Thousands are set to descend on the Spanish town of Buñol this Wednesday (August 27), ready to be drenched in 120 tons of overripe tomatoes as the famous "Tomatina" festival celebrates its 80th anniversary. The hour-long event transforms the eastern town into a vibrant red spectacle, drawing up to 22,000 participants.
Many attendees travel from across the globe, paying 15 euros for entry, converging on a town where buildings are draped in tarpaulins to protect them from the impending deluge. "When it’s going on, it’s just a blur of tomatoes," recalled Adrian Columb of Ireland, who attended in 1999. "It was a blast."
