National Clown Week runs August 1–7, 2027, a week of thanks for the people in greasepaint and oversized shoes. It’s also known as International Clown Week, and clown clubs spend it performing for charity.
August 1 to 7, Every Year
Every year from August 1 through August 7. Congress asked for those exact dates, which means the opening weekday changes from year to year.
President Richard Nixon made it official with a proclamation on August 2, 1971. Clown groups have kept it going ever since.
Sponsorship today usually falls to Clowns of America International. Mayors and city councils often add local proclamations.
How Clowns Lobbied Congress
Its exact origins are debated. American clowns were already marking August 1 to 7 in the 1950s, according to a Harris County law library history.
Organizing began in 1966. Ray Bickford, president of the Clown Club of America, named Frank “Kelly the Clown” Kelly to lead the effort.
Kelly urged members to write to Congress. A resolution came in 1969 after clowns met with Arkansas Senator John McClellan, who chaired the Senate panel on holidays.
Congress approved it on October 8, 1970. Sources disagree on the public law number, listing it as 91-433, 91-442 or 91-443.
Nixon’s proclamation praised “good men in putty noses and baggy trousers” who visit orphanages and children’s hospitals.
Timing gave the story an odd footnote. Nixon resigned on August 8, 1974, almost three years to the day after his clown proclamation.
A new name came in 1991. When Clowns of America reorganized as Clowns of America International, the week became International Clown Week.
Why Clowns Get a Week
Clowns give a lot of their time away. Nixon wrote that “the laugh-makers are blessed: they heal the heart of the world.”
His proclamation also leaned on old folklore, saying “the clown leaves happiness where he goes, and takes misery away with him.”
Many clubs take part. Besides Clowns of America International, groups such as the World Clown Association, Clowns Canada, the Shrine Clown Association and Clowns International in Britain join in.
Their numbers are bigger than you might think. Clown groups count more than 10,000 members, and one estimate puts the world’s clowns at over 20,000.
Hospitals and nursing homes are regular stops. Clowns also turn up at malls and parades, and they raise money for charity at fundraisers of their own.
Texas offers a classic example. In Temple, 85-year-old Lois Rolston performs as “Buttons,” delivering gift baskets to churches and fire stations during the week.
Rolston plays an “auguste” clown, the kind who makes mistakes and tells puns. She told the Killeen Daily Herald that she clowns as a public service, not for money.
Ways to Join the Fun
You don’t need a red nose to celebrate. A little silliness goes a long way.
Local proclamations help too. In Temple, Texas, Mayor Tim Davis signed one honoring clowns. Buttons and her helper Zipper then made their rounds with gift baskets for the police station and nursing homes.
- Catch a clown show at a local fair, library or parade.
- Thank a hospital clown program in your area, or donate to one.
- Learn a simple magic trick or juggling move with your kids.
- Ask your mayor to proclaim Clown Week in your town.
- Read Nixon’s 1971 proclamation aloud for a laugh and a history lesson.
- Check whether a local clown club takes new members.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it National or International Clown Week?
Both names are used. The international name came later.
Which president proclaimed the week?
Richard Nixon did.
What is an auguste clown?
A bumbling, pun-loving character who gets things wrong on purpose.