- Categories:
- Fun
- Tags:
- ActivitiesFestivitiesWeird National
- Where:
- United States
- Date change rule:
- Every April 1
- Holiday emoji:
- 🤪
St. Stupid Day bursts onto the calendar every April 1, primarily in San Francisco, inviting everyone to revel in joyous foolishness. Join the Fool’s Day Parade, don your most ridiculous attire, and let loose with fellow enthusiasts. Embrace the silliness, share a laugh, and celebrate the lighter side of life.
Want to sponsor St. Stupid Day? Learn how
Expected St. Stupid Day Deals
While official 2027 promotions for St. Stupid Day are still under wraps, history suggests a playful approach from retailers. Expect novelty shops like Archie McPhee and costume suppliers such as Party City to offer discounts on prank items, silly accessories, and elaborate costumes. Online gag gift stores may run flash sales, encouraging spontaneous acts of harmless mischief. We will update this page with confirmed live deals as April 1 approaches.
Platform Guide for St. Stupid Day
TikTok
Tag @www.nationaltoday.com and use #StStupidDay. Film your silliest walk or most absurd costume for a chance to go viral.
Tag @nationaltoday_ and use #StStupidDay. Share photos of your quirky outfits, prank setups, or the Fool’s Day Parade festivities.
X/Twitter
Mention @NatlToday and use #StStupidDay. Tweet about your favorite harmless pranks or share funny observations from the day.
St. Stupid Day Hero
W.T. Ruckus
History of St. Stupid Day
St. Stupid Day was started in 1979 by Ed Holmes, a member of the San Francisco Mime Troupe, who is also Bishop Joey of the First Church of the Last Laughter. It was based on the belief that one of the unifying characteristics of society is stupidity. According to the First Church of the Last Laughter, “the only thing that unites species in all their differences in color, religion, nationality, zip code, and beverage preference is stupidity.”
St. Stupid Day is centered around the St. Stupid Day Parade. It is a unique opportunity to allow yourself to behave utterly foolishly for a while. You are encouraged to wear silly clothes and shout stupid slogans, with no worries that someone will condemn you or arrest you for hooliganism.
The parade begins at noon and passes through the financial district of San Francisco, the city’s business center. Generally, St. Stupid’s Day Parade is accompanied by drummers, horn players, and various chants.
Highlights of this fun event include the absurd game of losing lottery tickets at the Federal Reserve headquarters, tossing coins at the Banker’s Heart sculpture as a tribute to the city’s trade temples, and exchanging socks at the Pacific Stock Exchange. There is also a “leap of faith” where parade participants close their eyes, jump, and believe that the Earth will still be there when they land. Only a dozen or two people participated in the first parade, but now there are thousands.
St. Stupid Day timeline
The San Francisco Mime Troupe is founded, a theater where Holmes works before retirement.
Holmes announces April 1 as St. Stupid Day in the late 1970s.
The First Church of the Last Laugh releases a record called “St. Stupid Wrap.”
The Saint Stupid’s Day Parade is held for the 37th year.
St. Stupid Day FAQs
When is St. Stupid Day?
In 2027, St. Stupid Day will be observed on Thursday, April 1. This date offers another opportunity to participate in the unique traditions of this quirky holiday.
Who founded St. Stupid Day?
The holiday’s origins trace back to the late 1970s with W.T. Ruckus, a San Francisco artist and performer. His intention was to establish a counter-cultural event that embraced the absurd and the joyful spirit of foolishness.
How is St. Stupid Day related to April Fool's Day?
Both holidays share the same calendar date and a spirit of lighthearted deception or silliness. St. Stupid Day, however, is a more organized, performance-art-like celebration, encouraging participants to embody ‘stupidity’ rather than just playing tricks.
What happens at the Fool's Day Parade?
Attendees of the Fool’s Day Parade are encouraged to dress in unusual attire and engage in playful, non-sensical behavior. The parade is less about structure and more about collective, public displays of lighthearted antics and humor.
St. Stupid Day Activities
Visit San Francisco
You should visit San Francisco to celebrate St. Stupid Day. This way, you will get to know the city and feel the true spirit of “foolishness” on this day.
Go to the parade
The St. Stupid’s Day Parade is remarkable. It includes free lunch, confetti, flags, costumes, and various “silly” activities. This is the best celebration of Fool’s Day.
Watch the movie
If you can’t go to the parade, then bring the parade to you! There are documentaries about St. Stupid Day available everywhere. Watch the movie along with your silly friends while wearing the most ridiculous outfits.
5 Facts About San Francisco That Will Blow Your Mind
Golden Gate Park is there
The park is bigger than the famous Central Park in New York City.
The San Francisco Fog has a name
The locals call it Karl the Fog, but the exact origin of the name is unknown.
The Chinese Fortune Cookie was invented there
By the end of the 1890s, Makoto Hagiwara, a Japanese immigrant from San Francisco, invented modern fortune-telling cookies, which he served in the tea garden of Golden Gate Park.
It’s home to the oldest Chinatown
Founded in 1848, San Francisco's Chinatown is the oldest in North America and the second-largest outside Asia.
It’s a hilly city
San Francisco is built on more than 50 hills.
Why We Love St. Stupid Day
It has a long history
St. Stupid Day has been known since the 1970s. Over the years, its popularity has begun to wane, but people are doing everything possible to ensure that this unique ancient tradition doesn’t disappear from our lives. Let’s support them!
It is all about fun
St. Stupid Day brings a wave of fun and lightness. People can at least temporarily put aside their worries, forget about problems, take off their strict suits, and have fun acting like a “fool.”
It is a day to feel free from judgments
On any other day, people can be judged by others for their behavior and appearance. But on St. Stupid Day, everyone can behave the way they want. Wear outlandish costumes, participate in “silly” events, act like a fool, and do not be afraid to see dissatisfaction in the eyes of others.
Social Media Tips for St. Stupid Day
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