Thursday kicks off the Lucille Ball Comedy Festival, four days of comedy and celebration of Lucille Ball.

This year’s festival couldn’t come at a better time.

Our national politics are depressing, particularly with the violence of an attempted assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump and the ensuing announcement that President Joe Biden won’t run for re-election. Locally it has been a rough couple of months, particularly with the recent state of emergency declared over Jamestown’s burgeoning homeless population The national economy is making things hard for many of us these days.

Collectively, we need a laugh.

And even with the late cancellation of a performance by Jeff Ross, one of the festival’s headliners, there will be plenty to laugh at in downtown Jamestown starting on Thursday. There are dozens of comedians coming to Jamestown, some well known like Nate Bargatze and others looking to make their name, as Bargatze was doing when he appeared as one of the late night comedy performers during the 2011 Lucille Ball Comedy Festival. There will be Lucy-themed events sure to make you laugh, themed events at the National Comedy Center and plenty of free events downtown that feature live, local music. Visit the National Comedy Center’s website for the full schedule of events – we’re pretty sure you’ll find something to bring a smile to your face.

Lucille Ball made it clear in the years before her passing that she wanted her legacy to be an active one. Rather than a statue or a museum, she wanted people to think of the ways laughter can be cathartic during difficult times when they think of Lucille Ball. Jamestown’s most famous former resident wanted Jamestown to be a place that helped new comedians flourish while shining a light on the benefits the comedic arts bring to the world.

Even if you can’t make it to any of the festival’s events, take a minute and find something funny. Consider it a way to say happy birthday to Lucille Ball while giving the mind a break from the drumbeat of depressing news that surrounds us.