Haha, Snort-Snort, LaughFest Honors Gilda Radner’s Effervescent Spirit by Wearing Sunglasses at Night

Gilda Radner surely would be laughing.

The late “Saturday Night Live” comedian who grew up in Detroit and went on to gather legions of fans for her funny, funny lines and characters is the inspiration behind Gilda’s LaughFest, which for the past three years has set new Guinness World Records for playful hijinks.

They’ve tossed rubber chickens, donned fake mustaches and worn chicken beaks. This year, the LaughFest organizers are – apologies in advance, because you’ll have the lyrics to Corey Hart’s melody stuck in your head  – wearing sunglasses at night.

Participants received bright yellow LaughFest sunglasses as the festival kicked off Thursday night, the Detroit Free Press reports.

The current world record was set in July 2012 at Wrigley Field in Chicago, when 1,642 people wore their sunglasses at night. By LaughFest spokesman Tyler Lecceadone’s count, 1,675 people wore sunglasses at the kickoff in Grand Rapids.

The LaughFest hilarity continues through March 16 in honor of the memory of Radner, who died of ovarian cancer in 1989.

Wendy Wigger, president of LaughFest and Gilda’s Club of Grand Rapids, said participants had – wait for it – “a seriously fun time at this year’s world-record event.”

In 2013, 1,532 people at LaughFest put on false mustaches to set the Guinness World Gilda’s LaughFest runs through March 16. It honors the memory of comedian Gilda Radner, who died of a decidedly unfunny disease, ovarian cancer ,in 1989. 

>>> If you’re up for a road trip to Grand Rapids, here’s what's on tap this weekend.

>>> See photos on LaughFest’s Facebook page.

>>> DISCUSS: Everybody needs a laugh. Celebrate Gilda Radner’s effervescent memory with a story that will make us all smile (keep it family friendly, please).