Wed 9/30-Sat 10/3
For the 19th year, the Cleveland Comedy Festival will be bringing chuckles and guffaws back to the west side, with four full days of humor and hilarity, featuring both touring performers and the best of local comedy talent — more than 30 in all.
Forest City Brewing is the headquarters for the merriment, offering comedy in a range of styles. That’s where things kick off on Wednesday with a Happy Hour Showcase at 5pm and Chris Paugh recording an album at 7pm — you can be his laugh track! End your evening at the Lakewood Village Tavern on Madison, with the Village Idiot Open mc at 9:30pm.
On Thursday, there’s another Happy Hour Showcase at 5pm, followed by the Women & Wine Showcase with Geneva Rust Orta at 7pm at the Market Avenue Wine Bar. (7:00 PM). Saturday Night Live’s Chris Redd takes the stage at 8. Also at 8pm local comic Bill Squire hosts the Hi & Dry Showcase at Hi and Dry Bowling & Beer in Tremont.
There’s yet another Happy Hour Showcase at Forest City Brewery on Friday, followed by Hamburger at 7pm and Elijah Nevels at 9pm. SHEESH! A Comedy Showcase, hosted by James Earl Brassfield and Bob Seeholzer kicks off at 8pm at Spotlight Cleveland, and there’s a late-night “roast battle royale” at 10pm at the same venue for those not yet laughed out.
On Saturday the actions starts early with Tim Cornett’s Hündraiser Fundraiser for City Dogs Cleveland at 1pm at Forest City Brewery. A Ten Cent Beer Life & JokeWRLD Podcast interview with Marty Malloy happens at 3pm with Marty’s Golden Ticket Showcase at 5. A few blocks away the Women & Wine 2026 Saturday Showcase headlined by Cam Godfrey takes place from 6:30pm at Market Avenue Wine Bar. Miki Janosi performs at Forest City Brewing at 7pm (7:00 PM), where the festival closes with the Roast Battle Cleveland at 9.
You can enjoy everything and get a free T-shirt to boot — with a festival pass HERE. You can also go there get tickets to individual shows.
clevelandcomedyfestival.org/festival