The weekend of comedy attracted more than 2,500 attendees, sold out nearly every show and energized downtown; expect more sarcasm next December
Ashland.news staff
The inaugural Ashland Sarcasm Festival, organized by Storytown Ashland in partnership with Epic Ashland, was a big success, organizers said. The three-day comedy weekend, Dec. 5-7, drew more than 2,500 attendees, filling 12 downtown venues for more than 20 comedy shows, with 17 events selling out completely, Storytown said.
The two Saturday “Epic Nights of Comedy” shows at OSF’s Angus Bowmer Theatre — featuring headliner Ron Funches — filled all 1,200 seats. Smaller venues across downtown hit capacity throughout the weekend. Friday’s late-night circuit saw sellouts at White Rabbit, Local 31 Pub, Liquid Lounge and the Columbia Hotel. Saturday’s Sarcasm Hub at White Rabbit delivered four consecutive sold-out shows.
ASF! by the numbers
2,500-plus attendees over three days.
17 of 20-plus shows sold out.
12 downtown venues.
National and regional talent across stand-up, improv, drag and musical comedy.
Smaller venues filled
An improv workshop at Zi Spice Café sold out, and the Columbia Hotel reported a full house for the night’s official after party with Free Creatures and Ian George.
Sunday closed strong with packed houses for Drag Brunch at Bar Juillet and the “Historical Roast of William Shakespeare” at Brickroom.
The festival was an off-season boon for downtown Ashland.
“Friday night and all day Saturday felt like during peak of summer, but in December,” said Matt Hoffman, creative director of Storytown Ashland. “Restaurants were full, downtown retailers saw an increased foot traffic, and locals were out celebrating alongside visitors. This is exactly the kind of year-round cultural vitality Ashland deserves.”
The festival brought in national talent, including Moshe Kasher, Funches, former SNL cast member Luke Null and Amy Miller. They performed alongside regional comedians across diverse venues — from the 600-seat Angus Bowmer Theatre to intimate spaces seating 30 to 70 guests.
Storytown Ashland said downtown business owners reported strong sales throughout the weekend, with the festival driving significant economic activity during what’s traditionally a quieter season.
Improv workshop, drag show
Visiting comics became fixtures around town, bonding on and off stage while laughter literally flowed through the streets. Null led a sold-out improv workshop Saturday afternoon. Interactive experiences like “Dungeons & Drag Queens” and “WRONG! A F*cked Up Game Show” drew enthusiastic crowds to unexpected comedy formats.
The Ashland Sarcasm Festival will return in 2026, Hoffman said.
“We set out to create something uniquely Ashland — smart, irreverent, community-driven,” he said. “Seventeen sold-out shows in our first year tells us we’re onto something special. See you next December.”
For more information, go to SarcasmFest.com or @AshlandSarcasmFest.
Source: Ashland Sarcasm Festival news release. Email Ashland.news at [email protected].
