Rose Festival :: Events :: Character Clown Corps

Be A Clown!

It's Year Three For The Popular Character Clown Corps And YOU Can Be Part Of It!

After an award winning debut in 2008 and the successful 2009 season, the Character Clown Corps presented by Amtrak Cascades are back for another year of contributing their special blend of love and laughter to the Rose Festival and the local community. The Character Clown Corps was named one of the Best Educational Programs in the World for festivals and events by the IFEA. The Clown Corps is directed by an avant-garde clown professional, Angel Ocasio (assisted by Trudi Sang).

» Learn More You can see members
of the Character Clown
Corps EVERYWHERE

The Character Clown Corps has appeared at various Rose Festival events like the Waterfront Village, the Fred Meyer Junior Rose Parade, Amtrak National Train Day and the KeyBank Grand Floral Parade, which invites kids to the Grand Floral Parade Kids Area on the concourse of the Memorial Coliseum. (The clowns have also made appearances on KGW NewsChannel 8 with Drew Carney and KPTV Fox 12 with "On The Go With Joe.")

This program has brought together fifty people -- ages 14 to 74 -- from the Portland area, Eugene and Silverton -- and extending to our neighbors across the bridge in Vancouver and Longview, Washington. Joining us this year will be twenty-five new clowns who will embark on an exciting adventure of zany, fun-filled buffoonery at various Rose Festival events.

One of the highlights this year will be the Waterfront Village's Circus City featuring ClownTown, where children and their families can stop by and play with the clowns!

» Learn More A NEW 2010 Clown
prepares to graduate

For the first time ever, the public is invited to see the 2010 class of the Character Clown Corps GRADUATE -- during a fun-tastic stage ceremony and comedy showcase on the final day of Clown School (3:30 p.m., Sunday, April 11), at the World Trade Center Auditorium, 121 SW Salmon ST (on the Bridge level). Great local talent -- including members of the festival's Clown Corps -- will make their own kind of magic and mayhem, performing physical comedy and classic clowning. Expect lots of juggling, giggling and grinning, all for Free!

» Learn More A Character Clown Corps
member entertains during the
2010 Graduation Ceremony

Note: The following document is in PDF format.

Do you need Adobe Reader? It's free!

View our Graduation invitation:

2010 Graduation Invitation [PDF]

Read what past Character Clown Corps members have to say about this program:

Becoming "Pippa the Clown" has encouraged me to take risks and find new ways to connect with people, which is something I want to bring to my life and work every day.
—Debra Samuel
What an absolute joy it was to get out and clown around on purpose!
–Jodi Carlton
I experienced the 'Magical Moments' from so many clowns -- old (not really old) clowns mixed with new clowns making us feel part of the family. Positive energy was in the air!
—Lina Grace
Seeing the smiles of the children as their eyes lit up was my favorite part.
—Larry Klobertanz

Boss Clown Angel Ocasio (a graduate of Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey circus' clown college) will instruct the workshop and oversee all Character Clown Corps activities. You can visit Angel's website here: OComedy.Com