What the Fluff in Somerville

The 8th annual What the Fluff Festival took Union Square by storm this Saturday afternoon. Hundreds gathered to the traffic-free area to eat fluff, shoot marshmallows, and celebrate one of Somerville’s finest inventions.

Liz (left) and Luca Duclos-Orsello got themselves in a bit of a mess during the Blind Man’s Fluff game.

Hundreds crowded the street to celebrate Fluff this Saturday afternoon.

Fluff was invented in Somerville in 1917 by Archibald Query. It has been enjoyed by many ever since.

Kickass Cupcakes sold their smores cupcake, complete with extra Fluff.

Don (left) and Tammi Perkins of Amesbury double-teamed the Fluff Fear Factor challenge. They shared a cracker topped with Fluff and grape leaf wraps.

This year’s festival T-shirts sported Fluff’s take on King Kong.

Mike Katz paraded around as character Archibald Query, the creator of Fluff. Fluff “is fun. It’s delicious,’’ he said. “It’s sticky, and we in Somerville stick to it and stick to each other.’’

Pauline Katz prepared one of the noodles for Fluff jousting.

Julian Fariello, Adi Holmes, and Amelia Fariello showed off their handmade marshmallow shooters.

Josh Freeman (left), and Aidan Sherlock battled during a Fluff joust.

Participants entered into a Fluff cook-off contest with the hopes of winning Fluff fame and this plaque.

Dan Olson entered his Fluffberry Cornucopia in the cook-off contest.

The Ward Eights played live music during What the Fluff on Saturday.

Tara Costines paraded around as the 2012 Pharaoh of Fluff.

Children colored pictures of Fluff Boy during the festival.

Lucy Ryder, 3, posed in the Fluff Boy cutout.

Eric Ricker of Natick stuffed his face during the Blind Man’s Fluff game.

Children tried to catch packing peanuts in one of the booths.