THE clown craze has reached the Whitsundays and residents are urged to take a zero tolerance approach.

Last week the Clown Purge group posted on Facebook that clowns would make an appearance at Airlie Beach on Tuesday night at 10pm.

Clown sightings are understood to have occurred at multiple locations over the week, including Proserpine's Phillip Street last Tuesday night, the Proserpine BP on Friday night and Bowen skate park over the weekend.

There is concern some clown activists taking part in the global trend are wielding weapons and engaging in threatening behaviour.

Whitsunday Mayor Andrew Willcox took to his Facebook page to condemn people deliberately scaring members of the community.

"It has been brought to my attention that the clown craze started in the USA has reached the Whitsundays,” he said.

"Disruptive, scary and threatening behaviour will not be tolerated in our wonderful region.

"Any people sighting these clowns are urged to contact the police.”

The clown craze has also drawn criticism from the Queensland Government with Police Minister Andrew Byrne describing it as a "dangerous and stupid notion”.

The clown sightings have also been described as a drain on police resources which distract from serious issues.

Queensland police have already made a clown-related arrest involving a 15-year old boy charged for standing outside his Inala home in a clown costume wielding a knife to scare his sister.

Anyone seeking to report a clown sighting is asked to contact police on 131444.