Clownidarity Forever!

Drag? Clowning? Comedy? Oh my indeed! Clownidarity Forever is taking over The Vortex for an afternoon that proves resistance doesn’t always look like a picket line—sometimes it looks like big shoes, bold makeup, and a room full of belly laughs.

This joyful fundraiser centers on the idea that play, laughter, and art are powerful tools for solidarity. Proceeds from tickets and a portion of vendor sales will go to support “Uncle Tito,” a beloved clown with the Gaza Circus School, weaving together local performance and international mutual aid.

• Doors at 1:30 pm: Roll in early, grab a comfy spot, and check out the community-focused tabling and vendors before the main events kick off.
• 2:00 pm – Screening of “The Horse of Jenin” by Alaa Shehada: This award-winning film, inspired by experiences under occupation in Palestine, celebrates imagination as a form of resilience. It’s a moving, cinematic ode to survival, creativity, and hope.
• 3:45 pm – Clown Drag Show: Expect camp, color, and chaotic good energy as clowning, drag, and comedy collide. This is the part of the day where the red noses, big characters, and unapologetically queer joy really take center stage.

Beyond the stage, Clownidarity Forever is also a hub for learning and action. Watermelon Film Club will be tabling with information on ways people can volunteer and plug into on-the-ground support efforts in Palestine. Palestine Online Store will be selling olive oil and kufiyas, with a portion of those sales feeding directly back into the fundraiser—so you can literally shop in solidarity.

Accessibility is part of the plan: there’s ramp access to the indoor theater where the film screens, and the outdoor stage is also wheelchair accessible, making it easier for more folks to join in the fun and resistance.

Tickets are intentionally flexible—priced around $10–$15 with a “pay what you can” option—so finances don’t have to be a barrier to being part of this community-powered event. Whether you’re there for the film, the drag, the clowning, or the cause, you’ll be wrapped up in a day that’s as heart-forward as it is hilarious.

Thanks to The Vortex for hosting and to local commedia dell’arte troupe La Fenice for helping cover the screening costs, Clownidarity Forever turns an afternoon of entertainment into something bigger: a playful, defiant act of cross-border solidarity—nose honks and all.