About

The Portland Maine Comedy Festival is not only the largest annual comedy event in New England, but one of the premiere comedy festivals in the entire country.

This year, we are featuring 100 of the best up-and-coming standup comics, sketch comedy teams, and improv groups from all across the country alongside regional, touring, and nationally recognized headliners for one incredible weekend of comedy.

This year’s festival features 24 standup showcases, 7 sketch and improv comedy shows, 4 Feature standup shows with regional and touring Headliners, 9 open-mic-style shows, and 1 Festival Headlining Show. Shows are held at various bars, breweries and theaters across Portland at various price points. For specific info, check out our shows page.

This year, we are also recognizing comics from historically underrepresented backgrounds by holding a Specialty Showcase each day of the festival - this includes showcases for BIPOC, Female, Queer, and Over 50 Year-old comics.

The Festival runs cocorrent with the New England’s Funniest Comedian competition, taking place at our Headling Venue, Aura, on Thursdays in August through September.

Submissions for this year’s Festival are CLOSED.

Our Hub

We are extremely lucky to have Free Street Restaurant (77 Free Street) serving as our Festival Hub this year. In addition to hosting thirteen (!!) showcases there throughout the weekend, they will also be the center for Festival information and operations.

Comics will be able to have a “home base” to go to between and after shows, and audience members will be able to purchase single tickets for all shows, passes and merch at our table in their front lobby throughout the weekend. All festival passes and pre-ordered merch will be available for pickup there as well. PMCF volunteers will be stationed there:

Thursday, 9/5: 5:00pm-10:00pm

Friday, 9/6: 3:00pm-11:00pm

Saturday 9/7: noon-10:00pm

Sunday 9/8: 1:00pm-5:00pm

FAQ

  • The 2024 Portland Maine Comedy Festival takes place September 5th thru 8th, the weekend after Labor Day. Shows are going on Thursday evening, Friday evening and night, Saturday all day and into the night, and Sunday during the afternoon/early evening.

  • All over Portland, all weekend long! Our shows all happen at your favorite local bars, breweries, and theaters. This year, we are partnering with seven venues all across the city.

    Free Street Restaraunt
    Rising Tide Brewing
    Definitive Brewing
    The Hill Arts
    Three of Strong
    Apres
    Hi Fidelity Brewing
    Coals Bayside
    Aura

  • Each show is different! Shows range from free to $20. Average shows are $15.

    We wanted to make sure there was at least one free show each day so that if you can't pay for a show you can still come to the fest, and priced some shows a little higher to reflect anticipated interest.

  • You can view the FULL 2024 lineup of comics on the "comics" page of the website.

  • You can view each individual lineup on each show's landing page! Keep in mind lineups are subject to change.

    If you're looking to see a specific comic, it's best to reach out to them directly or the festival.

  • It can be overwhelming to see all of the showcases on the fest! We're here to help.

    Basically, there's two types of shows - Feature Shows and Showcases. Feature shows are gonna have a few festival comics alongside a more established comic who you might have heard of. Showcases will feature all comics who applied to and were accepted to the festival.

    Beyond that, the Showcases are largely similar. Go with your heart! Each showcase has a similar array of comics, and they're all funny. Pick a venue you like and make sure there's another show close by afterwards!

  • We are more than happy to process exchanges, but not as happy to process refunds.

    If you need to, you can email PMCFconcierge@gmail.com

  • We wouldn't recommend it! Most of our shows are at bars and breweries which are not great places for kids, and many don't admit individuals under 21.

    We don't censor our comics' materials, so some of it might not be appropriate for the whole family. We generally make the recommendation of ages 18+, but if the venue will admit them we aren't turning them away.

    Basically, it depends if you're willing to let your kid hear dick jokes or crass stories about sex.

  • Yes.