Saint Stupid's Day Parade, San Francisco

If you belong to the First Church of the Last Laugh, you only have one official religious holiday to observe each year, and that day is Saint Stupid's Day. April 1st marks the day devoted to the Holy Fool and if you happen to be in San Francisco that day, you can join in the festivities!

When St Stupid's Day falls during the week, a parade takes place in the Financial District. The meet-up point is Pee-wee Herman Plaza (aka Justin Herman Plaza), down on the Embarcadero and across from the Ferry Terminal Building.

The only rule, and it's more of a suggestion than a guideline, is to dress stupid. Outrageous headgear and hats seem to be favored over other forms of stupid-wear but really, anything street-legal goes! And a good deal of walking is involved, so your footwear can be stupid, but comfortable and sturdy is a good idea too.

A Good Hat - This can be the key to your whole stupid outfit, or it might just be useful for keeping the sun out of your eyes during a parade march that lasts for a few hours.  Make it festive, make it colorful, make it funny, make it majestic, make it STUPID!

Old Lottery Tickets - the First Station of Stupid is where old lottery tickets will be shredded and tossed like confetti. If you don't play the lottery, get some old tickets from friends of yours who do.

Socks - I use the Sock Exchange Station in the Ritual of Stupid as an annual excuse to purge my sockage and get rid of socks that have become worn out and have holes. Bring with you, and at the appropriate moment in the Sock Exchange, fling with abandon and move along.

A Snack - I find that a snack is really refreshing to eat during the Parade Rest (about 20 minutes). When the parade runs through the Financial District, you can actually find street vendors to buy from, and you can even take the time to run into neighborhood stores as you pass by with the parade.

Pennies - These are for throwing at the Banker's Heart (a large granite sculpture). A few handfuls to throw is nice.

Water - This parade can be quite energetic and there are lots of fun songs and chants, so having a full water bottle is essential for parade survival.

Musical Instrument - You are welcome to join in however you might wish musically, be it just doing your own thing or playing with the band. If you want to stay in time with the band, you just need to pay attention and march at the front with the rest of them. But really, many stupid parade participants will be singing and playing along to their own tunes.