Since 1986, who founded New York City's Annual April Fools' Day Parade?

Since 1986, Joey Skaggs has founded New York City's Annual April Fools' Day Parade. The event is a satirical performance project rather than a conventional civic parade, using theatrical costumes, floats, mock officials, and topical political humor.

Skaggs publicized the parade through recurring press releases and staged publicity. Its advertised route traditionally ran from Fifth Avenue and 59th Street toward Washington Square Park, where a ceremonial “King of Fools” could be crowned. The spectacle deliberately blurs the line between news event, street theater, and media hoax.

Skaggs is an American multimedia artist known for culture jamming, guerrilla theater, and elaborate hoaxes. His parade has mocked presidents, political movements, celebrities, and the conventions of public celebrations themselves. That background explains why names such as Andy Kaufman or Al Franken may seem plausible, but neither is credited with creating this event.

The parade is also a useful reminder that April Fools' traditions are not limited to one-day newspaper jokes: they can become recurring works of performance art with their own characters, rituals, and invented civic pageantry.