Do you think they’re lovable and hilarious, or do they downright terrify you? No matter what you think about them, clown costumes are a wildly popular and enormously fun costume for parties and Halloween that are also great for entertaining crowds with silly antics and slapstick humor.

For a kid, having a clown show up to a birthday party is practically a requirement if you’re under the age of 10, and the one who comes dressed up in a clown costume is sure to be the crowd favorite. Sorry Mom and Dad, it doesn’t matter if you arranged for the clown to come. And until you learn to make small animals or hats out of long balloons, the visiting clown just might one up you for the duration of the party.

But remember, it’s usually an adult that’s dressed up as the clown providing the entertainment. So have you ever been to a party where everyone was dressed up as a clown? Me neither, but it sounds slightly intriguing. Imagine a dozen people you know decked out in clown accessories all with painted up faces, wearing oversized shoes and big, red noses, while toting around rubber chickens and air horns. You might even consider carpooling to the party and picking up 12 or so of your friends in your miniature car.

Love ‘em or hate ‘em, dressing up as a clown is a concept that has that has been around for centuries, and a clown costume is sure to bring on some big smiles, and maybe even send some people running. Whether you decide to be a whiteface clown, a hobo clown or even a rodeo clown, you might get past your Coulrophobia (fear of clowns) by actually turning yourself into one for a fun filled night.