Pocono News Section

Tomato Festival Another Smashing Success

Tomato Festival Another Smashing Success - Saturday, August 23, 2008 at 8:48PM EST

Reported by: Eyewitness News
Saturday, Aug 23, 2008 @ 08:48pm EST
PITTSTON, LUZERNE COUNTY- Thousands of people were on the streets of Pittston for the annual tomato festival.

This is the 25th year of celebrating all things tomato. The parade marched through two miles of town. The day also included a 5k run, lots of entertainment and just about any dish you can make with a tomato.

You can catch the fun through Sunday night. And for many the highlight of the event is the big tomato fight.

And probably the most popular event in the festival is the tomato fight. 100 people pegged each other with tomatoes at Coopers on the Waterfront restaurant. Mike Enfantino of Pittston said, "It's awesome. It's so much fun."

Heaven Fossil said, "I love the tomato fight and I hope I can do it again - it was my favorite day - ever. It's just the best day of my life."

The tomato fight tradition started in Spain back in the 1940s. The participants say its a great way to get out aggression. Afterward they literally get hosed down to clean up the mess.