The Maumee, Mary, & Joseph Comedy Festival is returning to downtown Fort Wayne.

We have not seen the festival that brings comedians from across North America since it was called off two weeks prior to showtime in 2020. 

Following a few years to clear fears of COVID-19, founder Anthony Racic feels it’s time to laugh again.

“It was August or September when I was having conversations with former committee members, sponsors, and friends that were like, ‘Come on, I think everyone is ready,’ ” he said. “They were just telling me how much they missed it and wanted to see it come back. I decided, ‘Well, I guess we’re ready.’ ”

They really are ready. Things kick off Thursday, April 18, with activities taking place through Saturday, April 20, at Promenade Park, Cinema Center, Artlink, and 816 Pint & Slice.

Helping hand

The cleverly named festival is the brainchild of Racic, but it was a city initiative that really got the show on the road.

“We started back in 2017 with a grant from the Downtown Improvement District,” Racic said of the festival. “They were having what they called the offseason events contest to encourage people to start events downtown in late winter and early spring when not much was going on.”

The festival was awarded the grant in January 2017, and four months later, the likes of Jacqueline Novak, Ms. Pat, Jeremiah Watkins, Marina Franklin, and Olivia Grace were in town to perform.

Things were good for a couple of years, but just as they were getting set for the 2020 event, the world went into lockdown.

“Everything shut down two weeks before showtime,” Racic said. “It was a huge blow to the morale and everything.”

Now, with people more comfortable being in close proximity, which is where Racic said comedy is best served, the festival is back.

Benefit to comedians

Along with the help of a committee, the festival has some sponsors, but is “mostly just out of pocket for me,” Racic said.

While he puts his own money into it, Racic says this is not about making money. It’s about getting comedy to the masses and helping comedians in the process.

“I like to think of ourselves as a summer camp festival,” he said. “There are bigger comedy festivals around the country and the world that you can go to and be seen by people in show business. We’re not that place. We are a festival for comedians to come to work on their craft and network with other comedians and just have fun.”

Bringing in 30-40 comedians from across North America, the festival will also allow local acts like Julie Heckman, Marissa Lamb, Stacey Stark, Jamarcus Turner, Steve Simpkins, and Drew Zimmerman to showcase their abilities.

“Outside of Summit City (Comedy Club), there’s an open mic at Old Crown on the second and fourth Tuesday of the month,” Racic said about limited events for comedians in the area. “There’s also not a lot of opportunities to meet comics from outside the state, unless you’re traveling. It’s just a great way to bring in comedians to network with other comedians from all across North America.”

Comedy for all

While the comedians are able to use the festival for networking, you’re going to be treated to all the comedy you can handle — in a variety of forms.

“It’s not just stand-up showcases,” Racic said. “We have game shows, a roast battle, podcasts, and there’s all kinds different fun stuff. We have our Not So Silent Movie on Thursday, which is everyone coming to watch a terrible movie while comedians make fun of it while we watch it.”

Ahead of the Not So Silent Movie at Cinema Center, the festival kicks off with the Totally Delta9 Showcase at Promenade on Thursday. That show will be for those 18 and older, but there are opportunities for younger ages to enjoy the festival, such as the free Family Improv Workshop at 2 p.m. on Saturday at Promenade Park, followed by the 3 p.m. Kids Comedy Contest at Promenade, and 6 p.m. Comedy Bingo at Artlink.

All ages are also welcome to the .5K Silly Walk at noon on Saturday at Promenade Park, although this all-ages event will include a $20 fee which goes toward a good cause.

“There is a charge for the Silly Walk because that benefits the Harry Baals Memorial Grant for the Comedic Arts,” Racic said. “That’s a grant we started this year just to help young and up-and-coming comics advance their careers.”

Outside of the family-friendly events, daily ticket prices are $18 on Thursday, $20 on Friday, and $30 for Saturday. There is also a $50 three-day pass and $80 VIP pass available at mmjcomedyfestival.com.

“Our main thing is comedy is for everybody,” Racic said. “Everyone deserves to laugh. Everyone wants to have a good time. So, we don’t want to pigeonhole ourselves into being one kind of festival with one kind of comedian. We try to have a good mix of shows.”

Comedy may be for everyone, but there are age ranges for some of the shows, be it 13 and over, 16 and over, 18 and over, or 21 and over, such is the case for the finale on Saturday, April 20, The Roast of Mary Jane.

“That is definitely not kid-friendly, and you should never bring your child to it,” Racic said of the show at Cinema Center pays homage to “a lady who’s gaining popularity all over the country.”

Whatever your taste in comedy is, the Maumee, Mary, & Joseph Comedy Festival is sure to have something that tickles your funny bone.

“Our whole purpose is to foster the growth of the comedic arts in downtown Fort Wayne and northeast Indiana as a whole,” Racic said. 

“We have had a few years off and people are itching for it to come back. We’re excited to bring something back to the city that you’re not going to find every day.”