The 24th Annual April Fools Day Parade begins at Fifth Avenue and 59th Street in New York City at noon today! Created by artist Joey Skaggs in 1986 the parade has annually commemorated "man's perennial folly." Anyone can participate at any time along the route which ends at Union Square. Participants are encouraged to dress in costumes. This year's theme is "Take the Money and Run" led by a Bernie Madoff look-a-like as the Grand Marshall. The parade also includes the SEC Marching Band covering the Beatles song, "Money". GO! NOW!

Spectators are encouraged to photo-copy money and throw it from their windows like confetti. This will create an ambience for the play involved in the street, especially with the first float of the parade which is a giant US Treasury printing press that spews money! Behind this spectacle are bank managers, mortgage brokers, Wall Street executives, hedgefund directors, and insurance CEO's singing the parade's theme song, "Money".

The next float is the New Jersey Balcony float that will be ridden by Councilman Steve Lipski who will be rigged with a water pump so he can pretend to pee on the crowd. Fun! Also on the float is Joe the Plumber who will be seated on a toilet in the style of Rodin's "The Thinker". Exciting!

After more floats comes a Chief Justice John Roberts look-a-like repeating the Oath of Office followed by more look-a-likes including Timothy Geithner and Tom Daschle repeating, "I paid my taxes"; a John McCain saying, "My Friends"'; and more! Barbara Walters will be providing commentary. (Why are you still reading? Go!)

If you can't make the parade, you can meet the paraders in Union Square where there will be more festivities including live music, food, concessions, and entertainment. Peanut butter snacks will be provided by the Peanut Corporation of America and the FDA. Free of charge! A retreat/spa booth will be hosted by AIG executives and more! (Seriously. Go.)

"The New York April Fools' Day Parade was created in 1986 to remedy a glaring omission in the long list of New York's annual ethnic and holiday parades," says organizer Joey Skaggs. "These events fail to recognize the importance of April 1st, the day designated to commemorate the perennial folly of mankind. In an attempt to bridge this gap and bring people back in touch with their inherent foolishness, the parade annually crowns a King of Fools from parading look-alikes."

"We are grateful to the New York State Council on the Arts, National Endowment for the Arts, Mayor Michael Bloomberg, and the Troubled Assets Relief Program for their support of this year's parade." The King or Queen of Fools will be chosen based on the loudest cheers in Union Square. The winner will reign through March 31, 2010.
GO NOW!