Graphic : Onion Graphics

Big news, comedy fans: Our comedy festival returns May 30-June 3 at various venues in Chicago under a new name, The Onion Comedy & Arts Festival. Why change the name from the amusing-but-difficult-to-remember-and-Google 26th Annual Comedy Festival? Well one, see above. And two, it’s The Onion’s 30th anniversary in 2018, and we need to celebrate our officemates’ important milestone. (Meanwhile, The A.V. Club’s Festival Of Commenter Nerdsplaining has failed to get off the ground.)




It’s a big lineup—with more to come—so let’s just put it all out there:

David Cross at Chicago Theater, 6/1



at Chicago Theater, 6/1 Bob Odenkirk & Friends, a benefit for the Comedy Resistance, at Up Comedy Club, 6/2

a benefit for the Comedy Resistance, at Up Comedy Club, 6/2 The Chicago debut of How Did This Get Made? , two shows at Athenaeum Theatre, 6/2

, two shows at Athenaeum Theatre, 6/2 The return of Casey Wilson and Danielle Schneider’s Bitch Sesh at the Athenaeum, 6/1

at the Athenaeum, 6/1 Judge John Hodgman at Thalia Hall, 6/2

at Thalia Hall, 6/2 The return of Chris Gethard at Up Comedy Club for two shows on 6/3

at Up Comedy Club for two shows on 6/3 Tom Scharpling talks to staff and alumni of The Onion for its 30th anniversary at Lincoln Hall, 5/30

talks to for its 30th anniversary at Lincoln Hall, 5/30 The inaugural live I Only Listen To The Mountain Goats , Joseph Fink’s podcast inspired and co-hosted by John Darnielle, at Thalia Hall, 5/30

, Joseph Fink’s podcast inspired and co-hosted by John Darnielle, at Thalia Hall, 5/30 The Chicago debut of Hollywood Handbook at Up Comedy Club, 5/31

at Up Comedy Club, 5/31 A five-night run of Scott Thompson’s Après Le Déluge: The Buddy Cole Monologues at the Annoyance Theatre, 5/30-6/3

at the Annoyance Theatre, 5/30-6/3 Comedian Jo Firestone at the Hideout 6/2

at the Hideout 6/2 The staff of ClickHole live at Lincoln Hall, 5/31



at Lincoln Hall, 5/31 And more to come

Tickets go on sale Friday, March 2, at 10am central via onioncomedyfest.com, where you can find all of this information and more. We hope to see you there.