WonderFOOL Productions

Ann Arbor

FestiFools is an annual street theater parade held in Ann Arbor, Michigan around April Fool's Day. Founded in 2007 by Mark Tucker and Jeri Rosenberg, the event features large papier-mâché puppets created by students in Tucker's Art in Public Spaces class and the wider community. FestiFools has since grown to attract nearly 8,000 attendees and features community puppet-making workshops held in the months leading up to the event. In 2011, Tucker, Rosenberg, and others founded FoolMoon, a light-based celebration featuring public art installations, street performances, and community-created luminaries. The event has since moved to Ann Arbor's Kerrytown neighborhood and has expanded to include collaborations with local businesses and community groups. In 2016, the team launched ypsiGLOW, a community-built celebration showcasing Ypsilanti's creativity and diversity through luminary processions, public art installations, and performances. Facing the challenges of COVID-19, the team shifted to virtual events, with FoolMoon Reimagined and FestiFools Virtual featuring mini-puppet short films and creative prompts for people at home.