New Jersey Stage logo
New Jersey Stage Menu



 

New York City's 41st Annual April Fools' Day Parade looks at "What's Real and What's Not"

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




Promote your shows at New Jersey Stage! Click here for info



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

(CAPE MAY, NJ) -- The public is invited to attend "Allen AME: Our Stories, Our Space, Our Legacy," a free special program honoring the enduring history and cultural significance of the former Allen African Methodist Episcopal Church in Cape May. The event will take place on Saturday, September 19, 2026, from 1:00pm to 5:00pm at the Clemans Theater for the Arts at the historic Allen AME Church (717 Franklin Street) in Cape May.
Nearly One-Third of the Philadelphia Fringe Festival Lives at Cannonball This September

Nearly One-Third of the Philadelphia Fringe Festival Lives at Cannonball This September

(PHILADELPHIA, PA) -- Nearly one-third of the 2026 Philadelphia Fringe Festival comes to life at Cannonball Festival this September, as more than 100 artists present bold new work across five stages in a nonstop celebration of fearless live performance. Celebrating its sixth year, Cannonball is the largest hub of the Philadelphia Fringe Festival, championing a revolutionary artist-led model that prioritizes equity, experimentation, and community connection.
Catsbury Park Cat Convention to Take Place October 10-11, 2026

Catsbury Park Cat Convention to Take Place October 10-11, 2026

(HOLMDEL, NJ) -- Catsbury Park announces the return of the Catsbury Park Cat Convention, taking place October 10–11, 2026 for two full days of feline fun at Bell Works in Holmdel. The beloved annual event brings together cat lovers from across the region for a weekend filled with adoptable cats, educational presentations, celebrity guests, interactive activities, shopping, and community. Attendees can browse a bustling Vendor Village featuring artists, makers, and pet-focused businesses, meet local rescue organizations, and learn more about cat welfare and adoption efforts.
 

FEATURED EVENTS


Mary Fahl

Saturday, August 15, 2026 @ 7:30pm
Lizzie Rose Music Room
217 E. Main Street, Tuckerton, NJ


Hair: The American Tribal Love-Rock Musical

Saturday, August 15, 2026 @ 2:00pm
Algonquin Arts Theatre
60 Abe Voorhees Drive, Manasquan, NJ


Hair: The American Tribal Love-Rock Musical

Saturday, August 15, 2026 @ 8:00pm
Algonquin Arts Theatre
60 Abe Voorhees Drive, Manasquan, NJ


Petflix – A Free Pet-Friendly Outdoor Movie at the Hamilton Street Lot

Saturday, August 15, 2026 @ 6:00pm
Hamilton Stage at Union County Performing Arts Center (UCPAC)
360 Hamilton Avenue, Rahway, NJ


Stage Adda presents Anirban Dasgupta's Player

Saturday, August 15, 2026 @ 6:00pm
New Brunswick Performing Arts Center (NBPAC)
11 Livingston Avenue, New Brunswick, NJ


JB & the JB Blues Band Record Release Show

Saturday, August 15, 2026 @ 8:00pm
Muddy Waters Gastropub
1090 NJ-173, Asbury, NJ



 

Advertise with NJ Stage for $50-$100 per month, click here for info