Pillow Fight Day in New York Was Absolute Mayhem

Saturday, as you perhaps already knew, was International Pillow Fight Day. The unofficial holiday, organized by the group Urban Playground Movement, featured massive pillow fights in cities around the world.

The one in New York was, predictably, bananas.

Hundreds of people began showing up in Washington Square Park around 2:30 p.m. Most were carrying pillows, and more than a few wore costumes. Deadpool, Goku from Dragon Ball, various humanoid farm animals, and some sort of giant pillow monster were all in attendance.

At 3 p.m., the war started. The enormous mob on the east side of the park erupted into an all-out melee. Pillows, laundry sacks and Bed Bath & Beyond bags were swung in all directions. Cameras on monopods and strained arms reached desperately out of the crush. Gradually a ring was formed, where brawlers including Goku and a man in a banana suit battled each other one on one.

Meanwhile, many of the other costumed heroes found that their outfits attracted extra beatings. Children cheerily ganged up on a man dressed as a bunny, people on the west side of the park attacked the pillow monster, and absolutely everyone beat up on Deadpool.

By 5 p.m., it was clear that few had obeyed the event’s “feather-free pillows only” rule. Clumps of down drifted along the ground and floated over the crowd. Pillows and torn-up polyester fuzz were tossed into the air.

At around six, the warriors began to disperse. Goku, the banana, and all the anthropomorphic animals began the long shuffle home. Some had pillowcases slung over their shoulders, while others chose to donate theirs to charity. The park was littered with fluffy rubble, but the war was over.