The first week of LaughFest is complete but plenty of hilarity remains. The nation’s first ever comedy festival is now in its third year in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Proceeds from the festival benefit Gilda’s Club, a cancer, grief and support program named for the late Saturday Night Live comedienne Gilda Radner. Past performers include Bill Cosby, Betty White, Whoopi Goldberg and Jim Gaffigan.
Over the years the public has been involved in the shenanigans as well. Last year there was a mass display of rubber chickens, many of which were thrown into the air, in an attempt to set a Guinness World Record for that sort of thing. This year a world record was set for the most people wearing a fake moustache at the same time.
Wayne Brady and Joel McHale have already performed this year, but several funny men and women have yet to hit the stage. The entertainingly angry Lewis Black performs Thursday, March 14 at DeVos Performance Hall. Loni Love, from VH1’s I Love the 70s/80s/90s, will be at McFadden’s on Friday, March 15 for two shows. On Saturday, March 16, Brian Regan, called one of the premier comedians in the country, will take the stage at DeVos.
The Nerdist Podcast with Chris Hardwick, a top ten comedy podcast on iTunes, will do a live show at Fountain Street Church on Friday, March 15. Friday and Saturday night The B.O.B. will host the Stand-Up Competition with ten comedians trying for a $10,000 cash prize. Laughfest has also expanded beyond Grand Rapids. On Saturday, March 16 Justin Willman, host of the Food Network’s Cupcake Wars, will be performing at the Knickerbocker Theatre in Holland.
There are also family friendly events during the day on the weekend. A full schedule is available on the LaughFest website.
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