MISSION
To bring smiles and laughter to the faces of 1000’s of children and spectators lining the Toledo parade route. Our job is to have fun and cause happiness!
Over 36 years ago, Toledo businessman and community leader Wally Iott, former Foodtown COO, was approached to re-create the Holiday Parade during the Thanksgiving season. Inspired by the success of similar groups across the country, Wally introduced the idea of the Distinguished Clown Corps (DCC) — local business executives sponsored by their companies to become a “clown for the day,” marching in the parade in colorful costumes and handing out candy and balloons to children and families along the route.
What began with just 18 business leaders has grown into a vibrant community of over 100 members, with many of Toledo’s most recognized leaders proudly donning the red noses and big shoes over the last three decades. The DCC remains dedicated to its original mission: bringing laughter, joy, and holiday spirit to spectators of all ages at the Blade Annual Holiday Parade.
Holiday Parade Map
2025 Clown List
Parade Day Itinerary
BECOME A CLOWN
Becoming a member of the Distinguished Clown Corps (DCC) is easy — and unforgettable! Each new clown receives a custom-made suit in the color of their choice, complete with wigs and professional make-up applied on parade day by talented students from the Toledo School for the Arts.
Before stepping off in the Blade Annual Holiday Parade, all clowns are invited to “Balloon School” to learn how to twist colorful balloon animals — a crowd favorite that children often love even more than candy. After the parade, clowns have the chance to continue spreading cheer by visiting Imagination Station or local non-profits to hand out candy, balloons, and gifts.
Joining the DCC isn’t just about putting on a red nose. It’s about:
- Bringing laughter and joy to thousands of families along the parade route.
- Supporting local organizations like the Toledo School for the Arts, Aurora House, Beach House, and Family House.
- Making new friendships with upbeat business leaders from across the community.
- Creating cherished memories while being part of one of Toledo’s most unique holiday traditions.
We promise — being a clown is an enormous amount of fun. Suit up, spread smiles, and become part of the Distinguished Clown Corps tradition today. You won’t be disappointed!
New Clown Form
Clown Suit Form
Tips for 1st Year Clowns
MEET OUR CLOWNS
| 37th Year | George Costic | Laibe Electric |
| 33rd Year | Jeff Lonsbrough | Toledo Regional Chamber of Commerce |
| 31st Year | Larry Boyer | Waterford Bank Retiree |
| 28th Year | John Kolbeck | The Torch Club |
| 27th Year | Heidi Bollin & Keiran Bollin | Bollin Label |
| 26th Year | Mike Hart | Hart, Inc. |
| 26th Year | Dylan Orwig & Claire Orwig | The Lathrop Company |
| 26th Year | Brian Downey | STS Management |
| 22nd Year | Crystal Threet | Ernst & Young LLC. |
| 21st Year | Ed Beczynski – Ava Barton | Focaccia’s |
| 21st Year | Kim Shaffer | Signature Bank |
| 21st Year | Brad Gillespie | First Energy |
| 21st Year | Mark Smigelski | Savage & Associates Inc. |
| 21st Year | Phil Rudolph Jr. – Kristopher Wingerd | Rudolph Libbe Inc. |
| 21st Year | Jim Haudan | Root LLC |
| 20th Year | Keith Burwell | Greater Toledo Community Foundation Retiree |
| 20th Year | Jody McCollum | NW Electrical Contracting Inc. |
| 20th Year | Bill Carroll | Limo-Reid Technologies |
| 19th Year | Mike Jaksetic | BP Retiree |
| 19th Year | Daniel Saevig | University of Toledo Retiree |
| 19th Year | Nancy Miller | Lucas County Probate Court |
| 19th Year | Michael Mikkonen | Lucas County Child Support Agency |
| 19th Year | Colby Fordham | Root LLC |
| 19th Year | Joe Napoli | The Toledo Mud Hens |
| 18th Year | Brent Able & Ben Abel | Fifth Third Bank |
| 18th Year | Labib Hajjar | Beirut Restaurant |
| 18th Year | Brandi Gillespie – Heather Tussing | First Energy |
| 16th Year | Don Warner & Amelia Yarder | SSOE Retiree |
| 16th Year | Ken Wood | Martin & Wood |
| 16th Year | Gary Resnick | LaSalle Cleaners |
| 14th Year | Jeff Gartz | Perfect Sweep |
| 14th Year | Stu Goldberg | Eastman & Smith |
