The hometown of Lucille Ball will welcome several national comics at its annual comedy festival with more than 50 live events during the first week of August.
The 2024 Lucille Ball Comedy Festival is set for Aug. 1-4 in Jamestown, New York, in and around the National Comedy Center at 203 W. 2nd St.
“This is not just for Lucy fans,” said Gary Hahn, vice president of marketing and communications. “This is a celebration for all of comedy in what we consider to be comedy’s hometown in Jamestown, New York.”
This year’s festival will include national touring comedians, art workshops, block parties, events focused around Lucille Ball and more.
“You’re seeing great stand-up; you’re seeing incredible headliners and the block parties which are free and are so much fun," Hahn said. “It’s really a celebration of our country’s comedy heritage.”
Each day of Comedy Fest will include daily hours at the National Comedy Center and the Lucy Desi Museum at 2 W. Third St. Each day, except Sunday, you can find lunches and dinners at the Tropicana Room at the Center and an art workshop at the Pearl City Clay House at 220 E. Second St.
Most nights will feature a national touring comedian, a block party outside the Comedy Center and a comedy late night show featuring comedians from shows including “Conan” and “Last Comic Standing.”
Here are more highlights for this year’s comedy fest:
A step back in time
On Aug. 1, Comedy Fest will kick off with an event that takes a step back in time to Jamestown 1956 when Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz returned to Lucy’s hometown for the world premiere of their movie “Forever Darling." This historic journey will take place at the Reg Lenna at 116 E. Third St.
Thursday night will also be headlined by comedian Nicole Beyer.
“Nicole Byer is known and loved for 'Nailed It' on Netflix. She's also performing at the Reg Lenna Center for the Arts and just a distinctive voice in stand-up comedy,” Hahn said.
The Comedy Late Night Show will feature Nina Daniels, Ophira Eisenberg, Dave Hill, Erin Jackson and Matt Koff.
Tour Ball’s hometown
On Aug. 2 and Aug. 3, there will be guided bus tours of Lucy’s hometown. Tours will take attendees on sites significant to Ball’s life, including the house she grew up in and burial site.
“We take you past the home where she was born and where she grew up," Hahn said. "We take you to her final resting place at Lakeview Cemetery, the statues at Lucy Park; it’s just a bus tour of all the historic landmarks associated with Lucille Ball.”
The Friday night comedy show will be headlined by Jeff Ross.
“Jeff Ross is known as the 'roast master general' and is the mastermind behind the Netflix Tom Brady roast,” Hahn said. "He’s bringing his one-man show to the Reg Lenna Center for the Arts.”
The comedy late night show will feature Dj Demers, Matt Koff, Ali Macofsky, Moody McCarthy and more.
A Saturday with Lucille Ball’s secretary
Saturday will be another day filled with events. One key event is an interview with Ball’s longtime secretary Wanda Clark.
Clark will be interviewed by author Ric Wyman and will share stories from both her professional relationship and friendship with Ball which spanned a quarter-century.
“Clark was Ball's secretary for many years, and she has so much to talk about when working for Ball and those incredible years and all the time she spent with Lucy," Hahn said. "If you are an ‘I Love Lucy’ fan, hearing from someone who works so closely with Lucille Ball is a real treat."
This interview will take place at 1:30 p.m. with a venue to be determined.
The block party on Saturday will feature the band “Smackdab.”
To close out the national headliners this year, comedian Nate Bargatze will take the stage on Saturday night.
“(Bargatze is) a record-breaking comedian who has had a wonderful (career) so far, including hosting 'Saturday Night Live' last October, and he has just been selling out arenas all over the world,” Hahn said. “He is a big supporter of the National Comedy Center. He was performing in Erie (last November) and he visited the National Comedy Center right before those performances, and he just loved the museum ... he’s become a big supporter of our mission, so we’re thrilled to bring his performance to Jamestown.”
Before his appearance:Nate Bargatze bringing his 'Be Funny Tour' to Erie for two shows; limited tickets remain
Sunday Funday at Comedy Fest
Comedy Fest concludes Sunday where fans have an opportunity to get a photo op with the “fab four” who are professional impersonators acting as Lucy, Ricky, Fred and Ethel from “I Love Lucy.”
There will also be a free screening of “I Love Lucy” outside the National Comedy Center on Sunday at 1 p.m.
“We love bringing the festival to Jamestown,” Hahn said. “It’s incredibly important to the whole town. In addition to going to comedy shows, we encourage all visitors to walk around Jamestown.”
For the full schedule of events during Comedy Fest, visit the National Comedy Center’s website at comedycenter.org.
Contact Nicholas Sorensen at nsorensen@gannett.com.
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