If you’re looking for cheap laughs that don’t involve a Wiffle ball bat to the groin, you’re sure to find them at the Columbus Comedy Festival.
“Cheap” doesn’t describe the quality of the humor but rather the price of attending one of the festival’s 60-plus shows. Offerings start as low as $5, and few cost more than $20.
You'll get more yuks for your bucks when the Columbus Comedy Festival takes place Aug. 27-30 at various venues around the city.
National headliners, as well as regional and local performers will amuse with stand-up, sketches, improv, variety shows, live podcast recordings, game shows and other comedic capers.
The Columbus Comedy Festival was established in 2024 by Walker and Anne Evans, along with Danielle Hackworth to spotlight
local talent and venues. They also hope to “plant a flag in the ground for national talent,” Walker Evans told The Dispatch at the time.
The fest has featured a bevy of seasoned performers with well-known credits such as “Rick and Morty,” “Bob’s Burgers,” “Better Call Saul,” “Twin Peaks,” “30 Rock,” “Reservation Dogs” and “Key & Peele,” among others.
This year’s festival will bring an eclectic mix of entertainment including “Nina West’s Big Queer Comedy Show,” a variety show at the Southern Theatre on Aug. 27. Hosted by the Columbus drag icon, an LGBTQ+ lineup of comics will be headlined by Kristin Key.
A quick-quipping, self-deprecating comedian who uses original music in her routines, Key has amassed more than 100 million views across social media with viral videos like her “Lesbian National Anthem.” (Ca-caw! If you know, you know.)
The show’s roster also includes Gwen Rose, Chad the Bird, D’Jaay BrownJohnson and Jules Wagner.
Limited tickets remain for $30.65 at capa.com.
On the homegrown front, Columbus-based funnyman and fan favorite Jason Banks will return to the festival. The nationally touring comic’s TikTok account boasts more than 9 million followers and more than a billion views.
Banks can be seen at 7:30 p.m. Aug. 28 at MadLab and at 10:30 p.m. Aug. 28 at Seventh Son Brewing Co. Tickets for both shows cost $20 on the festival website.
Additionally, several popular shows will be back, including Drunk PowerPoint (exactly what it sounds like), Ha Ha Kedavra (magic combined with comedy) and the Columbus Roast Battle, where comics will swap their most savage insult jokes in front of judges.
Visit columbuscomedyfest.com for a full lineup, schedule and tickets.
Contact features and entertainment reporter Belinda M. Paschal at bpaschal@dispatch.com.
This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Columbus Comedy Festival to bring laughs with 60-plus shows
