Tell me if you've heard this one: "A festival walks into a bar and suddenly... 'ouch!'"
Okay, so maybe the only thing that will be hurting is your funny bone. But over the next 10 days, more than 200 events devoted to making you smile will occur all over town. Almost anywhere you go, someone will be sporting that big, yellow smile reminding us that LaughFest is here again.
This year, LaughFest will attempt to break a new record. In year one, they achieved the world record for rubber chicken tossing, and last year, they went for the most people wearing a chicken beak while doing the chicken dance.
The theme this year is mustaches and what a ride it will be for those who ease on down to Rosa Parks Circle to join in on the fun on March 7 as LaughFest attempts to set a new world record for the largest gathering of people wearing false mustaches. In September 2012, a record was set by the St. Louis Rams with 648 participants. (Show up sans mustache? No worries, as LaughFest has plenty for you to don.)
After they set the record, folks are encouraged to grab a bite to eat downtown before the festival's first comic events begin.
Rounding out the night's entertainment options will be a series of four official opening night parties at four spots downtown: Pub 43, GP Sports, The Woods, and Buffalo Wild Wings.
I will again be hosting my third annual LaughFest Kick Off Party starting at 8 p.m. at Pub 43. All night long, a series of very special guests will be stopping by this lively neighborhood drive right in the heart of the Avenue for the Arts. Stop by for your chance to win prizes, including tickets to LaughFest events.
"Every year, we strive to create a festival that's fresh and current. We look for talent that's diverse and that reaches a broad cross-section of the community," says Laughfest Festival Director Joanne Roehm. "This year, we've added new venues, expanded our LaughterRx series, and, based on community feedback, continue to provide a wide variety of clean comedy and family friendly programming."
And while a lot of shows (more than 15 at press time) have sold out, including all four Garfunkel & Oates shows, all eight Clean Comedy Showcases, and several of our eight Stand-Up Competition shows, there are still seats open for Fortune & Friends, Strawberry Shortcake WSG The Doodlebops, Dr. Bernie Siegel & Scott Burton, and Jim Breuer. Just don't wait, or you'll find yourself trolling on Craigslist or StubHub for tickets.
When Marc Maron was here last year to record his WTF! podcast at Wealthy Theatre, he remarked that not only was it one of his favorite venues, but also where he recorded his first ever video podcast.
If lightning strikes twice, Nerdist Podcast Live! with Chris Hardwick, Jonah Ray, and Matt Mira may have similar luck with its appearance at Fountain Street Church. They will be taping their rated RRR program on Friday, Mar. 15.
Admission: World Record Event and Laughfest's Kick Off Pub Parties are free, see
website for other ticket prices/times.