If you go down to Pudong new area on Monday, you'd better be ready to laugh.

For that's the place and the day when the 2007 Kimtom International Clown Festival, China's largest clown party, will be launched.

Jointly run by the new area government and Tomfoolery Inc from the United States, the clown festival will bring more than 100 clowns, male and female, from all over the world.

For the opening on October 1, the National Day Holiday, at Pudong's Lujiazui plaza, red-nosed clowns dressed in colorful costumes and over large floppy boots will perform at the foot of the Oriental Pearl TV Tower and in front of the Shanghai Ocean Aquarium and the Superbrand Mall.

That will be the start of about 150 performances throughout the city, including a balloon fashion show at the Shanghai Oriental Art Center on October 12. This will be the first time in the world that balloons, fashion and clowns will combine.

Century Park, one of the largest parks in the city, has also arranged a dozen games and performances - including clown patrols, pantomimes, magic and acrobats - at three fixed stages and 10 interactive performance spots during the 28-day festival.

The performers will also take their fun and laughter into local orphanages, special schools and homes for the elderly.

Organizers said that about one million people from Shanghai and neighboring provinces were expected to participate in this year's festival.

Details of the festival are available on the Website (www.kimtom.cn), or on the hotline 5876-4432.

(Shanghai Daily September 29, 2007)