It’s dubbed a “celebration of foolishness,” but it’s no joke: A citywide pillow fight will really be held at 4pm Saturday, April 1, in the courtyard of the Oxbow Hotel, at the corner of Galloway and Barstow Streets in downtown Eau Claire. It’s the triumphant return of the April Fools’ Day Pillow Fight hosted by Volume One Magazine. Once an annual event, the squishy brawl has been on hiatus since its last incarnation in 2012. But that’s about the change. The pillow fight – also billed as “five minutes of feathery fury” – brings together hundreds of locals of all ages for a few minutes of lighthearted fun in the springtime air. People show up, pillows in hand, ready for cushiony combat. Many people dress in crazy costumes, sometimes donning throw pillows and the like as makeshift armor. Sometimes whole families roll up to fight as a unit. A set of basic safety rules and reminders will be laid out prior to the fight, and Volume One staff will be on hand to monitor the melee.

Pro tip: In years past, the deeper you get into the crowd, the faster the pillows are flying, so it’s best to keep younger kids out at the edges battling lil’ gladiators their own size. And pillow pacifist spectators are more than welcome.

Once the buzzer rings and the fight concludes, prizes will be awarded for things such as best pillowcase, best costume, group costumes, and more. It’s a fantastic opportunity to get outside with your neighbors after the long winter months to release all that pent-up energy.