Category Archives: clown

Parades

Mike is a member of Just Clowning Around of Northern Virginia (JCA). JCA participates in a few local parades each year. Here are some pictures of Mike as Sir Toony Van Dukes and his friends in the City of Falls Church Memorial Day Parade and the City of Fairfax Independence Day Parade.

Sir Toony and Pelukyta at the City of Falls Church Parade

Mike as Sir Toony Van Dukes at the City of Falls Church Memorial Day Parade

Sir Toony and Pelukyta at the City of Falls Church Parade

Sir Toony, Pelukyta and Moosey at the City of Falls Church Parade

Moosey and Sir Toony at the City of Falls Church Parade

Mike as Sir Toony Van Dukes at the City of Fairfax Parade

Mike as Sir Toony Van Dukes at the City of Fairfax Independence Day Parade

Fancy, Sir Toony and Pelukyta

Sir Toony and Pelukyta

Fancy, Pelukyta and Sir Toony at the City of Fairfax Parade

Happy 1st of May

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In the clown community, a “First of May” is a new clown. The term comes from the time when a circus would leave winter quarters and begin the season with a opening show on the first of May. Any new clown with the circus would be called a “First of May”. Today, not all clowns perform with a circus, and not all circus groups start their season on May 1st, but the name remains. It is often used to refer to a new clown.

I went through some old photos to find various pictures of Sir Toony Van Dukes during his first year as a clown. His journey started when he attended Mooseburger Clown Arts Camp in July 2008.

Sir Toony’s first public event at Mooseburger Clown Arts Camp in 2008

Sir Toony at a JCA Meeting in the Fall of 2008

Sir Toony November 2008

Sir Toony at a Christmas event in December 2008

Sir Toony at the Circus Magic Clown Convention in 2009

Sir Toony April 2009

Sir Toony getting ready for the Memorial Day Parade in 2009

Sir Toony at JCA’s Photo Night in 2009

Sir Toony getting ready for a parade on the 4th of July 2009

Sir Toony at the end of his first year as a clown, back at Moose Camp 2009

Ice Cream Social and Balloons

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On Saturday, March 18, 2017, Mike was invited to join the DC Candlelighters Childhood Cancer Foundation on their visit to Inova Fairfax Hospital for an ice cream social for the children with cancer. He added to the event by making balloons for the kids.

Mike and the other volunteers getting ready to deliver Ice Cream to the kids at the hospital

DC Candlelighters Childhood Cancer Foundation was founded in 2007 by parents of children with cancer. DC Candlelighters provides emotional, educational, practical and financial support to families of children battling cancer in the Washington DC area.
http://www.dccandlelighters.org/

DC Candlelighters Holiday Party

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On Sunday, December 11, 2016, Mike and his friends participated in the DC Candlelighters Childhood Cancer Foundation annual Holiday Party by doing face painting and making balloons for the kids.

Mike and Justin

Mike and Sweet Pickle

Mike and Fancy

Fancy painting faces

Fantasy Flight 2015

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Each December, United Airlines and Children’s Hospice International host a Fantasy Flight to the North Pole at Dulles International Airport. Their goal is to take children with life-threatening conditions and their families on a magical journey in a special plane to the land of Santa Claus, Mrs. Claus, elves, princesses, storybook friends and TV characters, toys, treats, and everything that each child dreams of at Christmas time.

Mike and his friends from Just Clowning Around of Northern Virginia have been volunteering at the event and making balloons for the children and their families. Here are a few photos from the event on Saturday, December 12, 2015.

: Sir Toony

: Jugglers at the North Pole

: Sir Toony

: Mattie J.T. Stepanek’s sled

: Sir Toony at the North Pole

: Penguins

: Entertainment at the North Pole

Reston Holiday Parade 2015

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Mike and his friends from Just Clowning Around of Northern Virginia have been participating in the Reston Holiday Parade for many years. The parade is always on the Friday after Thanksgiving at the Reston Town Center. Here are a few photos from the parade on Friday, November 27, 2015…

: Sir Toony Van Dukes before the parade

: Sir Toony Van Dukes with a Stormtrooper

: Star Wars Fans at the parade

: Star Wars Fans at the parade

: Helium balloons before the parade

: Helium Gingerbread Man Balloon

: Large Gingerbread House

A raininy 4th of July 2015

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Every year, Mike and his friends from Just Clowning Around of Northern Virginia participate in the City of Fairfax 4th of July Parade. This year, the morning got off to a wet start with lots of rain. That didn’t stop Mike from getting dressed as Sir Toony and heading out to the parade. Here are some of the photos from that parade.

