Stand-up comedy enthusiasts in Cochrane are in for a treat this October with the return of the Cochrane Comedy Festival. The week-long festival is bringing top-notch comedy right to your doorstep.
The festival runs from October 2nd to 5th and offers a unique opportunity to experience stand-up comedy firsthand. It has a variety of events planned.
Jake Hirsch, the festival organizer, is no stranger to the Cochrane comedy scene. He brought a similar event to the town a few years ago and felt the time was right for a comeback.
“Over the years, as the town has grown, you just see this hunger for live events, for things to do in town that are at a reasonable price,” Hirsch told the Cochrane Eagle.
The idea gained traction thanks to Hirsch’s local friend, who was enthusiastic about returning the festival.
Another key player in this year’s lineup is Ryan Belleville, a well-known comedian who you might know from the comedy-drama television series Workin’ Moms.
In the show, Belleville’s character, Lionel, even relocates from Toronto to Cochrane—although the transition isn’t entirely smooth for his family.
“So we thought, you know, what better person as a headliner to have than Ryan and poke some fun at the storyline because I think some people got a little upset about Cochrane kind of being this…redneckish kind of town. But during that show, Lionel was actually very complimentary of Cochrane,” said Hirsch.
According to Hirsch, there’s something for everybody at the Cochrane Comedy Festival.
“We’ve got a really great East Coast kitchen (party), which we’re super excited about. Lisa Baker is one of the best headliners in the country…” he explained.
An East Coast kitchen party brings the East Coast to you. Calgary’s upcoming East Coast kitchen party should give you a pretty good idea of what to expect in Cochrane in October.
Calgary’s party will feature live music, a seafood station with oysters, crab legs, and mussels, a poutine station, a donair station, and Moon Mist ice cream to finish the night off.
Moon Mist ice cream is available in three flavours: banana, grape, and blue raspberry. Nova Scotian Bruce Hart allegedly created this sweet combination.
Whether or not Hart created Moon Mist ice cream, there is no denying that people in the Maritimes love it. And now Cochranites can try out this mythical ice cream themselves.
A Knee-Slapper Of A Lineup
The lineup for the Cochrane Comedy Festival also includes an international flair with a show titled “Not from Around Here,” featuring British comedians.
From the Opening Gala on October 2 to the Closing Gala on October 5, the festival will host over 20 comedians across five different venues.
In addition to the East Coast Kitchen Party on October 3, festival highlights include the Opening Night Gala at Ducks on the Roof, hosted by Donovan Deschner.
This event will feature performances by Cory Mack and Charles Haycock and will be headlined by Pete Zedlacher.
Zedlacher, originally from Wawa, Ontario, now lives in Calgary and has become one of Canada’s premier comedians.
With over 20 years in the comedy scene, Zedlacher draws heavily from his Canadian working-class roots.
His training at the prestigious American Musical and Dramatic Academy in New York has helped him infuse his stand-up with a theatrical element.
A seasoned performer, Zedlacher has won a Canadian Comedy Award, received four Canadian Comedy Award nominations, and earned two Gemini nominations.
He also clinched the title of Sirius XM’s Top Comic in an international comedy competition.
Zedlacher is a regular at major comedy festivals, including Just for Laughs in Montreal, where he has shared the stage with famous actors and comedians like Jason Alexander, Whoopi Goldberg, Sir Patrick Stewart, and the legendary Muppets.
He’s also a familiar voice on CBC Radio’s The Debaters, with over 20 debates under his belt.
The Cochrane Comedy Festival tickets are priced at $25, with an early bird discount of $20 available until August 21. Now that is a steal of a deal!
We could all use a good laugh, now more than ever. Laughter might not keep the doctor away, but it’s one of the best medicines for improving your mental health.
Whether you’re a long-time comedy fan or just looking for a night of laughs, the Cochrane Comedy Festival promises something for everyone.
