Wednesday, July 8, 2026

Live Shots: St. Stupid’s Day Parade skewers dumb ol’ capitalism

City's most April fool's-hardy annual tradition takes to the FiDi streets to mock any remaining faith in financial institutions.

As they have since 1979, when St. Stupid’s Day was founded by Berkeley resident and former San Francisco Mime Troupe performer Ed Holmes, also known as Bishop Joey of the First Church of the Last Laughter, Bay Area residents took to the FiDi streets on April 1. There, silly-billies attired as rats, chickens, Spiderman, and binder clips lightly harassed financial workers in the spirit of this annual taunt to the country’s great capitalist institutions of banks and the Stock Exchange. In front of the latter, a traditional pause was taken for participants to trade socks.

“I know, I know, but you know, you never know,” chanted a multigenerational crowd that has long featured members of the SF Cacophony Society, as well as other thoroughly stupid local institutions. “No more chants, No more chants!”

Looking to join the stupid fun next year? You’d be dumb to join the Saint Stupiders Facebook group for more info.

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