By James Helmer

Doo Doo the clown.
If you’re not afraid of clowns, you might know someone who is. Several celebrities, for instance, are decidedly anti-clown: Johnny Depp had nightmares of clowns as a kid, and, of course there’s Bart Simpson, who said, “Can’t sleep, clown will eat me.” Clowns like Bozo and Ronald McDonald are, without a doubt, the “Oh, my God—that clown’s kind of freaky!” clowns. And then there’s the story of John Wayne Gacy, a serial killer who dressed up as Patches the Clown to entertain at parties, and who killed more than thirty young men and buried them in his basement.
Please don’t take it upon yourself to go out and beat the shit out of a clown, however; some are actually happy and fun. They make balloon animals, spray water down their pants and hundreds of them can fit into one tiny car. Amazing! Clowns are, after all, just regular people wearing makeup and big shoes. This year at the Ex, Doo Doo the clown returns. Doo Doo has been a clown since 1980 and calls his hometown Clownsville.
The Canadian National Exhibition (CNE or Ex) is, as you probably know, an eighteen-day fair, and the fun starts this year on August 17. The Ex has been running for 128 years and has grown to be the largest annual fair in Canada, attracting over one million visitors each year. Popular to any fair is its midway, and the CNE features a large one, with many rides and games. With its unique variety of entertainment, the Ex offers something for everyone. For many families it is a tradition and, for many, the clowns will entertain, blowing balloons and spraying the children. Just stay away from Kids World if you have Coulrophobia.
Photograph by James Helmer.