Gilda’s LaughFest Going After Paper Crown-Wearing World Record

Gilda’s LaughFest today announced plans to kick off this year’s festival by going after another Guinness World Record on March 5 for the most people wearing paper crowns.

LaughFest runs March 5 to 15 at venues in Grand Rapids, Ada, Holland and Lowell.

The community kickoff, presented by Feyen Zylstra, is at Rosa Parks Circle in downtown Grand Rapids and will include free entertainment. The first 1,500 participants will receive a commemorative LaughFest button.

The current Guinness World Record for largest number of people wearing paper crowns was set July 22, 2014, by 1,324 participants at Sathya Diabetic Centre, at Kanchipuram, in Tamilnadu, India.

Here's the opening night schedule for March 5:

• 5:30 p.m. – lineup begins, pre activities start
• 6:30 p.m. – program starts
• 6:45 p.m. – official attempt to break the existing record

Last year, 1,675 people set the record for most people wearing sunglasses in the dark.

In 2013, 1,532 individuals joined LaughFest and donned false mustaches to set the Guinness World Record for the largest number of people wearing fake mustaches at a single venue.

In 2012, 607 people wore chicken beaks and performed the chicken dance to set the record for the greatest number of people wearing animal noses.

In 2011, 925 rubber chickens were tossed in downtown Grand Rapids, shattering the previous record of 265 set near Boston.

A free opening night preview comedy show will be held at The Pyramid Scheme, 68 Commerce Avenue SW in Grand Rapids, at 10 p.m. It includes a sneak peak of local, comedians to be featured during the 10-day festival. A suggested $5 donation to Gilda’s Club will be collected at the door.

Tickets *$20 and $35) are also available for the Clean Comedy Showcase at The B.O.B. at 8 p.m. EST March 5.