Puerto Vallarta, Jalisco, Mexico - From May 18-21, 2015, Puerto Vallarta will host the 2015 International Meeting of Clowns, organized by the Mexican Association of Clowns Without Borders, through support provided by the municipal government and the efforts of Juan Pablo Vazquez Balleza, better known as 'Papos.'

More than 300 clowns from different Mexican states and possibly Chile and Costa Rica - among them 'Los hermanos Miranda', 'Rufo', 'Picarin Shouw', 'Estrellita', 'Guapolin,' and 'El circo de Mentiritas' - are expected to participate in the four-day festival.

Since 2008, Juan Pablo has been working closely with the Mexican Association of Clowns Without Borders, performing his show, Papos y su Pandilla ("Papos and his gang") in different Mexican states, and acting as a representative of Puerto Vallarta in his attempts to make our city the host of the International Meeting of Clowns.

"I had not done well (in the past) because in order to be the host city, letters from the government, Ministry of Tourism, Department of Culture and City Hall were necessary. But now, thanks to Mayor Ramón Guerrero Martínez, who is supporting the event because, like me, believes it is a quality event, the administration is doing everything possible to bring this event to Puerto Vallarta," he emphasized.

The clown festival is open to the general public, and may include laughter therapy, Body Painting, and acting workshops. There will also be open competitions for individual performance skills, a monkey cycle rally, children clowns, clown makeup, juggling, and balloon twisting, among others. The workshops will be held at the Hotel Canto del Sol, the competitions in the Cecatur auditorium, and the gala show at the Aquiles Serdan amphitheater, better known as Los Arcos del Malecón.

"The 2015 International Meeting of Clowns will benefit the city of Vallarta because it is a place of laughter of joy. I promote a project called "Yes to Life," and when the clown meeting is combined with this project it will help spread the message that laughter can help alleviate any problems you may have, which sometimes sadly end up in suicide," said Papos the clown.