International Clown Week – August 1-7, 2024

History of International Clown Week

Clowns are performers who use different forms of humor to entertain the audience. While being a clown seems easy, the fact is, it takes an innovative kind of genius to be able to tickle someone’s funny bone. A clown has to be witty, creative, and full of energy, regardless of his or her personal circumstances. Since being a clown requires extra effort, International Clown Week is celebrated every year to honor the profession that lightens up lives.

Clown Week started sometime in the 1950s where it was initially celebrated on a limited scale. It is said to have been conceived by a man called Walt Savage. In 1966, the President of the Clown Club of America, appointed Frank “Kelly the Clown” Kelly, as the first International Clown Week chairman. The first American chairman of National Clown Week, on the other hand, was Bill “Boom-Boom” Baily. He was also an original member of Clowns of America when it was founded in 1967. It was Bill who later insisted that National Clown Week be publicized and also be scheduled as an annual event. In his efforts to ensure this became a reality, he visited Washington, D.C. with other clowns and lobbied the U.S. Congress. In 1970, President Nixon proclaimed the first official National Clown Week. This later became an international event and in 1988, Ray Bickford was appointed as the first International Clown Week chairman. Today, International Clown Week is celebrated across the world with numerous fun activities, including clown performances.