It’s no joke: Sarnia getting its first comedy festival

Troy Shantz A Sarnia comedian is organizing the city’s first comedy festival. Aaron Hopkins says he’s assembling top Canadian comedic talent for the Wicked Laughs Comedy Festival, set for Oct. 25-26 at Sarnia Library Theatre.

Troy Shantz

A Sarnia comedian is organizing the city’s first comedy festival.

Aaron Hopkins says he’s assembling top Canadian comedic talent for the Wicked Laughs Comedy Festival, set for Oct. 25-26 at Sarnia Library Theatre.

Six different shows are planned for the Halloween-themed event, which will feature such notable acts as Rebecca Reeds and Rob Pue, Hopkins said.

“We have some of the best comedians in the country coming to this festival. It’s not like a bunch of people I’ve strung together. These are professionals.”

The festival kicks off Friday with a 7 p.m. open mic featuring a slew of local folk, including Sarnia city councillor Nathan Colquhoun, Hopkins said.

An all-female show with Sarnia comedy veteran Lauren Crighton follows at 9 p.m.

The festival continues Saturday at 1 p.m. with a unique “roast” of a randomly selected horror film projected and critiqued by four Toronto comics.

Marc Hallworth takes the stage at 4 p.m. for a ‘choose-your-own-adventure’ style show. General descriptions of Hallworth’s jokes will be projected on a screen and fans can shout out which to perform next, Hopkins explained.

“He just keeps going until people have had enough. It’s an original concept.”

Hopkins and brother Alan Hopkins also take the stage Saturday. The pair are part of the sketch troupe Murphbudz, known for their ongoing series of short online comedy videos of the same name.

Hopkins hopes Wicked Laughs can become an annual offering in Sarnia.

“There’s tonnes of awesome comedy shows that happen in Toronto, but there’s no reason we can’t do one,” said Hopkins. “The real goal is to see what it can become.”

IF YOU GO:

WHAT: The Wicked Laughs Comedy Festival

WHEN: Oct. 25 & 26

WHERE: Sarnia Library Theatre, 124 Christina St. S.

TICKETS: $15 for all Oct. 25 shows, and $20 for all Oct. 26 shows. Tickets available at Sarnia Downtown Market, Your Local Girl Gang, and online at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/the-wicked-laughs-comedy-festival-tickets-71508199951