Walking down Rollins Street on a humid, overcast Saturday, students were equipped with a multitude of guns: water guns, that is.

With Fall Welcome Week and the first week of classes behind them, students soaked each other with free water guns and sponges at this year’s Mizzou H2O.

Held Aug. 25 on Carnahan Quadrangle, the Missouri Students Association and the Residence Halls Association sponsored the event for the second year.

After seeing the event’s success last year, MSA Student Events Senior Chairwoman Elizabeth Ambrose said MSA representatives thought holding the event again would be a way to end the summer and have fun before the semester gets busy.

Event coordinators used Facebook, Twitter and stufftodo.missouri.edu to spread news of the event. They also handed out flyers to students on their commute to class throughout the week and hung posters in popular spots on campus.

Students were not the only ones to benefit from this unique way to beat the summer heat. Columbia community members and MU faculty were also invited to attend this year’s water extravaganza.

The event included an inflatable water slide, a Slip ‘N Slide and an obstacle course. Friends could challenge each other to a hose duel, the hoses supplied by the Columbia Fire Department, or a water balloon fight. Waterlogged sponges turned out to be a simplistic way to cool oneself off or drench peers unexpectedly.

With the multitude of water stations present, the amount of water used could have been a concern to some.

“Columbia firefighters were careful on what they used with their games and the inflatables,” Ambrose said.

Attendees also cooled down by slurping on snow cones and gained energy for battle from Jimmy John’s.

MSA hired a disc jockey to play summer tunes that elevated and emphasized the laid-back atmosphere. Other non-aquatic activities were also integrated into the event, and students were able to win a variety of prizes.

Freshman Charles Hardy said he stumbled across the event and became curious.

“My brother is a firefighter, so when I saw the trucks parked in the middle of the street and their hoses splurting out water, I had to stop by,” Hardy said.

Students who participated said they were glad to have made the trip to Carnahan Quadrangle.

“Overall, I had a lot of fun at the event and was glad I participated,” Hardy said.