Preliminary rounds of the first City of Laughs Comedy Festival: 18 to 24 of Atlantic Canada’s funniest stand-up, sketch and improv acts compete across three downtown Dartmouth venues, and the audience votes on who advances. The top six go through to the Festival Finale with host Mary Walsh at the Sanctuary Arts Centre on Sunday, Sep 27, playing for the first-ever Mary Walsh Comedy Award and a sponsored spot at the Edinburgh Fringe in August 2027. Venues this night (start times vary by room — check the ticket page):
St. James Hall, 18 Portland St (alcohol-free shows) — tickets Staggers Pub & Grub, Portland St — tickets The Beaver’s Den, Portland St — tickets
A Gold Pass ($39.95) covers all three competition nights and includes a vote for the finalists; the Platinum Pass ($99) adds the John Wing show, the Finale and the VIP after-party. All tickets and passes.