La Tomatina takes place each year at the end of August in Buñol, Valencia. The festival is part of a week-long celebration in honor of the town's patron saints, Luis Bertran and the Mare de Deu dels Desemparats (Mother of God of the Defenseless), the Virgin Mary.

Once the ham falls, the tomato battle commences. Usually, the fight lasts for about one hour, after which the town square is covered with tomato debris. Fire trucks then hose down the streets and participants often use hoses that locals provide to remove the tomatoes from their bodies.

Each year, it is estimated that approximately 150,000 kg of tomatoes are thrown during this exciting event. All these tomatoes are distributed and thrown along the entire route thanks to the 6 trucks that do the essential work of distribution.

La tomatina was banned in the early 50s, but this did not stop the participants who were arrested. It was again banned in 1957, it was banned because according to Francisco Franco it had no religious signification. People throw tomatoes at each other and get involved in a tomato fight purely for entertainment purposes.