by Janice Limbaugh

We came. We crowned. We danced. We cheered. LaughFest 2015 kicked off with great enthusiasm last night despite the failed attempt of breaking the Guinness World Record for the most people (1,324) wearing paper crowns. Four-hundred eighty-nine of us had a blast trying.

As the nation’s only community-wide festival of laughter, Grand Rapid’s Gilda’s LaughFest is, in and of  itself, a good reason to smile, laugh, dance and cheer. When and where else are you permitted – invited even – to be silly for the sake of it? Little kids do it so naturally and with perfection while most adults need a memo of approval to goof off. And when they do, they feel great! Having fun is necessary to good health. That’s what’s so cool about LaughFest – everyone involved – from the volunteers to the participants to the performers are out to have a good time. Laughter is contagious with lingering symptoms of happiness to follow.

So although it was unfortunate that for the first time in five years, we weren’t able to break a Guinness World Record, I bet we’re breaking records for the city with the biggest laughs on earth. Get your grin on West Michigan! It’s does a body good!

Visit www.laughfestgr.org for event information or call 616-735-HAHA (4242).