The streets of Sutamarchán, a quaint town in Colombia’s Boyacá department, transformed into a vibrant sea of red on Sunday as thousands gathered for the 15th edition of the Gran Tomatina festival. Inspired by Spain’s renowned La Tomatina in Buñol, this Colombian counterpart has blossomed into a cherished annual tradition since its inception in 2004, celebrating the local tomato economy in a 3-day festival.
People play with tomato pulp during the annual “Tomatina” (tomato fight) in Sutamarchan, Colombia June 1, 2025. REUTERS/Luisa Gonzalez
Origin of the Festival
The original event, held annually on the last Wednesday of August in the small town of Buñol, near Valencia, attracts thrill-seekers from every corner of the globe. They come not for tapas or flamenco, but for one glorious hour of unhinged, tomato-throwing madness. This isn’t just a festival — it’s a full-on, no-rules, all-out tomato brawl. The festival’s origins trace back to a modest gathering of friends, evolving over the years into a major attraction that draws visitors from across the globe.
A woman holds in her hands handfuls of tomato pulp during the annual “Tomatina” (tomato fight) in Sutamarchan, Colombia June 1, 2025. REUTERS/Luisa Gonzalez
What began in 1944 or 1945 — with origins as murky as a post-Tomatina t-shirt — has blossomed into an internationally beloved tradition. Was it a carnival scuffle? A political protest? A prank gone wrong? No one knows for sure. What is certain is this: it stuck. Even after being banned during Franco’s dictatorship for lacking religious value, La Tomatina returned in the 1970s with the fall of the regime — and it’s only grown more iconic since. The festival is dedicated to Buñol’s patron saints, Luis Bertran and the Mare de Déu dels Desemparats, but its legacy today is one of pure, jubilant chaos.
After a hiatus, the 2025 celebration marked a triumphant return, reaffirming Sutamarchán’s Colombia place on the cultural map.
Play offs as seen in Buñol
A man covered in tomato pulp poses for a photo during the annual “Tomatina” (tomato fight) in Sutamarchan, Colombia June 1, 2025. REUTERS/Luisa Gonzalez
More than 100 metric tons of overripe tomatoes are trucked into the town’s around midday. But before a single fruit can fly, there’s tradition to honor: a two-story greased wooden pole, topped with a ham, must be scaled.
People play with tomato pulp during the annual “Tomatina” (tomato fight) in Sutamarchan, Colombia June 1, 2025. REUTERS/Luisa Gonzalez
Once unleashed, La Tomatina becomes a kaleidoscope of flying tomatoes. Strangers pelt each other with the only rule being: squash the tomato before you throw it. After exactly one hour, the tomato warfare ends as suddenly as it began. The streets, now ankle-deep in tomato sludge, are hosed down by fire trucks, while participants seek nearby rivers or helpful locals with hoses for a rinse.
