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Lucille Ball Comedy Festival Rescheduled

The Lucille Ball Comedy Festival has been rescheduled for the second year in a row because of the COVID-19 pandemic. The National Comedy Center will be hosting weekly themes during the summer that will culminate each week with a free outdoor movie at Comedy Center Park. P-J photo by Dennis Phillips

For the second year in a row, the Lucille Ball Comedy Festival has been rescheduled because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The festival has been rescheduled to Aug. 3-7, 2022, because of the concerns for indoor, large-group events and the existing restrictions related to these types of events.

Comedian Jeff Foxworthy’s shows have been rescheduled for Friday, Aug. 5, 2022, and the Legends of SNL: David Spade, Kevin Nealon and Rob Schneider performance has been rescheduled for Saturday, Aug. 6, 2022. All other events have also been rescheduled for the corresponding day and time in 2022. A schedule of events is available at ComedyCenter.org/Festival.

“While we are heading in the right direction on the COVID front, the festival takes months of lead time to present,” said Journey Gunderson, National Comedy Center executive director. “The reality is that with thousands of ticket buyers coming from nearly all 50 U.S. states and having to make travel plans, and with dozens of artists, agencies and venues involved, we had to make the call now on rescheduling the shows, given existing guidelines for indoor performance venues that seat 50 to 2,500 people.”

Current Lucille Ball Comedy Festival ticket holders will have their tickets transferred automatically to the same shows and events for the 2022 festival, unless they choose a different option.

Festival ticket holders will have several options to consider:

¯ Donate the value of their tickets to the nonprofit National Comedy Center as a tax-deductible contribution.

¯ Exchange the value of their tickets for a National Comedy Center gift card to be used for admission, membership, future event tickets or merchandise.

¯ Receive a full refund for their ticket purchase by selecting this option by July 15.

Festival ticket holders can now select their preferred option via the Comedy Center’s ticketing form at ComedyCenter.org/TicketForm.

Those wishing to purchase new tickets for 2022 festival events, including Jeff Foxworthy and Legends of SNL, without holding existing tickets for 2021, can do so by visiting ComedyCenter.org/Festival beginning Tuesday, June 1, at noon.

“We are grateful for the patience, understanding and continued support of our festival attendees, sponsors, volunteers and staff, and look forward to finally bringing our 30th Lucille Ball Comedy Festival to venues throughout Jamestown in August 2022.”

Despite the comedy festival being rescheduled, the National Comedy Center is planning to host “Summer Fun Weeks” to celebrate some of the most-loved comedy genres and talent starting June 20. Each week we’ll honor a special type of comedy within the National Comedy Center — featuring fun activities for all ages, special video programming and outdoor events that will culminate with a free outdoor comedy movie at Comedy Center Park.

¯ Buddy Comedy June 20 – June 26: From Laurel & Hardy to Cheech & Chong to Wayne’s World, the buddy comedy is one of our most enduring and beloved comedic formulas.

¯ Comedy in the Workplace June 27 – July 3: From The Office and 30 Rock, to Cheers and M*A*S*H, workplace humor has been at the center of some of the most revered films and television shows of all time. Play hooky this week and spend time with your favorite comedy coworkers.

¯ The Healing Power of Comedy July 4 – July 10: It’s intuitive, laughter makes us feel better. Now more than ever, let’s tap into comedy’s incredible power to uplift us, foster empathy and boost our emotional health.

¯ Animation & Cartooning July 11 – July 17: Cartoons make us laugh, feel, think and come together, carrying an appeal that spans generations. Join us in celebrating the animated films, comic strips and cartoons that have been a mainstay of our comedy heritage for over a century.

¯ Slapstick Comedy July 18 – July 24: What is it about falling down, getting bonked or taking a pie in the face that is so reliably funny? Visit the National Comedy Center to explore the art of slapstick comedy — from the silent film era to today’s most beloved blockbusters.

¯ Legends of Comedy July 25 – July 31: Comedy is a vital art form that shapes the world we live in. This week, the National Comedy Center celebrates legendary comedic voices from Richard Pryor to Joan Rivers that have opened our minds, spoken truth to power and changed the course of history.

¯ We Love Lucy & Desi Aug. 1 – Aug. 7: Since its debut in 1951, I Love Lucy has bought joy and inspiration to millions. Join the National Comedy Center as it celebrates the 70th anniversary of “I Love Lucy” and the 25th anniversary of the Lucy Desi Museum and honors the legacies of two pioneering American innovators.

RIVERSIDE SATURDAYS

Music, an outdoor patio cafe/bar and fun activities for the entire family on Saturday evenings will culminating with a free outdoor movie comedy from June 26 through Aug. 7 at the National Comedy Center’s riverside Comedy Center Park. Enjoy comedy in the museum all day and then outdoor activities and beverages beginning at 7 p.m. with the movie starting at 8:45 p.m. All events will be safe, socially-distant and worry-free in accordance with the National Comedy Center’s award-winning LaughSafe health and safety protocols. Learn more and reserve your spot at ComedyCenter.org/SummerFun.

¯ June 26 — Wayne’s World

¯ July 3 — Groundhog Day

¯ July 10 –Sister Act

¯ July 17 – Monster’s Inc.

¯ July 24 – Airplane

¯ July 31 – Blues Brothers

¯ Aug. 7 – Classic Lucy and Desi on the Big Screen

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