Spanish town charges fee for annual tomato fight


‘TOMATINA’ People throw tomatoes at each other during the annual “tomatina” tomato fight fiesta in the village of Bunol, 50 kilometers outside Valencia, Spain on Wednesday. AP

BUNOL, Spain — Thousands of people are splattering each other with tons of tomatoes in the annual “Tomatina” battle in recession-hit Spain, with the debt-burdened town charging participants entry fees this year for the first time.

 

Bunol town says some 20,000 people are taking part in Wednesday’s hour-long street bash, inspired by a food fight among kids back in 1945.

 

Participants were this year charged 10 euros ($13) to foot the cost of the festival. Residents do not pay.

 

Bunol, with 10,000 inhabitants, has a debt of some 5 million euros.

 

The town said six trucks brought 130 tons of ripe tomatoes to the scene. Portable showers were set up for revelers to clean up after the battle.

 

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