NYTIMES (Nat Segebre) - The Purest American Culture Lives on at Local Festivals
Turning hyperlocal traditions into public spectacle is a U.S. pastime.
AMERICANALMANAC (Sadie Smith) - Spain's La Tomatina draws 20,000 revelers to a tiny town for the world's biggest food fight
More than 20,000 people descended on the small Spanish town of Buñol for the annual La Tomatina tomato fight, a tradition that has survived a dictator's ban and now draws nearly half its crowd from overseas. Loaded trucks rolled through narrow streets on Wednesday morning as revelers pelted one another with overripe tomatoes for more […] The post Spain's La Tomatina draws 20,000 revelers to a tiny town for the world's biggest food fight appeared first on American Almanac .
More than 20,000 people descended on the small Spanish town of Buñol for the annual La Tomatina tomato fight, a tradition that has survived a dictator's ban and now draws nearly half its crowd from overseas. Loaded trucks rolled through narrow streets on Wednesday morning as revelers pelted one another with overripe tomatoes for more than an hour. A cannon blast signaled the end. Then came communal showers, hoses on the pavement, and stains on clothes that may never wash out. The town had draped its buildings in tarps beforehand, a practical concession to the chaos that has defined La Tomatina since 1945. The annual food fight, held every last Wednesday of August in this town near Valencia, has grown from a local oddity into an…Open
NPR (Durrie Bouscaren) - Which country makes the best jollof rice? D.C. foodies put it to a blind test
One of the most famous dishes across West Africa is Jollof Rice — fragrant rice cooked down with spices, tomatoes and meat. But which version is best? A traveling festival aims to find out.
NPR (Deena Prichep) - In Portland, this soap box derby combines downhill speed with extreme pageantry
Soap box derbies send motorless cars down a steep incline. At one event, contestants make their cars look like cartoon characters, subway cars, food, and giant animals (among other outlandish shapes).
NYTIMES (Ana Ionova and Dado Galdieri) - A Heated Rivalry Over Bull Mascots Is Dividing a Brazilian Town
Deep in the Amazon rainforest, a heated rivalry has split a town for a century. It’s got nothing to do with sports or politics.
WASHINGTONPOST (Hannah Knowles) - 3,000 miles from D.C., a July Fourth extravaganza that was not about Trump
A musical “block party” in Los Angeles offered a striking contrast to the July Fourth celebration in Washington, D.C., anchored by the president.
NEWSNATIONNOW (Josie Fischels) - Record heat cancels America 250 parades, delays trains
Events in D.C. and Philadelphia were axed, and Amtrak is delaying some trains.
ABCNEWS - WATCH: How Chicago kicks-off July 4th celebrations
A look at how Chicago is counting down to celebrate July 4th at the iconic Navy Pier.
ABCNEWS - WATCH: Getting ready for America's biggest Fourth of July celebration on ABC
As Americans gear up for the Fourth of July, David Muir shares a preview of ABC's 24-hour celebration, starting tonight with David's trek to the Statue of Liberty's torch.
NEWSNATIONNOW (Max Rego and The Hill) - Kennedy Center rolling out $25,000 VIP rooftop tickets for July 4th celebrations
With the package, guests have access to three reserved tables on the roof terrace of the Kennedy Center.