Never has kicking tomatoes at your friends been so much fun... mainly because we've never done it in our lives.
I've often thought that the world would be a more peaceful place if all conflicts resolved themselves in a food fight. Your mate cancels a trip to the pub at the last minute – throw a tomato at them. Someone bashes into you on the street – there’s no need for a fight, there’s tomato. You miss the bus by a literal second and the driver shoots off – shhh, there’s only tomatoes now. World peace achieved. Well, this food fighting fantasy is now a reality because a tomato throwing festival is actually coming to Manchester.
6000 people are expected to descend on Bowlers Exhibition Centre in Stretford on the 16th and 17th September for La Tomatina, where they can throw fruit to their heart's desire, as well as enjoy live music, food and drinks. London events company Mega Events based the idea on the Spanish festival of the same name, where ugly and disused tomatoes from local farmers are donated to the food fight cause. They’ll be giving the budding throwers a bag of squashed tomatoes (presumably so you don’t brain someone with a solid, fruity rock) and are given two sessions to pelt as much of the red stuff at each other as possible. And if you’re worried about your little kid facing a ketchup-based end, there’s a time for families and one for over 18s, where presumably things get a bit messier.
Also, all the waste goes back to local farmers and suppliers who can then use it as compost, meaning there's no need to spoil the fun. So go out and bring anyone you've ever had a grievance with, heroic tomato throwing brothers and sisters, and paint the town red.
La Tomatina will be held at Bowlers Exhibition Centre in Stretford, Manchester, on the 16th and 17th September, and are priced from £20 to £30.
