Bognor Regis looks forward to clown parade

The colourful collection of about 100 funnymen and women will be entertaining the expected thousands of spectators along their route on Sunday (March 4).

The parade will start at 2pm from the Butlin’s day visitor entrance on Gloucester Road.

It will travel along the seafront before turning into Lennox Street and the High Street.

From there, the procession will go into Bedford Street and head for the London Road precinct.

The north-south route along the precinct will see the clowns turn left into the High Street and go back to Butlin’s through Clarence Road and The Esplanade.

The clowns from Clowns’ International will be led for the first time by the vibrant and joyful music of the Nostalgia steel band.

The stomping sounds of the 17-21 pannists with their steel pans around their necks will fill the air with an array of music from calypso to pop combined with Caribbean rhythms.

Those who want to see the clowns perform close-up can head for the precinct on Saturday. A handful of clowns is expected to perform during the day to delight shoppers of all ages. A few clowns have been in Bognor all week visiting schools and pre-schools.

This is the seventh year the clowns’ weekend has been held jointly by Bognor Regis Town Council, Butlin’s and Clowns’ International.

The clowns will stage an official launch of their Circus Circus weekend in Butlin’s tomorrow ahead of a weekend of tricks, balloon modelling and some amazing circus acts for the holidaymakers there.

Guests are able to join them for £1 a person this Saturday and Sunday from 10am-8pm each day. Last entry is at 4pm.

All proceeds from the event will go to the Princess Royal Trust for Carers.

Full report and pictures of the parade will be in the Observer on March 8.