Frivolity and mirth are the orders of the day Downtown this week with the arrival of the South East Clown Association annual convention at the Hyatt Regency Jacksonville Riverfront.
More than 100 clowns from the 217-member organization, representing 10 states, began arriving Wednesday for five days of fun and fellowship.
Association President Chris Burton said he began “clowning” at a young age on Halloween, when his grandmother gave him some white shoe polish for makeup.
That first experience led to a lifelong involvement with the art for Burton, who is a loan officer at a credit union when he’s not “PJ,” his clown character.
In addition to catching up with friends and colleagues they see only once a year, the clowns also will participate in business meetings, classes and lectures, skit competitions and a parade on Saturday.
“People don’t realize it’s a world inside of itself. Clowning goes back to the jesters in medieval courts. People have always wanted to laugh,” Burton said.
Leon McBryde is a former Goodwill Ambassador for Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey circus. He has retired from clowning, but still entertains each holiday season as Santa Claus.
“Clowns work really hard, but it’s a labor of love. We bring joy,” he said.
While most of the convention is for members only, skit competitions, which are open to the public, are scheduled at 7:30 p.m. today and Friday in the Hyatt Conference Center.
More than 15 vendors are displaying merchandise at the convention, ranging from wigs and makeup to costumes and clown shoes to props and magic supplies. The public is welcome to visit the vendors in the River Terrace on the hotel’s third floor, Burton said.
A clown parade is scheduled at 1:30 p.m. Saturday from the Hyatt to the Landing, where the clowns will perform magic, paint faces and promenade around the courtyard.
It’s a “competition in itself” and the public is invited to join the fun, said Burton.
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