…Exploring the role of the prankster as artist, activist and social observer and the significance of the prank in society.
A couple of weeks ago, The New York City 2017 April Fools’ Day Parade “Trumpathon”, the world’s largest gathering of Donald Trump look-alikes, was included in a TBS NEWS report about Donald Trump’s “Fake News Awards”. Watch to the end. Story is in Japanese and the link will only be available for a limited time.
New York City’s 32nd Annual April Fools’ Day Parade
Yahoo News
April 1, 2017
The theme for this years parade is MAKE RUSSIA GREAT AGAIN! The Grand Marshall will be a Donald Trump look-alike. The full parade was actually a April Fools” prank. During the event, masked activists marched with a hand-pulled “float” featuring a likeness of Donald Trump sitting in an outhouse. (Getty)
It was huge. Tremendous turnout. Thousands of people. Bigger than the Obama Inauguration! These images speak for themselves…
Continue reading “NYC’s 32nd Annual April Fools Day Parade in Photos”
As our founder prepares for his April Fools’ Day Parade Trumpathon, he gives us a look behind the scenes.
“Prankster Behind NYC April Fools’ Day Parade Says This Year’s Event Will Mock Donald Trump”
by Jillian Kay Melchior
Heat Street
March 28, 2017
For more than three decades, prankster Joey Skaggs has rejoiced in ensnaring the national media into covering fake news of his own invention. But this April Fools” Day, he insists he”s absolutely serious about mocking Donald Trump.
“You can certainly accuse me of being the Boy Who Cried Wolf, given my past track record with this parade,” Skaggs told Heat Street. Indeed, for the past 31 years, Skaggs has sent out elaborate news releases announcing not only the April Fools” Day Parade schedule and route but also describing floats””all fake, all for a parade that doesn”t actually happen.
“But the reality of this April Fools” Day makes it absolutely essential that I finally show up along with, hopefully, hoards of Donald Trump look-alikes,” Skaggs said, adding that he”s hoping to earn a listing in the Guinness Book of World Records for the world”s largest gathering of Donald Trump look-alikes.
For what it”s worth, we called the Guinness Book of World records, which confirmed there is an open application under Skaggs” name. “But the category that he”s applying for is a new category, so the category would have to be accepted by the records team first, before he could attempt a record,” said spokeswoman Sofia Rocher. She said it”s not yet clear whether they”ll have an answer for Skaggs by April 1.
New York City requires a permit from the Police Commissioner for any parade. Skaggs says he has not gotten one, adding, “We”ve gone 32 years without a permit.” Read more.
Announcing New York City’s 32nd Annual April Fools’ Day Parade, kicking off Saturday, April 1, 2017 at 59th Street & 5th Avenue at 12 noon. This is a call for anyone who wants to participate. Check the press release for details and to print your Donald Trump Mask.
PRESS RELEASE
New York, New York — New York”s irreverent April Fools” Day Parade returns, poking fun once again at the past year”s displays of hype, hypocrisy, deceit, bigotry, and downright foolishness. Nothing is sacred. Our satire knows no bounds. The 32nd Annual April Fools” Day Parade will begin at Fifth Avenue and 59th Street at 12 noon, Saturday, April 1, 2017.
Rain or shine, the parade will march down Fifth Avenue to Washington Square Park for the climactic selection of the King of Fools from the costumed look-alikes. Marchers create outrageous floats and dress up in colorful costumes mirroring the folly of the previous year”s nuttiest politicians, corporate leaders, celebrities and whoever else has made a total fool of themselves.
This will be the world”s largest gathering of Donald Trump look-alikes. We”re going for a Guinness World Record for the largest assembly of Donald Trumps. Get your Donald Trump look-alike mask here. Print it, cut it out, and wear it to the parade. And please tweet and re-tweet about this epic TRUMPATHON!
The theme for this year”s parade is “MAKE RUSSIA GREAT AGAIN!” The Grand Marshall will be a Donald Trump look-alike. He will lead the All Brass Balls Marching Band (a.k.a. Trump”s Cabinet members), playing the Russian National Anthem. Color commentary will be provided by an Alec Baldwin look-alike as Donald Trump. The parade route will be showered with over 100 tons of confetti from fake news courtesy of Facebook, Twitter, Google, Fox News, InfoWars, Breitbart and others.
We”re announcing the 2017 King of Fools in advance this year. It”s Donald Trump. But to keep it democratic, there will be a vote at the end of the parade anyway.
Says Parade Organizer Joey Skaggs, “April Fools’ Day, once a day of celebrating alternative truth, has now officially been extended to 365 days of the year.”