With the snowstorm now departed, some are putting the fresh powder to good use. Snowball fights popped up around the Boston area this weekend, and some were pretty big gatherings.

One of those big snowball fights was on Boston Common on Sunday. About 50 people participated in the planned gathering. Emerson College student Mick Jacobs, 20, hurled a snowball.

More: Submit your snowball fight pictures.

Participants enjoyed pelting each other with the fresh, dry snow.

Suffolk University student Megan Graves (left), 18, threw a snowball.

With an endless supply of ammunition, this wasn't a brief gathering.

UMass Boston student Jackie Zhou, 22, reacted after being hit with several snowballs.

Snowball fight organizer Emily Isenberg, 33, of Boston, also was a participant.

Across the bridge in Cambridge, students from Harvard and MIT had their own snow showdown.

MIT student Erica Simmoms was covered in snow during the snowball fight.

The rivalry between the schools, usually a tense one, fueled the snowball-throwing angst.

One participant put together a hefty snowball.

Who won? Who lost? It's hard to tell. Everyone was smothered with snow.

Snowball fights were going on all weekend, not just Sunday. These brave competitors were out in the Back Bay on Friday night just as conditions were worsening.