Annual celebration highlights the Whoopie Pie
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Get ready for Fluff Fest, Somerville.

It’s a Marshmallow world in Union Square. Archibald Query invented Fluff right here in 1917 so every year Union Square Main Streets hosts a madcap festival. This year’s event is Saturday from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. on Union Square Plaza. Raindate is Sunday, September 26. The event is free.

Join musical and theatrical performers, inventors, culinary wizards and humorists as Union Square pays yummy homage to this great American foodstuff.

This year  they embrace that most enticing of Fluff creations, the Whoopie Pie. Often chocolate but sometimes in other flavors from vanilla to carrot to pumpkin, the Whoopie Pie is not properly a sandwich, not quite a cupcake, oddly not even a pie — like Marshmallow Fluff itself, it’s in a class by itself.

You can be part of the festivities by mixing a gooey concoction for the cooking contest or creatively expressing your love of Fluff to be elected our Fabulous Pharaoh of Fluff. You could win the grand prize, a tour of the Durkee Mower Fluff factory, a unique trophy and other special prizes.

Boogie to the funky sounds of Booty Vortex, Hot Molasses or the Kieran Ridge Band. Be mesmerized by the Flufferettes in G-rated burlesque dance routines.

Or take part in Fluff-inspired silliness from the Shenanigans Stage or the Games Plaza. Jump in for the super-sticky Lick-Off, Blind Man’s Fluff and the Fluffer or Nutter Relay. Try your hand at Fluff-inspired Midway games – they’ve got a bunch of new ones lined up this year. Win tickets for prizes.

From vendors you can get a big range of Fluff treats and other goodies – edible and otherwise. Vendors include Kickass Cupcakes, whoopie pies from Homebaked Bliss and fluffernutters and rice krispies whipped up by Somerville High School culinary students.

Cut the sugar with savory food by India Palace, Pao de Acucar, Cantina La Mexicana and others.

Stick around after the festival to whet your whistle with a fluff inspired cocktail or to linger over a dessert at one of the area bars and restaurants. Retailers and clubs are offering discounts and hosting after-festival parties too.