Carolina Clowns, Inc. originated in 1957 when Earl Crawford Sr., Executive Secretary to the Carrousel Parade (now The Novant Health Thanksgiving Eve Parade), contacted Jack Pentes, a well-known Charlotte artist and designer, to arrange for several clowns to be in the parade. Their purpose was to bring smiles and joy to the people of Charlotte watching the event. Jack and several others he recruited marched in that year’s parade and went on to form what is now Carolina Clowns with Jack serving as the first President as Bobo the Clown.
In addition to the annual Thanksgiving Parade, the clowns continue to serve the community through appearances at Festival in the Park, The Waxhaw Kaleidoscope Fest, North Mecklenburg Holiday Parade, Voices From The Past, and other annual gatherings. Members also visit nursing homes, schools, farmers markets, clinics, hospitals, and churches for special community events. They help spread smiles in Davidson, Concord, Belmont, Pineville, Rock Hill, Statesville, Waxhaw, and the many other towns and cities in and around in the Greater Charlotte Metro Area in North Carolina and border communities inn South Carolina.
Members of the group develop their own character, costume, makeup up design, props, and are responsible for their own expenses. They attend workshops, seminars, and conventions to learn more about the art of clowning and share their knowledge with other clowns. Each clown has their own skills and interests. Some of us do balloon twisting, magic, juggling, play music, use puppets, or blow bubbles.
Bringing joy and laughter to the community is what originally brought us together and is what keeps us together today. Through this service, the Carolina Clowns have brightened many lives over the decades. We have those first dedicated individuals to thank for our existence, purpose, and the happiness we have spread through the years.
Dear Lord,
As I stumble through this life, help me to create more laughter than tears, to disperse more happiness than gloom, and to spread more cheer than despair.
Never let me become so indifferent that I fail to see the wonder in the eyes of a child, or the twinkle in the face of the aged.
Never let me forget that my total effort is to cheer people and to reach out to others to make them forget, at least momentarily, any unpleasantness in their lives.
And in my final moment, may I hear You whisper,
"When you made my people smile, you made Me smile."
In the name of Him who turns darkness into light.
Amen
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Helping the Charlotte Metro Area smile since 1957!