| 13th Year | Marty Lahey | Manhattans |
| 12th Year | Stacy Hammer | Manpower |
| 12th Year | Brian Geffe | Mosser Construction |
| 11th Year | Judy Potter | Black and White Transportation |
| 11th Year | Mark Trimble & Pierson Yarder | Rohrbacher, Trimble & Zimmerman |
| 10th Year | Erik Ibsen | Toledo Mud Hens Baseball |
| 10th Year | Brook Reddish | The Collaborative |
| 10th Year | Neil Neukam | Toledo Walleye Hockey Club |
| 10th Year | Joe Wieligman | The Hylant Group |
| 10th Year | Nelson Shaffer | Retired Bank Executive |
| 10th Year | Joe Marck | IBC Properties |
| 10th Year | Bob Howell | SSOE Retiree |
| 9th Year | Sam Hammons – Amy Pitzen | Knight Insurance |
| 9th Year | Barrie Howell | Renhill |
| 9th Year | Cindy Kerr | Sunshine Communities |
| 9th Year | Mike Koralewski & Noah Scharbach | First Solar |
| 8th Year | Liz Lopez | The Mannik Smith Group |
| 8th Year | Jennifer Kearns | Battery Wholesale |
| 8th Year | Anita Lopez | Lucas County Commissioner |
| 7th Year | Lori Johnston | Medical Mutual of Ohio |
| 7th Year | Chuck Bodette | Bodette Insurance Agency Retiree |
| 6th Year | Andrea Gurcsik | ITC |
| 6th Year | Vince DiPofi | SSOE |
| 5th Year | Adam Goldberg | Huron Street Studios |
| 5th Year | Matt Tussing | First Energy |
| 5th Year | Karen Slawinski | The JDI Group |
| 5th Year | Bill Kline | BDSE Investments, LLC |
| 5th Year | RJ Rajner | Savage & Associates |
| 4th Year | Cydney Goldberg | OSU Hillel |
| 4th Year | Bailey Koester & Smith Koester | Renhill |
| 4th Year | Glen Koester | The Cigar Affair |
| 4th Year | Laura Koprowski | TARTA |
| 4th Year | Brandon Quinn | Allstate Insurance |
| 4th Year | Drew VanNess | The JDI Group |
| 4th Year | Andy Hudak | Priority Wealth Partners |
| 4th Year | Matt Yarder & Jeff Conlan | Yarder Manufacturing |
| 4th Year | B. Chase Yacko | Canberra Corporation |
| 4th Year | Dr. Danielle Saevig | ProMedica Physicians |
| 4th Year | Dave Dmytryka | Dmytryka Jacobs Engineers |
| 4th Year | J. Christian Piazza | Wilcox Financial |
| 4th Year | Katie Moline | Lucas County Auditor |
| 4th Year | Rob Rice | UT Rockets Sports Properties |
| 3rd Year | Kristyn Tusin | The Cigar Affair |
| 3rd Year | Jeff Williams | Focus CFO |
| 3rd Year | Blake Haudan | The Andersons |
| 3rd Year | Stacy Meridieth | Janssen & Biotech |
| 3rd Year | Judy McFarland | Thread Marketing Group |
| 3rd Year | Whitney Rofkar & Skylar Rofkar | Thread Marketing Group |
| 3rd Year | Zachery Szabo | The Cigar Affair |
| 3rd Year | Dustin Dale | Beyond the Horizon Consulting |
| 3rd Year | Greg Fockler | Fockler Financial |
| 3rd Year | Daniel Peffley | Premier Wealth Management Group |
| 3rd Year | Hunter Rudolph | Reinke Dealerships |
| 3rd Year | RJ Smith | Transworld Shipping |
| 3rd Year | Robin Whitney | SSOE |
| 3rd Year | Nick Eyde | GEYDE Development |
| 2nd Year | Jennifer Alford | Creative Financial Partners |
| 2nd Year | Bill Bisset | Lourdes University |
| 2nd Year | Megan Casiere | The Employer’s Association |
| 2nd Year | Bruce Douglas | The Douglas Company |
| 2nd Year | Ed Sintic | The Toledo Mud Hens |
| 2nd Year | Dave Gierke | Toledo School for the Arts |
| 2nd Year | Tom Hamway | The Regional Growth Partnership |
| 2nd Year | Bethany Hefflinger | WynHouse |
| 2nd Year | Jason Kelley | Blue Squared Web Solutions |
| 2nd Year | Zach McQueen | MacQueen’s Orchard |
| 2nd Year | Jason Nofziger | Owens Corning |
| 2nd Year | Wendy Pestrue | United Way of Greater Toledo |
| 2nd Year | Julia Randles | Crane Development |
| 2nd Year | Randy Rothenbuhler | University of Toledo Foundation |
| 2nd Year | Matt Rubin | Crane Development |
| 2nd Year | Lexi Rudolph | Danberry Realtors |
| 2nd Year | Matt Schroeder | The University of Toledo |
| 2nd Year | Rick Thielen | Retired Administrator City of Perrysburg |
| 2nd Year | Carrie Touhy | Whitehouse Councilwoman |
| 2nd Year | Matt Tussing | First Energy |
| 2nd Year | Connie Warner | Retired |
| 2nd Year | Lance Woodworth | Destination Toledo |
| 2nd Year | Jeremy Zeisloft | Waterford Bank |
| 2nd Year | Jen Rollo | Aktion Associates |
| 2nd Year | Lindey Kline | First Energy |
| 2nd Year | Rick Kline | First Energy |
