These were the best April Fools' Day pranks in Toronto this year
It's officially April Fools' Day 2024 in Toronto, and as expected, many local organizations, agencies, restaurants, politicians, and businesses are taking to social media in hopes of pranking their followers.
From revolting food combinations to bizarre partnerships and AI-generated images, here are our picks for some of the best April Fools' Day pranks that tricked people in Toronto this year.
Canada's Wonderland hotel
The social team behind the 134-hectare amusement park in Vaughan turned heads on Monday morning when they announced the 2025 "opening" of a jaw-dropping hotel inside the park's Wonder Mountain.
COMING IN 2025: New hotel at Canada’s Wonderland INSIDE Wonder Mountain! Stay and play, in the middle of all the action. This luxury hotel will feature 25 sound-proof, ride-themed rooms with spectacular views of the amusement park. Reservations to open this September! Stay tuned. pic.twitter.com/YutOmvB9Yc
— Canada's Wonderland (@WonderlandNews) April 1, 2024
The promotional video immediately caught the attention of thrill seekers around the city, after it showed off the hotel's 25 sound-proof and ride-themed rooms with views of the entire amusement park.
Willy Wonka Experience at Ontario Place
As the controversial redevelopment of Ontario Place and Therme's wellness complex remains top of mind, grassroots community group, Ontario Place for All, decided to drop AI-generated images of a "Willy Wonka Experience" coming to the waterfront space.
BREAKING: Ontario Government announces partnership with House of Illuminati to bring the Willy Wonka Experience to Ontario Place. Tickets to start at $44. Organizers say, “This is for sure what it’ll look like!” #topoli #onpoli pic.twitter.com/RGa1GYqdQo
— Ontario Place for All © (@ONPlace4All) April 1, 2024
The group joked that tickets to the House of Illuminati-backed program would start at $44, and feature cotton candy towers, Ferris wheels, and a spa pool lined with lollipops.
The prank is an obvious play on the disastrous Willy Wonka Experience held in Glasgow earlier this year that failed to live up to its AI-generated advertisements.
Weird food combinations at Gus Tacos
The Toronto-based taco chain took a break from its usual feed full of mouthwatering Mexican treats to advertise its new head-scratching food combinations, which included horchata with salsa verde, pineapple consomé, and "tacos de nada" featuring no meat with a sprinkle of onions and cilantro.
"Got me good!" one customer wrote under the post. "What's next? Jamaica with hot sauce?" another comment reads.
Pork soft serve at Sunnys Chinese
This Michelin Bib Gourmand spot decided to combine some of its most popular menu items for a sweet and salty treat. "New soft serve alert," Sunnys Chinese wrote in a post on Monday morning, advertising its new "dessert" featuring its twice-cooked Tanjo Farms Pork and daily soft serve.
While some were confused by the flavour combinations, others were eager to try it out, noting that the Sichaun's heat might be complimented well by the icy chill of the soft serve.
Nut-free facility at The Roasted Nut Company
Known for its freshly roasted nuts and coffee, this Queen Street West café confused its followers this morning when it announced that it would be processing its products in a completely nut-free facility after months of innovation and brainstorming.
"Here's to taking our passion for nuts to the next level," the company wrote, as it joked about its impossible venture.
Ikea Canada's meatball furniture
Have you ever wanted to take your love for Ikea's Swedish meatballs to the next level? Well, you'll probably be disappointed to hear that their latest product "launch" was just an April Fools' Day joke.
The furniture retail company took to Instagram on Monday to announce its latest collection, KÖTTBULLAR. The savoury "collection" includes a giant meatball armchair for $159, a delicious pillow for $19.99, and a duvet cover in a meatball pattern for $34.99.
"Don't play with me Ikea, I want a giant meatball beanbag immediately," one person wrote under the post.
Councillor Josh Matlow's canal motion
City Councillor for Ward 12 Toronto—St. Paul's, Josh Matlow, pranked his followers bright and early on Monday morning when he announced that he would be moving a motion to replace curb lanes throughout the city with canals at the next city council meeting.
At the next city council meeting, I’ll be moving a motion to replace curb lanes throughout Toronto with canals. As a key part of a multi-modal city, canoes, kayaks & gondolas will provide a fluid and enjoyable way to get around. Thank you @stephenholyday for seconding the motion. pic.twitter.com/88rjLt4lwH
— Josh Matlow (@JoshMatlow) April 1, 2024
Matlow added that the motion would be backed by Stephen Holyday, City Councillor for Ward 2 – Etobicoke Centre, and would provide a fluid way of moving around the congested city.
Raptor leg at Sanagan's Meat Locker
This Toronto-based butcher shop chain turned heads when it announced that its latest product, the Raptor leg, would be hitting its shelves on Monday.
"While Jurassic Park is just a fantasy, scientists have figured out how to replicate dinosaur DNA for meat production. It's a fledgling industry, and probably one that Florida will eventually ban, but we wanted to see what y'all thought of it," the butcher shop wrote, adding that the legs would run for $73.99 per pound, while supplies last.
Lightning at Pearson Airport
The team at Toronto Pearson Airport managed to prank many of their followers on Monday when they uploaded a seemingly serious video of "lightning" striking the travel hub.
See the moment lightning strikes at Toronto Pearson!! pic.twitter.com/crVCQDAHDM
— Toronto Pearson (@TorontoPearson) April 1, 2024
As viewers anxiously waited for the lightning to appear, several images of Lightning McQueen, protagonist of the Pixar franchise, Cars, zoomed across the screen. "Good one," several followers wrote under the post.
Lip balms at McDonald's Canada
While McDonald's Canada is regularly bombarded with requests to bring back nostalgic menu items, the fast food chain decided to drop a few products virtually no one asked for just in time for April Fools' Day.
"Available at a McD's nowhere near u (check the date)," the fast food chain wrote, as it shared multiple images of its new lip balms in a variety of flavours, including Big Mac Sauce, Oreo McFlurry, and Extra Pickles.
"Extra pickles! Was going to add this to my cart until I saw the comments," one person commented under the post. "Jokes aside I would def wear the Oreo one," another person said.
McDonald's Canada
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