On August 2, thousands of people gathered in NYC's Union Square to take part in battle, not with swords or Nerf guns, but with large rubber dildos. The event, fittingly named #DildoWars, was organized by Alex Xander as a stunt to raise awareness about HIV and STDs. Although it was undoubtedly a fun time for all, it was also an opportunity to start meaningful conversations about sexual health — he even gave out informational brochures and over 10,000 free condoms to all attendees.

Dildo Wars quickly gained popularity on social media, with an RSVP list of over 2,000 people after only one week. Unfortunately, once the guest list swelled to over 5,000, Xander received a letter from the New York Department of Parks and Recreation saying that he might face criminal charges because the event is a "public danger." After initially canceling the event, Xander decided to continue with his brave and noble quest, and it was rescheduled for the very next day. People flocked to Union Square — which Xander calls the "weirdo capital" of NYC, aka the perfect place for such an event — and armed themselves with dildos, all in the name of raising awareness about safe sex.

Fortunately for those of us who weren't able to make it to this historic event, Elite Daily captured the whole thing on video. Here are seven unforgettable moments from Dildo Wars 2015 — my only regret is that I didn't find out about it until after it was over, but I guess there's always next year?

1. The Unbelievable Sight of 4,000 Dildos In One Room

Adorably, the dildos were even marked with red or blue duct tape, creating two opposing teams, which truly made this a dildo "war." Don't ask me how Xander got his hands on that many dildos, but I have to admit that I'm pretty jealous of this room that he dubbed the "Dildo Factory."

2. This Supply Of 10,000 Free Condoms

I've said it before and I'll say it again: Safe sex is great sex. Props to Xander for practicing what he preaches and providing both a platform for discussion as well as the actual means to have safe sex — that very night, if participants so desired (and who wouldn't be turned on after slapping each other around with big ole dildos?).

3. Xander's "Fuck Tha Police" Attitude

Yep, he's crumpling up and tossing that official letter from Parks and Rec right over his shoulder, not a care in the world. His dedication to educating people about the risks of unsafe sex is super admirable, and I applaud him for not backing down even if it meant serious trouble for himself. (Of course, he was concerned about the safety of participants, outlining guidelines on the event's website that he hoped would ensure that no one was harmed.)

3. When Xander and Co. Sweat Out Their Stress

Once again, his dedication to making this event a success is evident: He even took the time to have a pre-Dildo Wars, de-stressing session at a Russian banya. Oh, and they are totally taking shots of vodka, presumably to get in the proper frame of mind for hosting a thousands-strong dildo fight. I mean, hey, whatever works I guess.

4. Getting Random Bystanders Involved

Because the event was "canceled," Xander and his friends relied on a short blast from social media to spread awareness that the event was back on. They also ~covertly~ handed out black bags to passerby in order to up the event's numbers, telling people not to open the bags until the moment Dildo Wars began, so lurking park rangers could not prematurely shut the event down.

5. The Unveiling Of The Dildos

I can only imagine the looks of terror on unsuspecting tourists' faces when strangers suddenly whipped out color-coded sex toys and began hitting each other with them. On behalf of NYC, I formally apologize to any children who witnessed this event. But it was for a good cause, so I don't feel too guilty.

6. This Poor Girl's Face

Ouch. Apparently, face shots were strictly off-limits, but it's no surprise that things got a little out of control once the sex toys started flying. I'm sure she made a full recovery either way.

7. The Battle Itself

Friend on friend, penis on penis — the battle of the century looks like it was more than a little frenzied. I'm sure that whether they knew what was happening or not, everyone involved had a swell time swinging sex toys at one another. At the very least, I hope Xander achieved his goal: to host an unforgettable event that got people involved in the important conversation about having safe sex.

Want more of Bustle's Sex and Relationships coverage? Check out our new podcast, I Want It That Way, which delves into the difficult and downright dirty parts of a relationship, and find more on our Soundcloud page.

Images: Youtube.com/Elite Daily (8)