Buzz
The exclamation “Food fight!” has reverberated through schoolyards and cafeterias for decades. What began as a playful, albeit messy, activity has evolved into something much more, extending beyond mere children’s antics.
Across various cultures, food fights have been integral to post-harvest rituals or a fun way to get rid of inedible food. Some events have drawn inspiration from early 20th-century comedians, transforming them into charitable food-throwing contests. Whether rooted in tradition or simply a chaotic good time, here are ten food fights you can participate in during your global journeys.
10. Haro Wine Festival Spain
In the Spanish town of Haro, located in the La Rioja wine region, the locals have a unique way of showing their appreciation for the bountiful grape harvest. During the Saint Peter festival every June, instead of just savoring the wine produced in the region, they engage in a massive red wine battle, throwing around 70,000 liters (18,500 gal) of red wine. Participants must dress in white with a red sash and come armed with water pistols and buckets to spend an hour dousing each other in the region’s famous wine.
The Haro Wine Festival lasts for two days, with the main highlight occurring for an hour or two on the second day, when thousands of people gather in the town for the legendary Batalla del Vino (Wine Battle). This battle dates back to the sixth century, originating from a territorial dispute with neighboring villages. The fight continues until the wine kegs are emptied, leaving everyone drenched in the region’s iconic red wine.
9. Battle of the Oranges Italy
Hurling oranges at one another is a central part of the Carnival of Ivrea, held annually in the town of Ivrea in Italy.
While Italy boasts numerous food-throwing festivals, the orange fight in Ivrea stands as the largest in the country. During this event, tons of oranges are thrown in a reenactment of the town’s liberation from the medieval tyrant, Marquis William VII of Montferrat. Teams of ‘aranceri’ (orange throwers) parade through the streets, both on foot and in carts, symbolizing the villagers of the past throwing stones at the tyrant’s forces.
If you prefer not to participate in the action but still want to enjoy the spectacle, make sure to wear a designated spectator’s hat to protect yourself from the fast-flying citrus during the event.
8. Grape Throwing Mallorca
A massive grape battle is a central feature of Binissalem’s two-week La Festa des Vermar, a celebration of the grape harvest. After the grapes are harvested, the town of Binissalem transforms into a full-fledged party zone. The grape battle originated from villagers throwing away spoiled grapes at each other as a playful tradition.
A rocket is fired in the town square to signal the start of the grape war. Competitors rush to collect as many mini-missiles (grapes) as they can, preparing to launch them at their opponents. The battle continues until the square is covered in a sticky mess, with everyone drenched in grape remnants, and not a single grape left untouched on the ground.
7. La Tomatina Spain
Throwing a rotten tomato at someone is typically considered an unfriendly gesture. However, in the town of Bunol in Valencia, that’s precisely what villagers do each year at the end of August.
The tomato fight began not as a traditional harvest festival like other food fights, but as a result of a disagreement during a parade in 1945. Some young boys wanted to be part of the parade, but their actions caused another participant to fall. The man, furious, began throwing punches, which quickly escalated into a full-scale food fight with fruit being hurled at each other. The tradition continues to this day, making it the largest organized food fight in the world.
Though the event was banned for many years, today, tourists flock to the town to participate in the legendary tomato fight. Around 120 metric tons of overripe red tomatoes, which would otherwise go to waste, are brought into the festival area. People scramble to gather as many tomatoes as they can to throw at one another during the hour-long battle.
6. Els Enfarinats Spain
Shortly after Christmas each year, the town of Ibi in Valencia erupts into a spectacular battle involving eggs and flour. The Els Enfarinats festival, celebrated on December 28th, the Day of the Innocents, has been a tradition for over 200 years.
On the eve of the festival, men draped in blankets march through the streets, reenacting significant events from the past year. The following morning, the “Enfarinats” dress in mock military uniforms to stage a playful coup. The goal is to seize the mayor’s ceremonial mace, taking control of the town and enforcing absurd laws. Those who break these laws are fined, and the collected money is donated to local charities.
