The Frame
A photo blog of world events by Sacbee.com Assistant Director of Multimedia Tim Reese.
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August 28, 2009
Tomatina
BUNOL, Spain (AP) -- Tens of thousands of revelers pelted each other with tons of ripe tomatoes in a good-natured battle that filled the streets of a Spanish town with rivers of red pulp. Bunol's town hall estimated more than 40,000 people, some from as far away as Japan and Australia, took up arms Wednesday with 100 tons of tomatoes in the yearly food fight known as the "Tomatina," now in its 64th year. The event has its roots in a food fight between childhood friends and has become something of a calling card for Bunol, which is 25 miles (40 kilometers) north of Valencia on Spain's east coast. The hour-long battle is so popular that traffic into the town backed up nearly two miles (three kilometers) Wednesday morning. (19 images)

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Young women play in tomato pulp during the annual "tomatina" tomato fight fiesta in the village of Bunol, near Valencia, Spain, Wednesday, Aug. 26. Bunol's town hall estimated more than 40,000 people, some from as far away as Japan and Australia, took up arms Wednesday with 100 tons of tomatoes in the yearly food fight known as the 'Tomatina' now in its 64th year. AP / Alberto Saiz


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People are seen throwing tomatoes during the "Tomatina" food festival on August 26, in Bunol, Valencia, in the southeastern region of Spain. The festival held on the last Wednesday of August each year sees tens of thousands of participants from all over the world to fight in a brutal battle where more than one hundred metric tons of over-ripe tomatoes are thrown in the streets. AFP / Getty Images / Diego Tuson



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A girl is carried away after taking part in the Tomatina festival in Bunol on August 26. Tens of thousands of people from around the world hurled tons of ripe tomatoes at each other today in an annual food fight that leaves the eastern Spanish town of Bunol covered in red juice. AFP / Getty Images / Pablo Argente



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A reveller throws tomatoes amid people pelting each other during the world's biggest tomato fight at La Tomatina festival on August 26, in Bunol, Spain. Getty Images / Jasper Juinen



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Revellers pelt each other with tomatoes during the world's biggest tomato fight at La Tomatina festival on August 26, in Bunol, Spain. Getty Images / Jasper Juinen



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Revellers pelt each other with tomato pulp during the world's biggest tomato fight at La Tomatina festival on August 26, in Bunol, Spain. Getty Images / Jasper Juinen



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Revellers pelt each other with tomatoe pulp during the world's biggest tomato fight at La Tomatina festival on August 26, in Bunol, Spain. Getty Images / Jasper Juinen



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Revellers pelt each other with tomatoes during the world's biggest tomato fight at La Tomatina festival on August 26, in Bunol, Spain. Getty Images / Jasper Juinen



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Revellers throw tomatoes during the world's biggest tomato fight at La Tomatina festival on August 26, in Bunol, Spain. Getty Images / Jasper Juinen



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Revellers pelt each other with tomatoes during the world's biggest tomato fight at La Tomatina festival on August 26, in Bunol, Spain. Getty Images / Jasper Juinen



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A reveller lays in tomato pulp during the world's biggest tomato fight at La Tomatina festival on August 26, in Bunol, Spain. Getty Images / Jasper Juinen



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Revellers lay in tomato pulp during the world's biggest tomato fight at La Tomatina festival on August 26, in Bunol, Spain. Getty Images / Jasper Juinen



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A girl plays with tomato pulp during the annual "Tomatina" tomato fight fiesta in the village of Bunol, near Valencia, Spain, Wednesday, Aug. 26. AP / Alberto Saiz



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Revelers react during the annual "tomatina" tomato fight fiesta in the village of Bunol, near Valencia, Spain, Wednesday, Aug. 26. AP / Alberto Saiz



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A girl is carried away after taking part in the Tomatina festival in Bunol on August 26. Tens of thousands of people from around the world hurled tons of ripe tomatoes at each other today in an annual food fight that leaves the eastern Spanish town of Bunol covered in red juice.AFP / Getty Images / Pablo Argente



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People are seen throwing tomatoes during the "Tomatina" food festival on August 26, in Bunol, Valencia, in the southeastern region of Spain. AFP / Getty Images / Diego Tuson



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People are seen throwing tomatoes during the "Tomatina" food festival on August 26, in Bunol, Valencia, in the southeastern region of Spain. AFP / Getty Images / Diego Tuson



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Revellers throw tomatoes during the Tomatina festival in Bunol on August 26. AFP / Getty Images / Pablo Argente



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A girl plays with tomato pulp during the annual "Tomatina" tomato fight fiesta in the village of Bunol, near Valencia, Spain, Wednesday, Aug. 26. AP / Alberto Saiz



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