The festival starts when a person tries to scale a heavily greased pole in an attempt to capture a cooked ham. Once the ham is taken down from the pole, water canons are fired at the participants and the greatest tomato fight begins in the streets of the famous town of Spain.
History states that the festival started in 1945 and became an officially recognized event by 1952. The festival is celebrated to honor the Virgin Mary and St. Louis Bertrand.