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Parade, outhouse races, and Trashion Show part of wacky celebration

 

TRYON—The April Fools’ Day Celebration is returning to downtown Tryon this month, complete with a parade, a unique fashion show and a zany race like no other. Similar festivities for “the annual day of foolery” were last held in 2018.

Sponsored by the Tryon Downtown Development Association, the event will take place along Trade Street on Saturday, March 30, beginning with the parade at noon in which community members will display their wackiest floats, vehicle decorations and costumes. The parade kickoff will feature the Dog Mayor of Tryon, Toby, as well as local gymnasts, dancers, firefighters and Parade Grand Marshal Alex Schweizer.

Directly after the parade, attendees will be treated to a Tryon tradition from years past—the Outhouse Races. Groups of four will “sprint, stumble and roll their way to glory” down Trade Street in custom-built mobile outhouses, each crafted and decorated to reflect the team’s style. Organizers are currently accepting teams to participate in the oddball event, and all entries must be on wheels, be “man-powered” and allow enough headroom for a rider who will be pushed along by three racers.

Tryon Mayor Alan Peoples said he looks forward to attending the event, and thinks that it’s another great way to bring the community together.

“It’s a chance for the town to let their hair down and act foolish for a day of play,” said Mayor Alan Peoples on Thursday. “I really look forward to watching the outhouse races; I participated in a few and it was always a blast!”

Beginning at 1:30 p.m., the ‘Trashion Show’ will take place at the Tryon Depot, where participants will don recycled materials such as newspapers, aluminum foil and other household items to create absurd apparel. The celebration will also feature an Adopt-A-Dog event from the Foothills Humane Society and a scavenger hunt that will give participants the chance to claim one of three different Morris the Horse April Fools’ Day ornaments. 

Additionally, a Kids’ Zone will offer face painting, chalk drawing, an arts and crafts station, cotton candy, and other fun treats and activities for children.

Performances will be held at Tryon Plaza during the event from 1 to 4 p.m., including a painting demonstration by local artist Emily Brock and routines from Sizemore Gymnastics and Emanuel Arts Dance Academy. Brock will create scenes featuring Hogback Mountain and will host a raffle for a larger painting, with all proceeds benefiting the Foothills Humane Society.

“Come on out and enjoy the zaniness,” said Mayor Peoples.

For more information or to enter a team in the outhouse races, visit TryonAprilFools.com.