Chance to Be Whomever You Wanna Be

Ever wanted to be a clown with a green nose and purple hair? Perhaps you have dreamed of being a witch, goblin or cowboy?

You may get your chance at the second annual International ParadeFest scheduled next weekend in downtown Long Beach. Organized by Mardi Gras International, a 2-year-old nonprofit company that teaches clowning and variety arts, the two-day event is designed to “give variety artists and performing artists an opportunity to showcase their talents and skills,” according to Sherri Lee, the organization’s publicist. Put more simply, she said, “We wanted to give a big Halloween party, give people a chance to strut their stuff down the streets of Long Beach.”

Highlighting the event will be the Wanna Be Parade beginning 1 p.m. Oct. 27 at Falcon and Ocean boulevards. Described as a Halloween whimsical masquerade, the parade, Lee said, will include vehicles, floats, VIPs, marching bands, specialty units, musical groups, clowns, equestrians and lots of people dressed up as the characters they always wanted to be.

The parade’s grand marshal will be Elvira, self-described “mistress of the dark” who hosts a late-night television show.

At 1 p.m. on Saturday, revelers will be treated to the annual Kinetic Art Sculpture Race, a 2.8-mile race for human-powered vehicles pedaled by one to 14 people. “They are moving works of art,” Lee explained of the vehicles. “People take scrounged bicycle parts, discarded lawn mower gears and rebuilt motorcycle panels and paint or decorate them into something they hope they can pedal.”

Beginning at Pine Avenue and Shoreline Drive, the racecourse stretches across pavement, sand, water, mud and grass. But the emphasis is not on speed, Lee said. “It’s more a display of creative talents by people who can weld or super glue parts together in a way that is workable.”

Last year’s winner, an aqua and pink vehicle built of foam blocks and aluminum by a group called the Glory Hogs, completed the course in about 3 1/2 hours.

“These aren’t something you can buy in the store,” Lee said of the kinetic sculpture vehicles. “You get a lot of attention when you’re pedaling one of these things.”

Taking place throughout the weekend will be the Good Time Festival at Shoreline Aquatic Park. Festival visitors, who are encouraged to come in costume, will be treated to musical entertainment, ethnic foods, arts and crafts, performances by clowns, jugglers, mimes and magicians, contests, a petting zoo, animal and mechanical rides and game booths.

Although the parade and kinetic sculpture race are free, there is admission to the festival: $3 in advance through Ticketmaster or $5 at the gate. Children under 10 are free when accompanied by a paying adult.

To purchase tickets call 480-3232 or (714) 740-2000. For more information, call 983-8600.