The citizens then fight back against the Enfarinats with eggs and flour. Hundreds of eggs and tons of flour are flung through the streets, with flour-filled firecrackers and even fire extinguishers adding to the chaos. “Flour power” ultimately prevails, and peace is restored by the end of the festival.
5. Fruitcake Toss Colorado
Many people don’t particularly enjoy fruitcake, so in Colorado, there’s a special tradition for disposing of these holiday leftovers. At the end of January each year, residents of Manitou Springs gather to find the most inventive ways of throwing leftover fruitcake into the air.
After donating non-perishable food items to a local food bank, participants compete to see who can throw their fruitcake the furthest. Various methods like hand tossing, slingshots, and even cannons have been used to launch the Christmas leftovers. In 2007, a group of Boeing engineers created a new propulsion technique, allowing their fruitcake to reach an impressive 433 meters (1,420 feet).
This fun annual food competition not only features dress-up events but also offers 'rented' fruity projectiles for those who have already finished their fruitcakes. There's even a bake-off for the true fruitcake lovers.
4. World Custard Pie Championships England
Pie-in-the-face moments have been a staple in early film comedies. Inspired by the antics of comedian Charlie Chaplin in the movie Behind the Screen, the town of Coxheath in Kent hosts an annual custard pie-throwing competition each June.
Since 1967, villagers and visitors in Coxheath have been eagerly gathering to throw pies at one another. Teams of pie-throwers come from across the globe, often wearing extravagant costumes that are typical of these wacky events. Participants compete under humorous team names like 'Pie Dodgers' and 'Custard Spies.'
As the pie battle kicks off, contestants earn points based on where their custard-filled missiles land. A direct hit to the face garners the most points, while missing the target three times results in a penalty. Pies must only be thrown with the left hand, and no slingshots or other launching tools are allowed.
3. Cheung Chau Bun Festival Hong Kong
Each May, thousands of people travel to Cheung Chau, a small island off Hong Kong. In preparation for the annual event, residents spend weeks baking buns, creating masks, and crafting papier-mâché statues of traditional gods, all of which are paraded through the streets during the festival.
After a day filled with music and parades, including the popular 'pui silk' parade, participants gather outside the temple, where three towering bamboo structures are traditionally covered in sesame, lotus, and bean paste buns. At midnight, trained climbers race up the towers to grab as many lucky buns as they can.
After a tragic incident in 1978, when a tower collapsed under the weight of both buns and climbers, the event was banned for almost 30 years. The bun competition made its return in 2005 with new safety measures. Since 2007, plastic replicas of the buns have been used, but the authentic buns are still available to enjoy during the festival.
2. Setsubun Japan
Each year, on February 3rd, Japan celebrates a bean-throwing festival known as Setsubun to mark the arrival of spring. During this event, roasted soybeans are tossed to drive away evil spirits and usher in good fortune for the upcoming year. Initially a private family celebration, where an older male would wear a devil’s mask while others threw beans at him, this tradition has transformed into a public spectacle.
At temples and shrines, the ritual of throwing beans is a prominent feature of Setsubun. It's also customary to consume one bean for every year of your life, with the addition of an extra bean to protect against evil spirits and invite prosperity. These aren’t just any beans – only roasted soybeans will do.
1. La Merengada Spain
The ancient Spanish celebration in Vilanova i la Geltru has evolved from a simple village pastime into a full-blown food fight. The festival spans a week leading up to Ash Wednesday, featuring a variety of sweet treats and entertainment, with the grand finale being La Merengada – a day where participants throw sticky meringue at each other in joyous chaos.
Residents of Catalonia start the day with a traditional fish dish before venturing outdoors to engage in an epic meringue bombardment. Once the festival-goers are entirely coated in the sticky treat, the next event, the Batalla de Caramelos, begins, where massive quantities of candy are hurled into the jubilant crowd.
