By Darlene Brace
When it’s almost the beginning of August, excitement will begin to brew. Jamestown area residents and Lucy fans alike know that it’s almost time for the Lucille Ball Comedy Festival, affectionately known as Lucy Fest! This will be the 35th annual Lucy Fest which will take place on August 7th-10th. It will offer a fantastic lineup of comedy and laughter, all in honor of Lucy and her incredible vision of making Jamestown a vibrant destination for comedy lovers. Get ready to enjoy this amazing festival and all it has to offer.
Most people know that Lucy grew up in the Jamestown area of Celoron. Her early aspirations of becoming an actress were nurtured in local theater groups. She starred in movies, television, and radio programming. “I Love Lucy,” which aired from 1951 to 1957, quickly became a sensation and remained a beloved show for decades. It established her as one of the leading female comedians of all time.
In 1989, the idea for The Lucille Ball Comedy Festival was proposed to honor her legacy as a pioneer for women in comedy. Lucy expressed a preference for this over a statue or memorial. Jamestown held its first Lucy Fest in 1991. Thousands of fans attended Lucy Fest from across the state and the nation, to take part in this one-of-a-kind event. It has been an annual event that has grown each year. The National Comedy Center in Jamestown opened in 2018 and took over coordinating this festival and has ever since then.
This year’s festival will feature headliners and well-known touring stand-up comedians, along with free block parties with live music. There will be dozens of other events over the four-day festival that will be held at multiple venues throughout downtown Jamestown.
One of the headliners of the festival is an Evening with Jon Stewart on August 9th at 7pm at the Northwest Arena. Stewart was the longtime host of The Daily Show on Comedy Central from 1999 to 2015, and he returned part-time to the program in 2024. He features political satire and has recently returned to the stand-up comedy stage. Unfortunately, this show is already sold out, but you can enjoy a block party outside the arena featuring Jim Donovan and the Sun Kings, along with beer, wine, and food trucks.
Bill Murray is coming to Jamestown for a special event! Known for his performances on Saturday Night Live as well as movies such as Groundhog Day, Ghostbusters, and Caddyshack, he will perform in a comedic live music concert with the Blood Brothers band, and they are all currently touring the country together. The show will be on Sunday, August 10th at 5pm and will combine humor, rock ‘n’ roll, and blues music. Bill will sing alongside Albert Castiglia, Mike Zito, and Jimmy Vovino. There will be a block party similar to Saturday night’s party, featuring local talent Charity Nuse and friends before and after the concert.
The National Comedy Center will feature special exhibits and presentations focused on influential comedy figures. Highlights include tributes to Pat Paulsen, Dick Van Dyke, and Lenny Bruce’s 100 years, as well as showcases for I Love Lucy writers Madelyn Pugh and Bob Carroll Jr. and the 75th anniversary of Desilu Productions. Mikey Day and Streeter Seidel will discuss memorable moments from Saturday Night Live and part of celebrating its 50th anniversary. These exhibits are part of the comedy center’s attractions when you pay admission to the center as they celebrate the rich history of improvisational comedy through detailed information and memorabilia.
Another feature of the Lucy Fest is the late-night comedy shows. These shows will take place on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday nights, at the Tropicana Club in the Lucy Desi Museum Complex. The late-night performances will be at 8pm and again at 10pm. They will showcase comedians from across the nation, many of whom have appeared on popular programs like The Tonight Show, The Late Show, and Last Comic Standing, among others. *Please note that these shows contain adult content.
These are just some highlights of Lucy Fest 2025, but there are many more events to enjoy. You will be able to participate in Lucy and Desi trivia, take hometown tours, and enjoy specialty lunches and dinners. The festivities will also include a 75th Desilu Anniversary Ball and much more. For a complete lineup of events, visit comedycenter.org. Additionally, you can look forward to more details about Lucy Fest 2025 in a follow-up article in The Villager in weeks to come.