The Skating Clowns are a group of clowns from the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade.
History with the Macy's Parade[]
The Skating Clowns made their first appearance in the 1968 Macy's Parade, leading the famed holiday spectacle down the streets of New York City. The group of merry-makers consisted of clowns in bright neon costumes, indicative of the times. Additionally, the clowns would sport puffy, colorful clown wigs while donning hats both comically large and small.
Over the next several decades, the Skating Clowns would zip and zoom their way down the Parade route as perennial favorites, always spreading holiday cheer as they went. The clown group would make over 37 appearances, and they were removed from their leading position after the 2001 Parade. From 2002 to 2004, the Skating Clowns continued for their last appearances amongst the Countdown Clowns
After the clown group's retirement after the 2004 Parade, the legacy of the Skating Clowns continues on to this day, with new clown groups such as the Hi-Roller Skating Clowns and Corny-Copia Clowns donning pairs of roller blades and leading the merry march.