“I’m calling it Coachella Comedy Vibes,” says Trixstar President Mike Anderson.
Looking around the Edmonton Exhibition Lands Racetrack Infield where the Great Outdoors Comedy Festival is taking place this weekend, it’s easy to understand why. The field is filled with tables (without chairs, though, as the festival is inviting patrons to bring their own comfy lawn chairs from home) all spread-out in front of a large stage flanked by two jumbo screens. Imagining the venue filled with comedy fanatics and food trucks, Coachella really is the perfect comparison. For Anderson, this festival filled a crucial gap in the market: “There was nothing to make comedians feel like rockstars.”
“It’s less intimate than a comedy club, but much better than an arena,” Anderson comments when speaking about the outdoor venue. When this festival first started, they wanted to find the biggest venue possible to comply with social distancing guidelines. In the future, the festival will be making an exciting move to Kinsmen Park which, Anderson notes, was inspired by the festival’s search for the most unique and beautiful venues, no matter the city. “As the second biggest comedy festival in Canada, we want to show the best that our cities have to offer.”
Fans of last year’s festival will be pleased that not much has changed—same laughs, same set-up. They’ve also maintained their popular ordering system which allows drinks to be delivered directly to your table. No more 30–60-minute beer line ups, simply scan the QR code and have a refreshing beverage in your hands within minutes!
The line-up for this weekend is filled with comedy icons with sets from Amy Schumer, Nick Swardson, and Tom Segura. Sound like a dream? Luckily for you, there are still tickets available! Grab your lawn chair, buy some tickets, and head down to the Edmonton EXPO Centre grounds this weekend. You won’t want to miss this one-of-a-kind comedy experience.
