A long, long time ago, the New Year started on the 1st of April, a natural progression for pagan renewal. The Feast of Fools was a term given to many medieval festivals celebrated during the fifth-sixteenth centuries in Europe, and these celebrations developed a tradition of practical jokes.

In France, Belgium and French-speaking areas of Switzerland and Canada, the April 1st tradition is often known as “April Fish” (Poisson d’Avril in French). Pranks include attempting to attach a paper fish to a person’s back without being noticed. This fish feature is prominently present on many late 19th- to early 20th-century French April Fools’ Day postcards. Many newspapers also spread a false story on April Fish Day, and a subtle reference to a fish is sometimes given as a clue to the fact that it is an April Fools’ prank.

Our event is no prank, but may feature many!

Poisson D’Avril Schedule:

4:00-6:00pm: Crafts: Mask Making, Paper Fish, Photobooth, Beanbag Toss, + More

5:00-8:00pm: Café Open

6:00pm: Parade to Downtown & Back

6:30pm: Puppet Show

7:00pm: Crowning of the April Fool, History, & Poetry

7:30pm: Films Start:
7:30pm: Jan Svankmajer’s “Jabberwocky” (14 minutes)
7:45pm: Disney’s Alice in Wonderland (65 minutes)

Enter through the gates beside the Larry Spring Museum @225 E Redwood Ave., Fort Bragg