- The President of the Generalitat Valenciana, Carlos Mazón, among the personalities in the festival
"VAN" (International Desk - Bunol, Spain - 27.08.2024) :: On August 28th, the 77th edition of the popular La Tomatina, an International Tourist Interest Festival, will be held in Buñol. Starting at 12 PM and lasting for 60 minutes, more than 21,000 people will enjoy one of Spain's most fun experiences. This year, the pear-type tomato, cultivated in a way that makes it unfit for human consumption due to the phytosanitary treatments it receives, is Valencian and locally sourced, making La Tomatina a step towards becoming a sustainable festival. Additionally, this year, the City Council has worked to improve the violet points for addressing gender violence and to make the festival more sustainable.
Political and social figures:-
Furthermore, the event is sold out. All tickets have been sold, so 22,000 people will gather on Cid Street in Buñol to enjoy the world's most friendly and epic tomato battle. Among them will be Carlos Mazón, President of the Generalitat Valenciana accompanied by Vicente Mompó, President of the Diputación de Valencia. Also enjoying Buñol's quintessential festival will be personalities like Eva Soriano, Lluna Clark, and Australian travel influencer Jorden Tually.
Participant data, budget, and security:-
La Tomatina crosses borders, and it is common for tourists from all over the world to participate each year. In the 2023 edition of La Tomatina, 14% of the participants were British; 10% were Indian; 8% were Japanese; 7% were American; and 6% were Australian, with participants also coming from France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Belgium, Portugal, Turkey, Jordan, South Korea, China, the Philippines, Venezuela, Mexico, Argentina, Taiwan, Kuwait, Bahrain, Afghanistan, Fiji, the Virgin Islands, Nepal, and Vietnam, as well as from Spain.
For the 2024 edition, the budget for the 120,000 kilos of tomatoes was around 60,000 euros, fully funded by the Diputación de Valencia, allowing the local City Council to save that amount for other needs.
Safety rules and tips:-
- No one is allowed to enter with a backpack, bag, camera, or any object that could cause harm. Bottles and hard objects are also prohibited. It is recommended to carry a certified copy of your ID or Passport, leaving the original document in a nearby and safe place.
- Study the location map and read the emergency procedures.
- Wear old clothes (a white t-shirt is the classic uniform) and old closed shoes (flip-flops can be lost forever in the red river).
- Diving goggles can be a good accessory to avoid tomato acid causing discomfort in the eyes.
- Do not tear or throw t-shirts.
- Crush the tomatoes before throwing them to reduce the impact.
- Keep a safe distance from the trucks and the bridge area.
- Moderate alcohol consumption.
- Drink plenty of water and protect yourself from the sun.
- Follow the instructions of the security personnel.
- In case of emergency, exit through the nearest street following the instructions of the security personnel.
- There are water points throughout the town to wash off the tomato remains. Free public showers are available at the sports center and municipal pool, as well as in the Maravillas pool area.
Where to watch La Tomatina de Buñol 2024 on TV or streaming.
The 2024 edition of La Tomatina, which will take place this Wednesday, August 28th, starting at 12:00 PM, can be followed live on Marca.com. Additionally, it will also be broadcast by A Punt both on TDT and streaming on their website.
Presence of violet points:-
The 120,000 kilos of tomatoes that will be thrown this year, as always, will be from trucks. These trucks have a group of people who clear the way and ensure the route is safe and accident-free for all participants. Among these support people are a few who are mobile violet points. Their mission is to observe behaviors and protect attendees who may feel uncomfortable in a special situation. This action, implemented a few editions ago, is part of the awareness campaign by the La Tomatina organization with signage and messages on the day of the event against gender violence and in favor of equality.
Professional photography contest:-
In collaboration with the Unió de Periodistes Valencians, the Buñol City Council has launched the first professional photography contest of La Tomatina. Only for accredited photojournalists, the Valencian town aims to reward the extra work that photojournalists have been doing for years to convey the Tomatina experience to the world. Therefore, the best photograph submitted by accredited photojournalists will be awarded 500 euros. It will be chosen and voted on by a jury composed of:-
• Carme Ripollés, photographer for El País, Marca, and Castellón Plaza, and a board member of the Unió Periodistes.
• Adolfo Benetó, official photographer of Levante Unión Deportiva.
• Vicente Sanfeliu, director of the design studio that won the public competition for the design of La Tomatina, Socarrat.
• Magdalena Almajanu, photographer and member of the Buñol Business and Merchants Association.
• Mikel Ponce, editorial photographer, collaborator with ABC and Apicius.
• Virginia Sanz, mayor of Buñol and president of the Jury.
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