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Published on January 22, 2025
"Bozo the Plown" Takes the Lead in Chicago's Snowplow Naming Contest, Showcasing City's Cultural IconsSource: Unsplash/Finden Marketing

The city of Chicago has once again embraced its whimsical winter spirit, finalizing a fresh batch of names for its snowplow fleet, as announced by the Department of Streets and Sanitation on Tuesday. The chosen monikers, which draw inspiration from a variety of cultural references synonymous with the city, emerged from a slate of 50 finalists following a public voting process. Among the winners, "Bozo the Plown" stands out as a playful nod to the cherished clown character from WGN-TV's "The Bozo Show," reported WTTW.

The lineup also includes "Lollaplowlooza," "My Kind of Plow," "Snower Wacker," "Scoop, There It Is!" and "Bean There, Plowed That"—each name bearing a direct connection to Chicago's cultural landscape. The decision to adopt such names not only serves to celebrate the city but also to infuse a touch of levity into the otherwise dreary task of snow removal. According to NBC Chicago, officials will soon affix nameplates to the snowplows, an event anticipated to coincide with future snowfall preparations.

Last year's competition also saw a tribute to a beloved WGN-TV personality with the snowplow "Skilling It," a reference to now-retired chief meteorologist Tom Skilling. This ongoing annual contest has effectively rooted itself in the city's winter traditions, capturing the hearts of Chicagoland residents eager to participate. WTTW detailed the contest's growing popularity, noting that thousands have voted in its now third-year installment.

Newly named plows, such as "Bozo the Plown" and "Scoop, There It Is!" are set to make their official debut in each of the city’s six snow districts. While it’s been a relatively mild winter season, these freshly minted snow warriors are set to definitely see action if Chicago’s notorious weather decides to shift gears. The signs bearing the winning names will be installed in the coming weeks, a process that continues to capture public interest and engage residents in a cheeky homage to the city’s robust winter operations, as indicated by NBC Chicago.