Red Skelton Festival
Join America's Clowns in the Famous
"Red Skelton Parade of a Thousand Clowns"
and "Paint the Town Red" Celebration
A TRIBUTE TO RED SKELTON
JOIN AMERICA’S CLOWNS IN THE FAMOUS
“Red Skelton Parade of a Thousand Clowns”!!!
Saturday, JUNE 11, 2011 VINCENNES, INDIANA
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At 11:00am (EDT), listen to Red's Pledge kick off the Parade of a
Thousand Clowns. It's the most colorful and entertaining clown parade in America through downtown Vincennes. The Patriot Riders are expected to
participate and there's buzz about a possible fly-over too. Parade lineup is at 10:00am. Starting at 11a.m., (EDT) with., is the "Parade of
1,000 Clowns". The parade is followed by a "Paint The Town Red" Festival, with fun, good food, entertainment, inflatables and games for kids.
Clowns, friends and fans join together to
pay tribute to America’s most beloved clown, Red Skelton as his hometown plays host for the whimsical scene of the
biggest clown parade in the Midwest. FREE dormitory lodging
is available for clown participants and one guest on the beautiful campus of Vincennes University. Individuals must bring their own linens and toiletries.
On-campus dining is available for a fee.
For information about the Red Skelton Clown School (for adults) running from
June 6-11, go to http://www.redskeltonclownschool.com
From 9:00am-3:00pm, the "Paint the Town Red" celebration will be ongoing at Second and Main Streets on
Patrick Henry Square, with food, fun and entertainment for the whole family.
12:30pm Jr. Joey's (kid clowns) Kazoo Band and Graduation. All clowns are invited to join the "Clown Mingle" following the parade, to take part in the
festivities, as well as perform face painting and balloon twisting at Paint the Town Red at 2nd and Main streets. HEY KIDS…WANNA BE A CLOWN?
Stage Entertainment following the parade at Patrick Henry Square will include clowns from Red
Skelton Clown School plus:
1:00pm Doughnut Eating Contest with Adult and Youth Divisions sponsored by Willow Manor
2:00pm Clown Beauty Contest - who knows what imaginative madness this might bring.
Additional Red Skelton Festival Activities:
Wednesday, June 8th from 6:00-8:30 pm is Hobo Stew Night with Food, Entertainment and Bathtub Races at the Red Skelton Moral, 3rd & Vigo Streets
Thursday, June 9th from 6:00-8:00 pm is the World's Biggest Birthday Party with clowns, Children's Entertainment and Birthday Cake Sponsored
by Old National Bank at the Riverfront Pavilion.
Friday, June 10th offers several opportunities to celebrate:
12:00-1:00pm a Real Clown Pie Fight where the public is invited to watch or participate at the Red Skelton Performing Arts Center (The RED)
on the Patio Lawn of the Vincennes University Campus, at 20 Red Skelton Boulevard, Vincennes.
6:15pm "Red's Bench" Dedication at THE RED just before the doors open for the "Red Skelton Clown Follies."
7:00pm Red Skelton Clown Follies at THE RED. Enjoy slap-stick comedy & magic at this lively variety show of all-star clowns. The show feautres ten
professional Ringling Clowns including two international Hall of Fame clowns. "Bring your hankies `cause you'll be laughin' `til you cry!" For Tickets
Call the Box Office: 812-888-4039. All tickets $10 for general admission.
Red Skelton Museum Gift Shop will maintain Festival Hours at THE RED:
Mon.-Thur. 10:00am - 6:00pm
Fri 10:00am - 8:00pm
Regular Hours are M-F from 2:00 - 5:00pm
"The Red Skelton Jr. Joey (that's clown lingo for a kid clown) Clown School is coming back to Vincennes University. The School
runs from Wednesday, June 8 - Friday, June 10th from 10:00am to 3:00pm. Skills, including clown make-up, `parade-ability' and
learning the clown code of ethics in community service are part of the program.
When these 8-12 year old Jr. Joeys graduate from the 15-hour workshop, "The Art of Clowning for Kids," they will head off to
participate in the Red Skelton Clown Pollies starting at 7:00 pm Friday evening.
"There'll be more clowns aroun' town" when the Jr. Joeys join the Red Skelton Festival "Parade of a Thousand Clowns" at
11:00 (EDT) am. Saturday, June 11th.
The registration fee is $50, but no child will be turned away. For registration or scholarship information, please call
Jack Masters at 812-887-1442 or Ann Rinderle at 812-726-4603.
Red Skelton’s hometown, Vincennes, Indiana, was the first capitol of the Old Northwest Territory. Founded as a French fur-trading post, it is a treasure of Revolutionary War American History. Self-guided tours of Red Skelton’s boyhood home will be available as well as tours of the oldest church in Indiana, Basilica of St. Francis Xavier or “The Old Cathedral”, George Rogers Clark National Historical Park, the Abe Lincoln Trail, Vincennes State Historic Sites (Elihu Stout Print Shop, Indiana Territory Capitol & Jefferson Academy, first college in Indiana), “Grouseland”, mansion and museum of William Henry Harrison, 9th U.S. President and the Indiana Military Museum. For additional information, including alternative lodging, please contact the Vincennes/Knox Co. Convention & Visitors Bureau at 1-800-886-6443 or info@vincennescvb.org