World Pillow Fighting Championships

Festival Location: Kenwood, CA, USA

Festival State: Californian Festivals

Festival Type(s): Bizarre Festivals , Bizarre Sports Events

World Pillow Fighting Championships

by © Jan Friedman 2008

Remember those pillow fights you had as a kid? And how much fun it was to play in the mud? Well, you can do both at the same time at the annual World Pillow Fighting Championships, now in its 36th year.

Anyone over the age of 14 can enter as long as they leave their maturity outside the arena. Competition begins by straddling a slippery wet pole suspended over a pit of mud. Holding a wet feather pillow in one hand, you slither along the pole to the starting position, an achievement in itself. During combat your hands can't touch the pole and you can't use your feet to unseat your opponent. Your only weapon is the pillow that can be swung using one or both hands.

The first contestant to topple his opponent into the mud wins the fall; two out of three falls wins the bout. You have to swing at least every 30 seconds. If a minute passes without anyone falling, the bout continues with one hand behind your back. After yet another minute without a fall, fighting continues holding the pillow with both hands. As long as you're prepared to fall down, get muddy and be laughed at, you're qualified to enter. Sign in to play no later than 9AM.

The above is an excerpt from Jan Friedman's wonderful, Eccentric America. Read more from Eccentric America at Jan's website at www.eccentricamerica.com or take a look at Jan's latest offering, Eccentric California at www.eccentriccalifornia.net.

by Jan Friedman

World Pillow Fighting Championships Dates and Location

The Kenwood World Pillow Fighting Championship is held annually on July 4 in Sonoma County between Santa Rosa and Sonoma, 60 miles north of the Golden Gate Bridge, off Hwy 12, 14 miles from Santa Rosa. The fair is in Plaza Park on Warm Springs Rd, two blocks from the highway. [707 833 2440]. Check out the website at kenwoodpillowfights.com.