Although FestiFools’ reputation as the largest puppet extravaganza in the world may be disputed (by some bitter, lying, jealous types, whom libel law prevents us from naming), there can be no doubt that it is definitely the shortest. This year’s long-awaited, much-anticipated parade runs from 4-5 p.m. Sunday, April 11 along Main Street in downtown Ann Arbor, between Washington and William streets.

Hundreds of community volunteers and University of Michigan students have been toiling all winter to create an army of 14-foot-tall, animated “puppets.” Add to the mix the creations of several renegade party crashers, space aliens who have been quietly infiltrating some of our local elementary schools, 826-or-so cardboard and foil robots, the pulsating beats of garbage can drum ensemble, groove, and … Well, you start to see why every Fool in town ends up dancing, clapping, jumping, cavorting, whooping in the streets.

FestiFools is laser-targeted to the specific needs and desires of several important demographic niches including, but not limited to: kids, adults, college students, astronauts, bus drivers, thoracic surgeons, short-order cooks, barbers, xylophone prodigies, dairy farmers, and restaurateurs.

In keeping with FestiFools’ mission of creating unique public art that is free and accessible to everyone (and because we’re too thick-in-the-head to figure out a clever scheme for “monetizing” what we do), THIS STREET PARTY IS TOTALLY FREE!

And in these difficult economic times, it don’t get no better than that.

So be there, sporting whatever wacky costume/hat/rubber chicken/Spock ears/etc. you can scrounge up. Then join us at the family-friendly FestiFeast afterglow, in the Aut Bar courtyard (rain or shine).

Dust off your bike, strap on your rollerskates, saddle up the yak. Or if you prefer to drive, there’s free parking.