very) big screen

Paul Thomas Anderson spent about 20 years writing "One Battle After Another." After two decades, it's never felt more relevant.

2 hours ago in Entertainment, Music

Q&A: Mariah Carey enters ‘the era of me’ with her first album in 7 years

Seven years after her last album and 35 years into a powerhouse career, Mariah Carey continues her reign as the queen of pop and R&B with "Here for It All."

2 hours ago in National

Hegseth abruptly summons top military commanders to a meeting in Virginia next week

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has summoned the military's top officers — hundreds of generals and admirals — to a base in northern Virginia for a sudden meeting next week, according to three people familiar with the matter.

3 hours ago in National

Trump escalates retribution campaign with charges against Comey and threats against liberal groups

President Donald Trump's unprecedented retribution campaign against his perceived political enemies reached new heights as his Justice Department brought criminal charges against a longtime foe and he expanded his efforts to classify certain liberal groups as "domestic terrorist organizations."

1 day ago in Lifestyle

Lice concerns rise as children return to school. Here’s what parents can do

Children have returned to school and are bringing home stories about the things they learned and the friends they made. But some parents are concerned they could also be bringing home a tiny nuisance — lice.

2 days ago in Lifestyle

One path to kick-starting a healthier lifestyle: Start small

Wellness advice seems to be everywhere these days, but change can be hard. How do you start a journey toward better health that you can stick with, and not be overwhelmed?

2 days ago in National

Camp Mystic plans to reopen in Texas next summer, a year after floods killed 27

The owners of Camp Mystic say they plan to partially reopen next summer the all-girls camp where 27 campers and counselors were killed during catastrophic floods that swept through the Texas Hill Country in July.

2 days ago in Entertainment

Emotional Jimmy Kimmel says in late-night return he never intended to make light of Kirk’s killing

Jimmy Kimmel returned to late-night television Tuesday after a nearly weeklong suspension and, in an emotional monologue where he appeared close to tears, said that he wasn't trying to joke about the killing of conservative activist Charlie Kirk.

2 days ago in National

3 people shot at immigration facility in Dallas and the shooter is dead, official says

Three people have been shot at an Immigration and U.S. Customs Enforcement facility in Dallas and the shooter is dead from a self-inflicted gunshot wound, the agency's director said.

3 days ago in National

Man who represented himself is found guilty of trying to assassinate Trump at Florida golf course

The man who was charged with attempting to assassinate Donald Trump at a Florida golf course last year tried to stab himself in the neck with a pen shortly after being found guilty of all counts on Tuesday.