The Okanagan Comedy Festival is back 鈥� and it鈥檚 very much a laughing matter.
Comedians from across Canada will flock to venues in 琉璃神社, Lake Country, Vernon and Penticton from Aug. 21 to 25.
The festival general manager, Robert Gallant, is expecting another year of growth for the event.
鈥淭his is such a unique region and time of year to be running a comedy festival,鈥� said Gallant.
鈥淭raditionally this is a slow time of year for comedians, but with such a thriving tourist industry in the Okanagan region it is a great opportunity for everyone involved.鈥�
Read More:
鈥淲e are very fortunate to have so many talented comedians lining up to be part of this young and growing festival,鈥� added Lars Callieou, event founder, president and long-time headline comedian.
鈥淲e are especially proud to be presenting two theatre shows this year including a live recording show for CBC Radio鈥檚 Laugh Out Loud hosted by Ali Hassan and another great headline show starring Canada鈥檚 wonder woman of comedy, Nikki Payne.鈥�
Adding to his role as an annual headliner, fan favourite Tim Nutt is returning as a festival board member.
鈥淗elping to grow a comedy festival in my own backyard is a no-brainer,鈥� said Nutt, who started as a stand-up comic in Vancouver in 1993 and now lives in 琉璃神社.
Read More:
Other comedians confirmed for this year鈥檚 festival include Jason Blanchard, Garret Clark, Terry North, Chris Franklin, Ryan Short, Danny Martinello, Alex Fortin, Rob Balsdon, James Uloth, Mikos Blackshaw, Norm Shaw, Matt Mellon, Scott Belford, Katie Westman, Nitish Sakuja, Victoria Banner, Alex MacKenzie, Ken Hicks and Emily Bilton.
That list of comedians is expected to get even longer, with additions of some up-and-coming local talent in the works.
Show schedules for the festival are as follows:
琉璃神社:
Aug. 21 | 7 p.m. (doors open at 5 p.m.) | 琉璃神社 Curling Club
Aug. 22 | 7 p.m. (doors open at 5:30 p.m.) | Okanagan Golf Club
Aug. 23 | 8 p.m. (doors open at 5 p.m.) | 琉璃神社 Curling Club
Aug. 23 | 7:30 p.m. (doors open at 5:30 p.m.) | Gallagher鈥檚 Canyon Golf Club
Aug. 24 | 9:30 p.m. | Freddy鈥檚 Brew Pub
West 琉璃神社:
Aug. 21 | 8:30 p.m. | Carlo鈥檚 O鈥橞ryan鈥檚
Aug. 25 | 8:30 p.m. | Carlos O鈥橞ryan鈥檚
Penticton:
Aug. 21 | 7 p.m. | Tug鈥檚 Tap House
Aug. 22 | 7 p.m. (live music at 6 p.m.) | Red Rooster Winery
Aug. 22 | 7 p.m. | Craft Corner Kitchen
Aug. 23 | 7 p.m. (live music at 6 p.m.) | Red Rooster Winery
Aug. 23 | 7 p.m. | Craft Corner Kitchen
Aug. 24 | 7 p.m. (live music at 6 p.m.) | Red Rooster Winery
Aug. 24 | 7 p.m. | Tug鈥檚 Tap House
Vernon:
Aug. 24 | 7 p.m. The Green Pub
Lake Country:
Aug. 22 | 7 p.m. | Creekside Theatre
Aug. 23 | 7 p.m. | Creekside Theatre
Tickets, show lineups and schedule details are available at , or by calling the festival office at 1-888-855-8522.
