Entertainment - Aprils Fools Party Ideas

It is a fantastic idea to have parties throughout the year - any excuse will do to uplift the spirits of friends and family! Why not be original and hold an April Fools party? Below are some unique ideas for an April Fools party:

"It is to laugh" is a very lively game for an April Fool Party. The players form a circle, taking hold of hands, and circle around one of the players who is blindfolded and holds a staff or a cane. When he raps on the floor with the cane they all stand still. He then points the cane toward some one, saying: "It is to laugh".

The person touched by the cane, or nearest to it, places the end of the cane close to his mouth and laughs. If his name is guessed by the player in the center they change places and circle again; if not, they circle until the player in the center succeeds in naming the owner of the laugh.

Each guest is provided with a sheet of white paper and scissors and is asked to cut out a goose. After all are cut pin them to a sheet of black calico, and select judges to choose the best. This produces a great deal of fun, as some of the figures are of times grotesque.

The best goose is given a large china or bisque goose in a nest of cotton; beside it a yellow china or candy egg, bearing this inscription: " The goose that laid the golden egg". The one making the most ridiculous goose receives a tall jester's cap, bearing the words, "What a goose!" which he or he must wear throughout the evening.

One room may be devoted to the Great White Prophet. Here is a huge draped figure all in white, with a white mask and seated on a high white throne. The guests are brought to this room one by one and told that they must kneel down before the Prophet, and, bowing three times, must repeat : "Great White Prophet, what have I done?" The answer conues in a sepulchral voice: "You have made a fool of yourself".

You might next announce that you have a picture that you would like to show, that it has given you a great deal of pleasure, and doubtless will give the others as much.

Withdraw a curtain, revealing a mirror with "April Fool " written on it with soap, when you have one or two expectant persons in front of it.

In the same room might be arranged an Art Gallery, using the following Fake Exhibits:
"Fifty Views of Washington" Fifty two-cent stamps.
"Fifty Views of the Panama Canal" Fifty Panama stamps.
"Fifty Points in Colorado" A sketch of Colorado with fifty dots.
"Among the Rockies" Several rocking chairs (doll furniture and others).
Place a large letter "C" on each end of a strip of cardboard which must stand north and south. The letter at the north end is "The North Sea," and "Below the North Sea" is the lower letter.
General Cobb and his Colonels A cob of corn.
The Bust of a Commentator A potato.
The American Elevator A yeast cake.
The Rose of Castile Castile soap in rows.
A Swimming Match A match in a glass of water.
The Peacemakers A pair of scissors.
Study in Black and White A piece of chalk and coal.
A Diamond Pin A dime and pin.
A Pair of Slippers Banana peels.
Extracts From Many Pens A penwiper.
The Unopened Letter The letter "O".

Burlesque tableaux of well-known historical or legendary incidents will be found a capital form of amusement. Although they should be thought out, they need not necessarily be rehearsed in advance. This entertainment should come as a complete surprise to the larger portion of the guests that is, to all but those who take part.

Let the announcer give the title of the tableau in stentorian tones, with his megaphone, just before the folding doors are opened or the curtains drawn back.

For the tableaux you might try " Bluebeard's Wives." Bluebeard is seen standing, sword in hand, while around him on the curtain hang the heads of the ill-fated spouses. To produce the heads, cut holes in the sheet and let the actors thrust their heads through these, after which fasten the loosened hair to the curtain around the head with a safety pin. This tableau would be startling were it not for a sign reading, " We Suffered in the Cause of Votes for Women," or anything else which is innocent and gives the tableau a humorous twist.

Another one might be "Queen Elizabeth and Sir Walter Raleigh" in the cloak-spreading incident greatly marred by the enormous pasteboard noses worn by the knight and the queen, while Elizabeth carries a large umbrella for which history offers no excuses. Follow this with a " Midsummer Night's Dream," where you can show a sleeper, in funny cotton nightcap with large tassel, awakened from his peaceful slumber by an elephantine mosquito made of raw cotton and crepe paper. The dreamer's panic is vividly suggested by his attitude.

"Cinderella" and the little glass slipper must not be overlooked. In this tableau the prince kneels before the celebrated heroine of the chimney corner and extends upon his hand a tiny slipper, while Cinderella extends in competition a foot padded out to proportions truly gigantic in comparison.

April Fools Deocorations:
The decorations consist of spring flowers and ferns, yellow and white predominating, it being the nearest approach to sunlight and giving opportunity to use the bright little crocuses and daffodils, with white narcissuses to give delicate tones. For the table these colors should also prevail.

In the center place a large white or yellow cake surmounted by a toy jester's figure, with white and yellow ribbons festooned from his pointed cap to the table below, held in place by small white cotton geese. Vases of daffodils and narcissuses, and yellow shades for lamps or candles, may be used should the day be cloudy.

China of white and gold would add a charm to this table. White and gold bonbon dishes, or ordinary dishes might be covered with crepe paper, some yellow, some white, tied with white and yellow ribbons. These should contain small candies hidden under a layer of white beans, coffee grains, rice or other grains.

Ordinary refreshments may be served on dishes not ordinarily used for that particular purpose. Use bowls or soup dishes instead of cups and saucers, vegetable dishes, cups, etc., where plates or platters should be used. The clever hostess will, no doubt, think of many ways, wise and otherwise, to serve refreshments on such an occasion.

Another good idea for table decoration is a wonderful "floral" centerpiece composed of potato and radish roses nestled amid parsley and celery-top foliage. The place-cards may be adorned with miniature coin purses, empty save for a card, inscribed "April Fool".

The napkins should be folded in the form of fool's caps, and the favors might be miniature jester's baubles consisting of small bisque doll heads dressed in cap and bells and fastened to the ends of short, ribbon-wound wands. Jester's sticks may be sticks of red and white peppermint candy tied with strips of red baby ribbon, to which tiny bells are attached.

Red and White Menu:
If your color scheme is red and white for your table, carry out the same idea in your menu, which would be :
Lobster Canape
Cream of Celery Soup
Chicken en Casserole, with Vegetables
Lettuce Salad, Garnished with Beets and Mayonnaise
April Fool Dainty
Cream Cheese and Crackers
Coffee

The " April Fool Dainty " may be vanilla or lemon sherbet, ice, or ice cream frozen in cone shapes. These are each covered with a miniature fool's hat. As this course is served, the hostess might warn her guests of the significance of the day, and she may rest assured each guest will lift the little hat ever so gingerly.

Blue Points on the Half Shell
Bouillon Crackers
Salted Nuts
Roast Pork Tenderloin Fish Apple Sauce
Dressing Potato Puffs
Duck Fruit Salad
Bavarian Cream Coffee Fancy Cakes

"Blue points on the half shell" are half eggshells with points on them made with blue pencil. "Bouillon" is plain water, the "crackers" are fire crackers, and the "salted nuts" the nuts belonging to iron bolts, heavily sprinkled with salt. The "duck" is a square of duck cloth, while the "fruit salad" is a bona-fide dish served in orange cups, the cut-off piece being replaced so as to conceal the contents. The "fancy cakes" are sample cakes of toilet soap. Guest-size or hotel-size cakes may be used. If one wishes to serve a complete menu, substitutes for the mock dishes may be served as soon as they are removed from the table.