1 / 6   People dressed as clowns take part in the annual clown parade in Sesimbra, Portugal, on March 4, 2019. /VCG Photo

2 / 6   Sesimbra’s annual clown parade is thought to be the largest in the world, as part of its lively carnival celebrations. /VCG Photo

3 / 6   The town is overrun with clowns, who gather in the thousands to parade along the beachfront. /VCG Photo

4 / 6   The clown fever sets in long before the local pre-Lenten festivities, with awards for the best costumes and local schools’ clown-themed dress-up activities. /VCG Photo

5 / 6   Parading through the town clutching colorful balloons and banging drums, the event turns Sesimbra into a riot of color and sound. /VCG Photo

6 / 6   The clown parade attracts many visitors and children. /VCG Photo