Get Out: Fluff Festival

Where: Main Streets of Union Square, Cambridge

When: September 26th, 3 p.m. - 7 p.m. (but don’t worry if you missed it, it’s an annual thing)

What is it?

The short version: “You need Fluff, Fluff, Fluff, to make a Fluffernutter, Marshmallow Fluff, and lots of peanut butter.” Sung by hundreds of people. All day long.

Fluffernutters - People stand in line for fluffernutter sandwiches, which are filled with peanut butter and fluff. This fundraiser, run by Somerville Public Schools, sells over 2,000 sandwiches every year at the annual Fluff Festival.

Fear Factor Fluff - Sue Geller prepares the fluff for Fear Factor Fluff, where visitors tried out different, unexpected combinations of fluff and other ingredients such as spam and hot sauce.

Marshmallows Galore - Donna Mae Pascizniak, the author and publisher of Marshmallows Galore, holds up her children’s book near the entrance of the Fluff Festival. Pascizniak was inspired “while day dreaming at work,” and she quit that job to pursue the book.

Marshfellows - “Marshfellows” are sold at the Fluff Festival in Somerville, MA. These marshmallow figures are handmade from polymer clay.

Fluffettes - Brandy Wine, Busty Keaton, and Dewie Decimator are the stage names of the “Fluffettes,” who pose before they perform on the Main Stage at the Fluff Festival.

true By Hayoung Hwang

Listen here if you’re confused: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O6gljDcLrvQ

The long version: Imagine, if you will, a city square. Now imagine the square is jam-packed with people, and, more importantly, with Marshmallow Fluff. Marshmallow Fluff everywhere. Marshmallow Fluff in things and places you never thought you’d see it.

Hamburger with Fluff? Check.

Messy Fluff competitions? Check.

Fluff-themed musical acts and bands? Check.

Fluff hairdos? That’s right. They got ‘em.

Ghostbusters? Uhm, duh. Double check. Actually, triple check.

And that just scratches the surface.

The festival’s full name, as recognized by it’s website, is “‘What the Fluff?’ A Tribute to Union Square Invention”. Because, as everyone knows, Marshmallow Fluff was invented in Union Square. Wait, what? You aren’t well-versed in the history of this delectably sweet treat? Not to worry - just ask one of the many event staff, and they’ll be more than willing to tell you all about the Irish immigrant Archibald Querry, who made the first batch of Marshmallow Fluff almost a century ago in 1917. They might even do you one better, and introduce you to the big man himself! Or rather, to Michael Katz, a Union Square native who dresses up as Fluff’s inventor every year for the Festival. He’s been doing this since the Festival’s commencement, 10 years ago. (Consequently, this year’s theme is FluffX to commemorate the Festival’s decade-long run). Here’s a list of things to check out after brushing up on your Fluff history.

The Main Stage

Pull up a chair on the intersection of Washington St. and Somerville Ave. to enjoy quality live music and other wacky performance artists. The main stage is booked from 3 to 6, with acts such as Ten Tumbao, the Revolutionary Snake Ensemble, and, of course, the Flufferettes. And make sure you’re there at 5 to hear the winner of the FluffX Cooking Competition - prizes awarded for Best Original Recipe, Best Traditional Recipe, Most Creative Recipe, Best Youth Entry, and Best Overall. Past winners have included BaklaFluff for Most Original, Fluffernutter Pie with Chocolate Ganache for Best Overall, and of course the timeless Fluff Sushi for Most Creative.

The Vendors

“Marshfellows” are sold at the Fluff Festival in Somerville, MA. These marshmallow figures are handmade from polymer clay. By Hayoung Hwang

Being that this is the Marshmallow Fluff festival, make sure to pick yourself up some nice treats from the various vendors. For the picky eater, one can never go wrong with the classic Fluffernutter, that glorious combination of creamy peanut butter and sticky Marshmallow Fluff on wonderbread. For the more adventurous, try out a slice of S’Mores pizza, or maybe a Chicken and Fluff Sandwich, or a chorizo, guava, and Fluff empanada. And, if you’re 21+, be sure to check out the various selection of Fluff-inspired adult beverages, including a Fluff Old Fashioned and a Fluff Margarita (which uses Fluff on the rim instead of salt).

The Ghostbusters

The celebration of liquid marshmallow spread would be incomplete without these guys. Be sure to get over to their booth and have a good conversation with one of them during your time at the Festival. Keith R. Eldridge gave us the inside scoop on what it’s like to be a Massachusetts Ghostbuster. “We come here every year to make sure all the ‘awesome energy’ of this place doesn’t bring back Gozer,” he told us, as two of his colleagues took photos with beaming toddlers in the background. “As everyone knows, the 1984 incursion resulted in Fluff everywhere. We figure that this high a concentration might reopen the portal.” And, on top of their tireless efforts to protect our world from malicious supernatural forces, they also raise money for many charity organizations.

The Shenanigans Stage

Two words: Fluff Jousting. Perhaps the crown jewel of the Fluff Festival, the Shenanigans Stage is host to every game imaginable involving marshmallows and Fluff. Emceed by the passionate 142-year-old creator of Fluff Archibald Query (Michael Katz), the stage is the nonstop center of fun (and messiness) for both kids and adults. Some of the most popular events include licking Fluff off of plexiglass squares in the Fluff Lick Off, Blind Man’s Fluff, which involves blindfolded adults stuffing Fluffernutters into their kids’ faces, and of course, Fluff Jousting, which involves a balance beam, pool noodles covered in fluff, and two contestants who end the activity in desperate need for a shower. Katz’s daughter, Pauline E. Katz, Graduate School of Education ‘15, has been attending the festival for five of its ten years. Having participated in the majority of the Shenanigans Stage’s activities, her personal favorite is Fluff Hair Dos, which is exactly what it sounds like: hair styling with Fluff as a substitute for gel. Her personal tip: “Fluff washes out best with hot water.”