12th annual East Side Tomato Romp festival and rotten tomato fight to be held Saturday

MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) -- The 12th Annual Tomato Romp Festival returns to the East Side on Saturday, September 8 in a day of eating, drinking and throwing over-ripe tomatoes.

The East Side’s Rotten Tomato Fight for Hunger is North America’s first Tomatina-inspired rotten tomato fight, with all tomato fight proceeds donated to help end hunger in our community. This year’s goal is to raise $3,000 for the Riverwest Food Pantry. These funds try to lessen low-income communities’ reliance on food they know is unhealthy for their family because they cannot afford fresh produce.

In addition, eight East Side bars and restaurants will compete to bring the best Absolut Bloody Mary, paired with a Bauhaus Brewlabs chaser, to the voting community. The people will choose a winner, as will a group of celebrity judges. The winner of the People’s Choice will be featured as the specialty cocktail at the Marcus Center for the Performing Arts through the run of the Broadway touring presentation of Something Rotten (October 16-21, 2018). A ballot purchase of $25 entitles the ‘voter’ a 5 oz Bloody Mary sample and beer chaser from each of the participating establishments.

Tomato Romp registration begins at 10 a.m., with the Absolut Vodka Bloody Mary Challenge served from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at participating East Side Bars. The Rotten Tomato Fight for Hunger will commence at 4 p.m. at the Tomato Fight location on N. Murray Avenue between E. North Avenue and E. Thomas Avenue.

Registration for the tomato fight is available here. The fight is free to watch and there will be a wash-off station.

Share this article: