Thousands hurl 165 tonnes of tomatoes at Spains La Tomatina festival as historic royal wedding reenactment begins near Madrid

Thousands of revelers gathered in the eastern Spanish town of Buñol on Wednesday for the 79th La Tomatina festival, where 165 tonnes of overripe tomatoes were thrown during a chaotic hour-long event. The festival, held on the last Wednesday of August, dates back to 1945 after a brawl between teenage boys during a parade evolved into an annual tradition. It was later banned by dictator Francisco Franco in the 1950s before returning in 1959 with official rules, including a strict time limit and a requirement for participants to clean up afterward .

More than 20,000 people were expected to take part this year, with around 40 percent of participants coming from outside Spain, according to organizers. The event has grown in popularity among Indian visitors in recent years, partly due to its depiction in the 2011 Bollywood film *Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara*, which recreated the festival .

Luke Williams, 44, who traveled from the UK, described the experience as unique. “Nothing like it, absolutely nothing like it anywhere else,” he said .

Meanwhile, in Navalcarnero, a municipality 31 kilometers from Madrid, preparations were underway for a separate historical festival. From Aug. 28 to 30, the town will host the Real Mercado del Siglo de Oro, a celebration recreating the 1649 royal wedding of Felipe IV and Mariana de Austria. The event, designated a Fiesta of Tourist Interest, will feature artisan stalls, street performances, theater, music, and equestrian displays .

The festival begins Friday at 19:00 with the opening of the market, followed by an equestrian exhibition at 21:30 and a royal procession. The highlight, a reenactment of the royal betrothal ceremony, will take place at 22:00 in Plaza Francisco Sandoval, accompanied by music, traditional dances, and equestrian performances. The evening will conclude with a fireworks display at 23:30 .

Navalcarnero’s historical ties to the monarchy date back to 1651, when Felipe IV granted the town the title of *Villa Real* in recognition of its hospitality during the royal wedding festivities. The town’s Plaza de Segovia and the 16th-century Church of Nuestra Señora de la Asunción, with its Mudéjar tower, are among the notable sites visitors can explore during the event .