Published by New Jersey Stage
originally published: 03/13/2026
(NEW YORK, NY) -- New York City's 41st Annual April Fools' Day Parade returns on April 1, 2026. In an era when truth is optional, elections are negotiable, civil rights are conditional, and reality itself has been rebranded as "fake," the parade once again pokes fun at the past year's displays of hype, hypocrisy, deceit, bigotry, and downright stupidity because the alternative is despair.
As always, participation in the parade is open to the public. Costumes, floats, look-alikes, whistleblowers, dis- information specialists, and bewildered bystanders are all welcome. The April Fools’ Day Parade Committee accepts no responsibility for emotional whiplash, existential dread, or sudden moments of clarity.
Floats should be no wider than 10 feet and no longer than 30 feet and can be self-propelled, towed, pushed or pulled. Customized bicycles, tricycles, baby carriages, and helium balloons are welcome.
The theme of the parade is “What’s Real and What’s Not”. The self-appointed Grand Marshal is President Donald J. Trump, leading a procession of loyalists, liars and grifters. The theme song will be “Don’t Worry, Be Happy” by Bobby McFerrin, performed by the January 6 Pardoned Felons Marching Band.
“Reality, like truth, is often just what we choose to believe.” — Joey Skaggs, Parade Committee Chair
The parade will kick off with aerial flyovers of Kristi Noem’s new luxury Boeing 737 Max 8 and Donald Trump’s new Qatari royal family gifted Boeing 747-8 jetliner. They will be dropping confetti from the shred- ded U.S. Constitution and the few remaining fake newspapers.
Assembly: Fifth Avenue and 59th Street at 12:00 Noon, Wednesday, April 1, 2026
Route: South on Fifth Avenue (with a brief pause in front of Trump Tower)
Final Destination: Washington Square Park (soon to be renamed Trump Square Park and turned into a min- iature golf course), site of the traditional coronation of the King or Queen of Fools--possibly for the last time--as rumors persist that democratic elections may soon be retired.
This year’s floats will include the Worn-out, Fatigued, and Collapsed Statue of Liberty float; the Giant Talk- ing AI Anal Sphincter float answering questions with confident nonsense; a Venezuelan Drill Baby Drill float with a leaky, rusted oil derrick on wheels, spewing corruption; the Anti-inflation Affordability float tossing fresh eggs at the crowd; the Barbed Wire Cage float for illegals (and legals) captured along the parade route. Bringing up the rear of the parade will be a Middle East Camel Race back to the Stone Age.
Celebrity look-alikes include Vice President J.D. Vance, Andrew Mountbatten Windsor, Kash Patel, Pam Bondi, Elon Musk, Mark Zuckerberg, Vladimir Putin, Pete Hegseth, David Ellison, Mike Johnson, and Ghislane Maxwell will ride e-bikes in a demolition derby. The public is encouraged to join the melee.
At the parade’s conclusion in Washington Square Park, where the King of Fools is crowned, festivities will include: a Complimentary BBQ Cook-out serving recalled food containing listeria, E. coli, and undeclared allergens; a Greenland Resettlement Kiosk offering Palestinian refugees forty acres and a snowmobile; and an Immunization Lottery (before they’re banned), sponsored by Secretary of Health Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
Entertainment will feature the first comprehensive public reading of all redacted names from the Epstein Files (excluding victims), followed by a screening of the Melania mockumentary. Security and surveillance will be provided by unidentifiable ICE agents.
EVENT PREVIEWS
37th Annual Manayunk Arts Festival to Take Place June 27-28, 2026
(PHILADELPHIA, PA) -- Manayunk Development Corporation is excited to celebrate the 37th Annual Manayunk Arts Festival on Saturday, June 27, 2026 from 11:00am to 7:00pm and Sunday, June 28, 2026 from 11:00am to 5:00pm. The tradition of being the tri-state area's largest outdoor juried art festival - and the largest in Pennsylvania - will continue as Main Street hosts approximately 300 different local and nationally known artists and crafters.
