As the twelve chimes rang from the Ferry Building, a call of a conch shell and drums drew hoards of people in candy-colored costumed characters.

Dozens of jokers, jesters, pranksters and fools gathered at the Embarcadero Plaza at noon today for the 31st annual St. Stupid's Day parade as hundreds watched them jaunt down Market Street in anarchic glory.

Many of the participants carried signs with bank CEOs defaced with clown noses and some signs that proclaimed, "I didn't have time to write a cleaver sign." People of all ages joined in the gathering that some were calling an anti-parade.

But for several who are new to this April 1 celebration, the event left them with more questions about the purpose of St. Stupid's Day.

"I had no idea what these people were doing," said Elizabeth Douglass, a tourist from Detroit. "And even after a few people told me, I still am not sure I get it."

While many chose to layer their bodies in various unmatched articles and glue or tape random household objects to their head or arms, others chose to bare it all in the name of St. Stupid. Two people marched down Market only half clothed - the man wore a suit on right side of his body while his female counter-part wore a dress on her left side - their unclothed sides showing all that they were born with. One man chose to don a birthday crown and compliment it with none other than his birthday suit.

"It's kind of an un-parade where people can wear the craziest or the tamest attire and still fit in," said 27-year-old Robert Klein. "But the people that have the most fun are usually the most eccentric."

There seemed to be a general theme amongst the chaos as many people dressed to comment on the recent economic problems. With several dressed to illustrate pork barrel spending, equipped with pig nose and curly tail, to a hedge-fund hedgehog with little furry friends tasseled to their costume.

Some of the new St. Stupid's Day converts joined in the madness as veterans of the event gave them tasks to accomplish for the day.

"Someone came along and deputized me to dot all the I's on building signs with these orange stickers," said Zac Callaghan, 19, as he held up several pages of orange stickers. "I don't know if that is considered vandalism but I guess I'll find out soon."

As the crowd dissipated into the streets of the financial district, the only evidence of their march was the soap bubbles that continued to float and the neon stickers on streets and businesses along the way as yet another St. Stupid's Day parade made it to the destination of the Transamerica building.