Everything You Need to Know About the Traverse City Winter Comedy Arts Festival

Feb. 8, 2015

THE MISSION

The world’s only festival with six words in its name is already celebrating its fifth anniversary, proving that Traverse City folk really like the funny stuff – or that they’re just looking for some place warm, considering this event always takes place in middle of February. This partnership between the Traverse City Film Festival and the National Cherry Festival imports some fantastically big names from the world of comedy to bring a little levity to the slow season Up North, with some free family fun thrown in for good measure.

THE COMEDIANS

Headlining this year’s fest is the eclectic triple threat of Bill Maher, Judd Apatow and Sinbad. Maher’s show–pairing the 20- year TV veteran with special guest Michael Moore – is already sold out (although you can catch Moore’s solo show on Friday), but Apatow’s brand of misfit humor and Michigan native Sinbad’s classic standup are both still up for grabs. As if those weren’t enough, you can also check out confessional laughs from Nikki Glaser, Todd Barry from the FX series Louie, Cash Cab’s wry host Ben Bailey and the comedic social commentary of Ted Alexandro.

THE MOVIES

"Let it go, let it gooooo"¦" If you have a kid, have ever talked to a kid or just like animated films, chances are you know exactly what this refers to: Frozen. The sing-along version is heading to the State Theater during comedy fest, but Frozen’s Elsa and Anna won’t be the only ones hitting the big screen. You’ll also get to a chance to see Wesley and Prince Humperdinck battle it out in the classic fairy tale comedy The

Princess Bride. And, in case you didn’t get your tix quickly enough, the State will air a simulcast of Bill Maher’s performance. Also returning to Comedy Fest are Doug Benson and his roster of guest comedians in the must-see "Doug Loves Movies," a hilarious podcast all about movies that’ll be recorded live at the Old Town Playhouse.

THE FREE STUFF

We know you’ve been waiting to read about the free stuff. Well, Comedy Fest has it in spades with Free on Front, which transforms Front Street between Park and Cass into a winter fun destination, the perfect break from all the comedy madness. Free on Front includes an ice skating rink in the middle of the street, a sledding hill, a PGA-approved 18-hole ice mini-golf course and the return of the now-traditional Comedy Fest Ferris Wheel (wear a scarf, it’s cold up there). The Ice-Stravaganza art gallery on Front Street will fete those Frozen gals yet again with ice artists sculpting their likenesses –and many others – in the Chase Bank walkway.

THE FACTS

Mark your calendar for Feb. 13-15 and get your tix at wintercomedy.org. The venues for the fest are the State Theater, the Old Town Playhouse, the City Opera House and Front Street. Parking, lodging and dining information can be found on the fest’s website. In addition to the festival performances, the InsideOut Gallery will present two comedy open mics, as well as a show by Traverse City’s only professional comedy improv company, Good on Paper. Horizon Books’ basement is sure to be the buzz of TC on Saturday at 11:30pm when they bring in one of this year’s comics to host surprise guests at a free talk show called the Late Night Combo Platter. This one’s only for the first 100 people to line up, though, so grab a hot coffee and get there early.