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Arts & Entertainment

Clown Town Turns 55 This Weekend

Clown Town has extended its hours and will be open both Friday and Saturday nights this year.

For 55  years,  has been the Andona Society's major fund raiser. This year Andover residents will see a major change, said Leslie Burte, president.

Clown Town has extended its hours on Saturday and will now stay open until 9pm instead of closing at 4:30pm. "We made the change to give families a choice to come either night, and it gives us a chance to raise additional funds," Burte explained.

The event, which takes place in the Park in Andover at the corner of Bartlet and Chestnut Street, features carnival rides, games, sand art, raffles, yard sale, candy land, food and music by a DJ.

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This year Andona added a Henna artist for tattoos, and it will be the second year of the popular Town celebrity dunk tank.

Raising over $50,000 a year from Clown Town and other smaller events, Andona distributes funds to educational, athletic and cultural programs that serve the youth of Andover.

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Burte explained that they give out camperships and scholarships as well as support extracurricular activities for children. The organization also offers a babysitting class and sponsors the Spring Fling for middle school-aged children.

Andona has 45 members, but it takes a lot more people to staff Clown Town. "We are fortunate to have high school and middle schoolers, friends and neighbors and retired members," she said.

Burte remembers when she brought her children to Clown Town after she moved here 11 years ago. Noticing the camaraderie of the clowns, she decided to look into the organization.

"This is my seventh year with Andona, I enjoy it,and I am very proud of what we do," she said.

Clown Town takes place Friday, May 20, 6-10pm and Saturday, May 21 from 10am-9pm. 

For more information about Andona and Clown Town, contact the Web site.

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