Yes, they sent in the clowns in their colourful Afros and outrageous outfits to parade right down Queen St. Saturday afternoon.
About 40 clowns could be seen on the sidewalks from 2-4 p.m. as Carnivale 2008 unfolded.
The event was the brainchild of Bev "Doodlebug" Brown and her husband Ian "Round-a-bout" Brown. To celebrate the 20th anniversary of their business, Clowns at Party California, in Streetsville, they invited Clowns Canada to hold their annual convention in the former town, which also is celebrating its 150th anniversary this year.
The resulting party featured clowns from all walks of life, telling jokes, painting faces, juggling, doing magic tricks and creating balloon creatures. They were doing what clowns do best, making people smile.
"When you have a job that you love, you never work a day in your life," said Brown, about the 20 years she's spent being a clown and running Clowns at Party California. "I enjoy just about everything. Mostly when you see little kids' eyes light up or seniors' eyes light up."
Henry Harley, a retired Tillsonburg police officer of 40 years, said he never thought his life would turn out this way.
But the President of Clowns Canada, who drove 90 minutes to be a part of the Streetsville celebration, said he's glad his wife dragged him to clown college five years ago.
"I go to hospitals and different places, and when you see people who don't have much to be happy about, and you can make them happy, I enjoy it very much," said Harley, better known as the lovable clown, "Ernie."
Jamie Beemer was the happy recipient of a balloon-shaped dog from a clown friend.
The seven-year-old Streetsville resident said she thinks clowns are really funny and really loud.
Liam Donald, however, likes clowns who can do impressive magic tricks.
After clowning around with Mississauga families like the Donalds, the entertainers met at the Royal Canadian Legion Streetvsille Branch 139 on Church St. for dinner.
jle@mississauga.net
