La Tomatina

La Tomatina is the world’s largest food fight, a claim backed by 20,000 revellers who launch over 130 metric tons of ripe tomatoes in Buñol’s streets each August. The town’s population of 9,000 swells fivefold, making it 40% more crowded peak-to-population than Semana Santa processions in Seville. Since 2013, paid admission has curbed runaway attendance, preserving the tight-knit mayhem. The resulting tomato pulp, acidic at pH 4.5, temporarily cleans cobblestones better than industrial degreasers, a bonus locals appreciate.