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Some of Canada’s best stand up comedians are in Kelowna, Penticton and Vernon over the next several days as the second annual Okanagan Comedy Festival is ready to have fans belly laughing and rolling in the aisles starting Wednesday evening.
Robert Gallant, the general manager of the Okanagan Comedy Festival, has run the successful Hubcap Comedy Festival in Moncton, N.B. for the past 19 years.
“There were a group of comics who were running a slimmed down comedy festival for two or three years before we became an official non-profit society two years ago,” said Gallant, who made the trip from Moncton and arrived last week in Kelowna to ensure this year’s festival runs smoothly. “The group of comics were coming to the Okanagan on vacation and they thought it would be a good idea to organize some shows and saw the potential in trying to turn it into a full-fledged arts festival.”
Comic Tim Nutt, who is one of the headliners at this year’s festival, lives in the Okanagan full-time and helped him organize the 2018 event, which kicks off Wednesday at Dakoda’s Sports Bar & Grill on Harvey Avenue. The most popular comics hitting the stage Wednesday will earn a spot at his Hubcap festival in Moncton next February, said Gallant.
Last year’s inaugural Okanagan Comedy Festival went well with numerous bars and pubs in Kelowna, Penticton and Vernon taking part, he said.
Expanding to wineries and golf courses, as well as adding more pubs and bars, is a great way to offer a great night of entertainment to local residents and the huge amount of tourists that visit the Okanagan this time of year, he said.
“Part of our goal is to really tie in the tourist market,” he said. “We want to be at wineries and golf courses as well as the bars. This year, we have another winery, House of Rose, who has signed on and we’re also at Gallagher Canyon Golf Club, so we’re reaching out to some non-traditional venues.
“Most comedy festivals are held in theatres and bars and with our festival here in the Okanagan, we have beautiful country here and great wine, so we want to make sure that becomes an integral part of the festival.”
Offering quality stand up comedy is a natural when people are on vacation and enjoying things like wine tours and long days at the beach, he said.
“It will give them something really fun to do when they’re here visiting,” he said.
The majority of comics performing this week have performed at his festival in Moncton and they were the ones who asked him to get involved and organize a festival in the Okanagan where they can mix in vacation time and performing, said Gallant.
“A group of them asked me to get involved, come out to the Okanagan and get this thing started,” he said.
Some of the very best comics in Canada will be performing this year, said Gallant.
“Ryan Belleville is one of the hottest comics in Canada right now,” he said. “He’s shooting his TV series Working Moms and his shooting schedule just wrapped up, so he’s able to come here on his way back to L.A. and be part of the fest, so we’re very happy about that.
“Then we’ve got top guys like Tim Nutt, Lars Callieou and Ben Miner, who is coming from Sirius XM Radio. He’s the comic executive with Sirius … the guy who gets all of our comics air time, but he’s also a stand up himself, so he’s coming to do a few sets.”
The plan is to expand the festival in coming years, he said.
“You have to prove yourself over a couple of years before you can apply for any arts support grants,” he said. “Otherwise, everybody would be starting festivals and getting money. We’re doing this as a labour of love these first couple of years and then we plan to get to the point where we can bring in bigger names and pay more money out to more comics.”
Tug’s Tap House on Martin Street in downtown Penticton is hosting an event Thursday at 7 p.m, while Wings at 5200 Anderson Way in Vernon is also hosting an event Thursday at 7 p.m.
Red Rooster Winery at 891 Naramata Road near Penticton is also hosting three nights of stand up comedy Thursday, Friday and Saturday at 8 p.m.
House of Rose Winery on Garner Road in Kelowna is hosting a show Friday at 7 p.m. Freddy’s Brewpub on McCurdy Road in Kelowna is hosting a show Friday at 9:30 p.m. Freddy’s will host a second night Saturday at 9:30 p.m. as well.
On Saturday, Gallagher’s Canyon Golf Club in Kelowna is hosting a show at 7 p.m., while Craft Corner Kitchen on Main Street in Penticton is hosting its own show at 7 p.m.
The festival wraps up Sunday with a show at Carlos O’Bryan’s Pub on Carington Road in West Kelowna, starting at 8:30 p.m.
To book tickets or get more information about the Okanagan Comedy Festival 2018, click here.
Each of the venues listed about will also be selling tickets.
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