Wolverhampton festival organisers call for April Fool's Day challenge
Wannabe tricksters are being urged to throw on their comical gladrags as part of April Fool's Day antics.
The team behind Wolverhampton's festival Funny Things wants would-be comedians to get into the light-hearted spirit and back their cause.
Businesses, schools and organisations across the region are being called on to dress like an 'April Fool' and help raise cash for this year's festival.
Festival producer Jenny Smith said: “With April Fools Day on a Monday this year, we couldn’t resist putting the call out to have a rib-tickling start to the week.
"So we want people to help us out by dressing up and sending us their silliest pictures that we can pop on social media to share.
“We would love it if people could encourage their staff, pupils, friends and colleagues to get into the spirit of Funny Things on the silliest day of the year, with a fancy dress competition.
"It could be the silliest hat, the most humorous hairstyle or full outrageous outfit."
Daring people getting involved in the comedy-themed challenge are being encouraged to donate £1 to help the team reach its £1,000 goal.
Cash raised will support "disadvantaged" families across the city so they can enjoy the festivities for free.
A £50 donation would fund a place on a comedy workshop for one young person, developing their confidence and skills, while £100 would allow 10 people to join the festival.
Transport would be provided for 10 young people with £250, while £500 would provide a workshop for a community group.
Ms Smith said: "“We’d like people to make a small donation of £1, or more if they like, and add the money to our new Just Giving page.
“We’re encouraging people to ‘pay it forward’ and enable those most in need to escape all the pressures of everyday life for a time and have a laugh.
"All donations will go towards enabling people from Wolverhampton’s most disadvantaged communities to come along to the festival.
“What we’d love to do is hit our crowdfunding target of £1000 so that we can give 20 people a hot meal, ticket to a show and transport to and from home.”
The festival, organised by Creative Black Country, will bring barrels of laughs to venues across the city from October 26 to November 2 - with the line-up due to be announced later this year.
Last year’s inaugural event was held in response to data from the Office for National Statistics stating Wolverhampton was the unhappiest place in the UK
People dressing up on April 1 are encouraged to share their pictures on social media by tagging @funnythingsbc and using the hastag #funnything
See justgiving.com/crowdfunding/funnythings2019
