Batalla del Vino

Every 29 June, the small town of Haro in the heart of La Rioja wine country hosts one of Spain's most joyfully absurd festivals: the Batalla del Vino (Wine Battle). Thousands of participants hike to the Riscos de Bilibio cliffs at dawn and proceed to drench each other with wine — buckets, water guns, botas (wineskins) and any container imaginable. By mid-morning, everyone is stained purple from head to toe. Declared a Festival of National Tourist Interest, it's a unique celebration of Rioja's winemaking heritage.