Here Come the Klowns

Do you need a good laugh?

You might want to make your way to the tonight and catch an appearance by the Kapitol Klowns.

That's right, that same group of funny folks you might have seen marching in the St. Patrick's Day parade or the Labor Day parade will be goofing around at the Water Park tonight from 5 to 7.

Kapitol Klowns are the second oldest "alley" in Clowns of America, International, a national clowning organization. They celebrated their 40th anniversary in 2009.

The show is part of National Clown Week, which runs the entire first week of August.

National Clown Week was founded on Aug. 2, 1971 with a proclamation by—no kidding—President Richard Nixon.

"In the folklore of the world is the persistent claim that the heart of a clown is sad, and that all the gladness he provokes is simply a facade for the pain he cannot reveal to the world. In the myth is the kernel of reason: the clown leaves happiness where he goes, and takes misery away with him," the proclamation reads.

"I urge the people of the United States recognize the contributions made by clowns in their entertainment at children's hospitals, charitable institutions, for the mentally retarded, and generally helping to lift the spirits and boost the morale of our people."

And for those of you who won't be visiting the Water Park because clowns give you the willies, you may have a condition known as coulrophobia — or simply, the "extreme fear of clowns."