CELEBRITY

Get Ready to Laugh With the Lucille Ball Comedy Festival

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Spend August laughing with some of your favorite comedians.

Starting August 14, The National Comedy Center of Jamestown, New York will be live-streaming its annual Lucille Ball Comedy Festival. Although the festival was originally slated to occur earlier this year, pandemic-related social restrictions lead to its postponement. The initial line-up for the festival included the David Spade, Jeff Foxworthy, and Rob Schneider, all of whom have been rescheduled for the 2021 festival.

But in true Lucille Ball fashion, the Comedy Center was determined to bring some summer laughs. Ergo, the live-stream event was planned. From this weekend until August 30, the virtual event will be broadcast via The National Comedy Center’s website. The line-up will feature conversations with contemporary comedy icons; Jimmy Fallon, Lin-Manuel Miranda, Aidy Bryant, and Margaret Cho are just a few of the comedians scheduled to appear. In total, over 2 dozen performers will be taking the stage throughout the festival’s duration.

While the event will be streamed for free, The National Comedy Center recommends that viewers make a $10 donation. This year’s Lucille Ball Comedy Festival is intended to honor filmmaker Carl Reiner, who passed away this year.


Originally the pet project of Jamestown native and comedic legend Lucille Ball, the festival has been a New York staple since 1991. Although Ball herself did not live to see the festival’s first show, it has brought joy to many throughout its 29 years of life. Countless preeminent comics have previously appeared of the fest’s line-up, including Jerry Seinfeld, Jay Leno, and Joan Rivers.

So be sure to tune into the online festival between now and August 30 for some fun, and of course plenty of laughter.