April Fools' Day is the ideal excuse to get out and have fun, and here are some suggestions for family foolishness in East Anglia

1 The Under the Pier Show at Southwold is a fun-filled feast of laugh-out-loud loonyness.

Enter the world of Tim Hunkin and his wonderfully wacky arcade machines. Walk a dog, whack a banker, get granny and her zimmer across the road, build your own nuclear reactor, have a go on the housing ladder of hilarity – it's all at Southwold Pier. www.southwoldpier.co.uk

2 The merry pranksters from Norfolk's Foolhardy Circus will be at Wroxham Barns from April Fools Day, tomorrow, until Monday, April 17.

There's a new adventure featuring breathtaking circus skills and a collection of very silly circus artistes. Noon to 2pm daily, tickets £6, under twos free. www.wroxhambarns.co.uk

3 From the miniscule to the massive, animals give us hours of fun. At Africa Alive in Kessingland, near Lowestoft, a Top Trumps Trail, celebrating the huge range of its wildlife, runs from April 1-17. www.africa-alive.co.uk/visit-the-park/opening-times-prices/

4 Only the Brave dare enter a mud run at Elvedon, with more than 40 filthy obstacles, and the chance to fundraise for the East Anglian Air Ambulance. Watch runners wade through mud and over obstacles across five or 10 mile distances. There are individual and team races tomorrow and Sunday, April 1 and 2. www.onlythebraveraces.co.uk

5 Ahoy, there are pirates at Yarmouth's Hippodrome Circus! PiratesLive! is the latest all action water show from comedy duo Jack Jay and Johnny Mac. The swashbuckling run begins tomorrow and includes sensational circus performers, fire breathers, acrobats, clowning, mermaids and a pirate galleon shop. The Easter show runs from April 1-23. www.hippodromecircus.co.uk/pirates/

6 Let's go fly a kite – at Abberton Reservoir visitor centre, Layer-de-la-Haye near Colchester.

Drop in between 1pm and 3pm on Monday, April 3, and have a go at making and flying your own kite. Children must be accompanied by an adult. £6 requested donation per child. Booking essential at www.essexwt.org.uk

7 One of the great comic figures of all time, Shakespeare's Falstaff, was based on Sir John Fastolf of Caister Castle, near Yarmouth. Sir John had the castle built with a moat and 100ft tower. The castle and motor museum are open to the public from May 15.

8 Swing through the trees, jump into rope nets, zoom down zip wires and generally Go Ape in Thetford Forest. The Go Ape course is a two to three hour trail through the forest canopy. Age and height restrictions apply. goape.co.uk

9 The Museum of the Broads reopens for 2017 and a fun family Easter trail, complete with prizes, to help visitors discover more. Dressing up, play boats, pictures from the past and picnics for the present are all part of a day at the waterside setting at Stalham Staithe. www.museumofthebroads.org.uk

10 Play 'spring go bingo' at Nowton Park, Bury St Edmunds. Armed with a £1 quiz sheet, visitors can hunt down natural objects. Find five in a row for a prize. Play from 10am to 3pm, from April Fools Day through to April 17.