It’s April Fool’s Day 2025, and it’s time to let your inner child shine. Let’s go, tricksters, and have some good-natured fun. Before we dive into some awesome Albuquerque pranks, let’s take a quick look at why we even celebrate this mischievous holiday in the first place!
Check out this silly history of April Fool’s Day. Did you know that nobody knows how April Fools’ Day began! Isn’t that a prank in itself? However, there are some interesting theories about its origins.
One standard theory is that it originated in 16th-century France. In 1582, France adopted the Gregorian calendar, which replaced the Julian calendar, resulting in a shift from the end of March to January 1 as New Year’s Day. Legend has it that those who were slow to receive the news (or stubbornly refused to accept the change) continued celebrating the New Year from late March through April 1.
These “fools” became the butt of jokes and pranks, with people sticking paper fish on their backs and calling them “poisson d’avril” (April fish) – a tradition that somehow continues in France today! Other historians point to ancient Roman festivals, such as Hilaria (which sounds like “hilarious” for a reason), or the Medieval Feast of Fools, as possible predecessors. In England, April Fools’ pranking gained popularity after a humorous article in 1698 invited people to witness the “washing of the lions” at the Tower of London. This event did not exist. Hundreds appeared anyway, becoming perhaps the first documented mass pranking in history!
Here in New Mexico, we’ve embraced this tradition of good-natured trickery, as has the rest of America. At the same time, we might not have any specific Albuquerque April Fools’ traditions (although maybe we should start one—green chile-flavored desserts, anyone?). Still, we certainly know how to laugh at our beautiful Sandia Mountain skies.
20 Hilarious April Fools’ Pranks Perfect for Albuquerque Families
Ready to have some fun with your family, roommates, or coworkers? Check out these 20 harmless, fun pranks that are perfect for Albuquerque:
Home Pranks
1. The Desert “Snake” Surprise – Cut out black silhouettes of snakes and tape them inside lampshades. When the lights turn on, scary shadows appear on the walls! It’s a southwestern twist on a classic prank.
2. Green Chile Switch – Replace the contents of a green chile jar with mild green vegetables like bell peppers or tomatillos. Watch as unsuspecting family members get a much milder bite than expected on taco night!
3. Confetti Ceiling Fan—Place lightweight confetti on the blades of a ceiling fan. When someone turns on the fan, it’s an instant celebration! (This may not be ideal during spring wind season when we’ve already got enough dust flying around!)
4. ABQ TV Takeover – Create a fake breaking news graphic announcing something outlandish but locally relevant, like “Sandias Officially Renamed ‘Watermelon Mountains'” or “Mandatory Green Chile Quota Established for All Residents.”
5. Balloon Fiesta Early Warning—Tell family members that the Balloon Fiesta has been rescheduled to April due to climate change, and they need to wake up at 4 AM tomorrow to catch the Dawn Patrol. Don’t be too mean with this one!
Food Pranks (Because We Take Food Seriously in ABQ)
1. Donut Disappointment – Empty a donut box and replace the contents with vegetables. Please place it in the break room at work and watch hopes rise and fall.
2. Sopapilla Surprise – Serve “sopapillas” made from cut-up sponges lightly dusted with cinnamon sugar. (Make sure no one tries to eat them!)
3. Frozen Cereal: Mix a bowl of cereal and milk the night before and freeze it solid. Serve it with a straight face at breakfast.
4. Oreo Switch – Carefully remove the cream from Oreos, replace it with white toothpaste, and reassemble. Offer these treats to your family members (but maybe not to guests).
5. Soda Can Shake-Up – Apply clear tape over the opening of soda cans. Watch as people try repeatedly to take a sip with growing confusion.
Office and School Pranks
1. Upside-Down Office—If you’re feeling ambitious, turn everything on a coworker’s desk upside down—the keyboard, monitor, chair, and even the pictures on the wall if you can manage it.
2. Nicolas Cage Everywhere – Print out various sizes of Nicolas Cage’s face and hide them throughout the house or office – in folders, taped under mouse pads, inside cabinets, behind toilet lids. See how many people can find over the day.
3. Autocorrect Chaos—If you can access someone’s computer, set up an autocorrect rule that changes the common words they type. For example, change “the” to “the magnificent” or “I” to “the royal I.”
4. Bathroom Buddy – Place a life-size cardboard cutout in your bathroom or workplace restroom stall to give colleagues a moment of panic.
5. Old School Chalk Trick – Some schools still use chalkboards believe it or not. Have them bring a small piece of clear tape to put on the end of the teacher’s chalk, so it doesn’t write
Tech Trickery
1. Screen Flip: Take a screenshot of someone’s desktop, set it as their wallpaper, and hide all their actual icons. Bonus points if you also flip their screen orientation. This is perfect for work-from-home ABQ tech workers!
2. TV Trouble – Put a small piece of black electrical tape on the bottom of someone’s TV remote sensor. They’ll think the batteries are dead or the remote is broken.
3. Virtual Meeting Madness: Schedule a fake early morning Zoom meeting for all our remote workers in Albuquerque’s growing tech scene. Send a link to a Rick Roll video.
4. Smartphone Mayhem – Change the language settings on a family member’s phone to something unexpected. Maybe Navajo to honor our region’s indigenous heritage?
5. Voice Assistant Fun—Change the wake word or settings on Alexa or Google Home devices. Ask them to respond with silly phrases when triggered or play mariachi music instead of the requested songs.
Here’s some friendly advice. Your April Fools’ pranks should make everyone laugh. including the person being pranked. Our Albuquerque community is known for its warmth and friendliness, so keep pranks good-natured and avoid anything that could:
• Cause genuine fear or distress.
• Create unsafe conditions
• Damage property
• Target someone’s cultural identity, beliefs, or personal challenges.
Also, be mindful of timing! Here in the Southwest, we know all about our first responders who work hard during spring wildfire season—please don’t play pranks that might waste their valuable time!
After you’ve had your fun, why not take advantage of our beautiful early April weather? Treat your prank victims to some Albuquerque ice cream, a peaceful stroll along the Bosque, or a sunset picnic overlooking the city. After all, there’s no better way to say “just kidding” than with some authentic Albuquerque experiences!
Have fun today, Albuquerque! And remember – stay alert tomorrow because you never know when you might be the next fool!
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