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Spain hosts a number of slightly crazy festivals, of which the Tomatina tomato fight in Buñol in Valencia has to be nearing the top of the zany list. On the fourth Wednesday of every August, the small town of Buñol turns red! Thought to have originated from a street fight and continued as a celebration of the region’s produce, this full scale tomato fight is wild.

Following the retrieval of a ham up a greasy pole (well why not?), locals and tourists alike delve into lorry loads of squishy tomatoes and, quite literally, pelt each other with them for a full hour. Horns sound to start and finish the fight and anything goes in the middle. Goggles are a good idea as the slightly less ripe tomatoes can really hurt! As the finishing horn sounds, the streets of Buñol look like a swimming pool of tomato pulp and any buildings that were uncovered have a new tomato sauce coloured decor.

All in all, this is a hilarious festival and worth saying you’ve experienced it, as it certainly won’t be easily erased from the memory banks!