New York Comedy Festival Will Return After COVID Hiatus

NEW YORK CITY — Laughter is coming back to New York City as the coronavirus gets booed off the stage.

The New York Comedy Festival will return Nov. 8 to 14 after a pandemic hiatus, Mayor Bill de Blasio said.

Hizzoner announced the festival's return with a special backdrop from Carolines on Broadway — and alongside the famous club's namesake, Caroline Hirsch.

"We are proud that the New York Comedy Festival will carry on against this year, our 17th year, after being shuttered due to COVID in 2020," Hirsch said Tuesday.

The festival will unfold across all five boroughs with more than 100 shows featuring 200 comedians, Hirsch said.

In addition to comedians, there will be podcast stars and late night hosts, she said.

The Apollo Theater, Beacon Theatre, Carnegie Hall and Carolines will all host shows, she said.

De Blasio leaned into his own recent explorations of cringe comedy and pitched Hirsch on a show of his own.

"I have an incredible new act where I just eat food live,” he said. “You know, Shake Shack, pizza.”

Tickets and more information can be found at nycomedyfestival.com.