La Tomatina Festival: Spanish town turns red in the world's

In the heart of Spain's charming Buñol, a whimsical spectacle unfolds annually as 15,000 merrymakers engage in the tomato-tastic showdown known as "La Tomatina."

A quirky tradition born from a spontaneous food fight among local kids in 1945, this event, nestled in a region abundant with tomatoes, now marks its calendar on the last Wednesday of August. Over the years, it has grown into a global sensation, thanks to extensive media coverage during the 1980s, drawing enthusiastic participants from around the world.

As the clock strikes noon, the streets of Buñol transform into a sea of crimson chaos. With 120 tons of overripe tomatoes dumped from trucks, the town quite literally paints itself red. Decked out in swimming goggles, and often just t-shirts and shorts, attendees protect their eyes from the tomato onslaught.

But the spectacle is short-lived. After an hour of tomato-flinging frenzy, the town swiftly hoses down the streets, and participants rinse off the vibrant aftermath, leaving behind a memorable, messy masterpiece.

Check out some of the best snaps from this year's food fight spectacle: