The origin of the festival is debated. Some say it began in 1945 when a group of young men started throwing tomatoes at each other during a parade. Others say it began as a friendly rivalry between two tomato growers. Whatever the origin, the festival quickly became a tradition and has grown in popularity over the years.
Today, the festival attracts tens of thousands of people from all over the world. The festival begins on the last Wednesday of August and lasts for one day. During the festival, participants throw tomatoes at each other for about an hour. Over 100 metric tons (110 short tons) of tomatoes are used during the festival. After the tomato fight, the streets are cleaned and the festival ends with a paella party.
