Did you know that August is the month of tomatoes? Not only does the month honor one of one of Sonoma County's most common home garden crops it is has become the month of the biggest tomato food fight in the world.
La Tomatina takes place in Spain and the folktale origins of this event have been retold many times. It is believed that townsmen in the petite town of Bunol, Spain during the mid 1940’s, grew irritated and angry with city councilmen and began throwing tomatoes. During the reign of Francisco Franco, the festival was banned because Franco felt it had no religious significance, but in the 1970’s after his reign, it was reinstated. In the years after, this event has grown in fun and popularity and now houses about 40 to 50 thousand people.
Today this food fight extravaganza takes place on August 28. The town's population for the week of the event swells from 9,000; to 40,000+. That means lots of people enjoy dancing, fireworks, music and even a paella-cooking contest.
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The battle itself technically begins at 11 a.m. in the Plaza de Pueblo in the center of the city; however, it really begins after a daring person has climbed up a two story building in pursuit of a ham on a greased wooden pole. Once he has retrieved the coveted ham, the water cannons go off and the fight begins. Post-fight events include a trip to and a dip into the Bunol River.
Don't have plans to go but want to have a tomato festivity of your own to celebrate your harvest of plump round red, yellow and orange tomatoes? Try your hand with an heirloom tomato salad. For a more Spanish flavor, check out FolkHeart Press' Venga Paella: Spanish Cuisine One Culture at a Time.
Find out what's happening in Rohnert Park-Cotatiwith free, real-time updates from Patch.