Carteret's Independence Day Festival to feature country star Walker Hayes
(CARTERET, NJ) -- One of New Jersey's most popular Independence Day Festivals will take place in Carteret's Civic Center Park (100 Cooke Avenue) from 6:00pm to midnight on Friday, July 3, 2026 in celebration of America's 250th birthday.
Bergen County presents 3rd Annual Star-Spangled Spectacular
(RIDGEFIELD PARK, NJ) -- County Executive Jim Tedesco, the County Board of Commissioners, and the Bergen 250 Initiative are excited to announce that Bergen County's 3rd Annual Star-Spangled Spectacular will return July 4, 2026 at Overpeck County Park. All are invited to attend this patriotic afternoon of family fun which will include live music, children's activities, over 20 food trucks, a beer and wine garden, carnival attractions, and stunning fireworks to conclude the evening over Overpeck Creek.
Washington Crossing Historic Park Launches Community-Wide Call to Support Expanded Independence Day Celebration in America's 250th Anniversary Year
(WASHINGTON CROSSING, PA) -- Washington Crossing Historic Park (WCHP) in Pennsylvania plans to host an expanded Independence Day Celebration on Saturday, July 4, 2026 from 4:00pm to 9:30pm featuring immersive living history experiences, family-friendly activities, live music, and the return of fireworks over the Delaware River. Designed as a community-wide celebration of America250, the event is intended to create a meaningful space for residents and visitors to commemorate this historic milestone year. Please note: Admission is required; registration is recommended only for the 4:00pm ‐ 8:00pm Living History Program. The evening concert and fireworks are free and open to the public; no registration is required to attend those portions of the event.
Passage Theatre Company presents 3rd Annual Word on Front festival
(TRENTON, NJ) -- Passage Theatre Company's third annual Word on Front event is set to be its biggest yet. In celebration of the United States of America's 250th Anniversary, the company is presenting Word on Front 250, three consecutive weekends of a variety of live arts from June 26 to July 12, 2026. This festival of spoken word, music, and solo performance will celebrate the untold and underrepresented stories of America.
SOPAC presents Stewart Copeland: Have I Said Too Much? on July 16th
(SOUTH ORANGE, NJ) -- Rock and Roll Hall of Famer Stewart Copeland brings his first American spoken-word tour (Have I Said Too Much?) to the South Orange Performing Arts Center (SOPAC) on Thursday, July 16, 2026 at 7:30pm. Copeland is the founding drummer of The Police and one of rock's most inventive forces.
Centenary Stage Company Announces Lineup for SUMMERFEST 2026
(HACKETTSTOWN, NJ) -- Centenary Stage Company's SUMMERFEST 2026 is set to take center stage in the Lackland Performing Arts Center with four productions running through the summer months. SUMMERFEST will feature, A Taste of Ireland presented by Pace Live, The Wedding Singer, Four Sticks: The Music of Led Zeppelin, and Maltby & Shire's Closer Than Ever.
Hallmark Stars Take the Stage at The Carteret PAC on July 22nd during First-Time Multi-City Tour Experience Hallmark Stars Live
(CARTERET, NJ) -- Hallmark and Gershwin Entertainment are proud to announce Hallmark Stars Live presented by Michaels, a new live tour kicking off at URSB Carteret Performing Arts and Events Center on Wednesday, July 22, 2026 at 7:30pm where some of the network's most beloved stars step off screen and onto the stage. Hosted by fan-favorite Nikki DeLoach (A Grand Ole Opry Christmas), the tour will feature Hallmark mainstays for a night where the cameras are off – and the stories keep rolling.
Hallmark Stars Live comes to MPAC on July 26th
(MORRISTOWN, NJ) -- Hallmark Stars Live presented by Michaels, is a new live tour kicking off this summer where some of the network's most beloved stars step off screen and onto the stage. Hosted by fan-favorite Nikki DeLoach (A Grand Ole Opry Christmas), the tour will feature Hallmark mainstays for a night where the cameras are off – and the stories keep rolling. The tour comes to Mayo Performing Arts Center (MPAC) on Sunday, July 26, 2026 at 7:00pm.
FEATURED EVENTS
