Coin’s giant tomato festival is back, and this year it has a mega pop star behind it

Coin's renowned tomato festival is set to return once more, this time with a celebrity endorsement from Spanish pop icon Melody. The third annual Verbena Tomatera, taking place on August 13 and 14 in Coin's Plaza de la Alameda, promises a vibrant celebration of the town's famous air-cultivated tomato, the Tomate Huevo Toro, and the surrounding Valle del Guadalhorce region's agricultural bounty.

The two-day festival, organized by Asociacion Tomate Huevo Toro, will feature live music, dancing, and a variety of food stalls showcasing the area's prized produce. On the first evening, Sotano Sur will perform, while Siempre Asi takes the stage on the second. DJ Toni Solis will keep the energy high throughout both nights, with a bar serving drinks and snacks.

Adding a touch of glamour and prestige to the event, Melody will serve as the patron of the Concurso Cata Subasta, a tasting and auction contest held on August 15. This competition, featuring entries from tomato growers across the valley, will be judged on flavor, color, aroma, and texture, with the winning batch then auctioned off for charity.

Last year's auction reached an impressive €18,000, highlighting the growing popularity of this outdoor-grown tomato variety among chefs and food enthusiasts throughout the province. The festival also marks the debut of a national poetry competition inspired by the tomato, uniting literature and farming for the first time. Coin, a charming inland village in Andalucia, invites both locals and visitors to immerse themselves in this unique, fun, and community-oriented celebration of its agricultural heritage.