: Giant Dinosaur at the City of Fairfax Parade

: Mike at the City of Fairfax Parade

: Mike at the City of Fairfax Parade

: One of Mike’s friends at the City of Fairfax Parade

: Sir Toony checking out the Monster Truck at the City of Fairfax Parade

: An old car at the City of Fairfax Parade

: A line of planes for the Flying Circus at the City of Fairfax Parade

: Another old car at the City of Fairfax Parade

: Mike as Sir Toony with his friend, Sweet Pickle, at the City of Fairfax Parade

: Mike’s friend, Marsha, made a fire truck out of balloons for the City of Fairfax Parade

: Mike at the City of Fairfax Parade

: Octopus balloon at the City of Fairfax Parade

: Mr Potato Head balloon at the City of Fairfax Parade

: Mike’s friends made a fire truck out of balloons for the City of Fairfax Parade

: One of the many fire trucks at the City of Fairfax Parade

: Baby Monster trucks at the City of Fairfax Parade

: Pelukyta and Sweet Pickle at the City of Fairfax Parade

: Mike at the City of Fairfax Parade

: Monster truck at the City of Fairfax Parade

: Sonia and Pelukyta at the City of Fairfax Parade

: Mike as Sir Toony with his friends, Sweet Pickle and Pelukyta, at the City of Fairfax Parade

: Mike as Sir Toony with his friend, Pelukyta, at the City of Fairfax Parade

: One of Mike’s friends, Pelukyta, at the City of Fairfax Parade

Memorial Day Parade 2015

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Each year, Mike joins his friends from Just Clowning Around of Northern Virginia to participate in the City of Falls Church Memorial Day Parade.

: Sir Toony waiting for the parade to begin

: Mike’s Scooter

: Pelukyta visits the Kena Shriners group before the parade

: Stopping to talk to the Kena Shriners before the parade

: Another group in the parade

: Sir Toony’s friend Pelukyta in the parade

: Watching the parade

: Watching the parade and seeing TJ from the Kena Shriners ride by

: Watching the parade

: Sir Toony at the end of the parade

Mid-Atlantic Clown Convention

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In November 2014, Sir Toony attended the Mid-Atlantic Clown Association 31st Annual Convention in Harrisburg, PA. While at the convention, he had the chance to learn from clowns from around the United States who were presenting workshops. He also participated in the nightly balloon jams and entered the balloon, face painting, and skit competitions.

Mike’s entry for the Balloon Competition at the 2014 Mid-Atlantic Clown Association Convention

Mike as a Mexican Sugar Skull at the 1st of two theme parties at the 2014 Mid-Atlantic Clown Association Convention

One of the balloons from the Balloon Jam at the 2014 Mid-Atlantic Clown Association Convention

Sir Toony getting ready for the skit competition at the 2014 Mid-Atlantic Clown Association Convention

Clowns gathering for the group clown picture at the Mid-Atlantic Clown Association Convention

Mike as a pirate for the 2nd of two theme parties at the Mid-Atlantic Clown Association Convention

Mike and his model from the Face Painting Competition at the Mid-Atlantic Clown Association Convention

My model for the Face Painting Competition at the Mid-Atlantic Clown Association Convention

Happy New Years

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Balloons By Mike and Sir Toony Van Dukes would like to thank everyone who hired them or came to one of the events they were at in 2013. It was a great year. We look forward to working with you again in 2014. Contact Northern Virginia Balloon Twisting for all of your entertainment needs.

Balloons By Mike and Sir Toony Van Dukes thank you for being part of our year.