The Sherp picks the best of humor celebrations that take place across the globe.

Humor can be far more infectious than a cough or a sneeze. Besides strengthening your immune system, laughter gives you an energy boost and increases happiness and intimacy. This powerful antidote is not only free but also fun and easy to use! However, if you’re one of those slightly disoriented people who randomly burst into fits of laughter for no apparent reason, it’s time you look up β€˜pathological laughter’ on Google as you may have an underlying disease or a serious medical condition.

Nothing can lighten your mood up like heading to a comedy festival! The Sherp explores the world’s various ways of spreading cheer through comedy festivals:

 

1. Just For Laughs

Where: Montreal, Canada

When: July

This comedy festival (also known asΒ Montreal Comedy Festival) founded in 1983 by Gilbert Rozon has become theΒ largest international comedy festivalΒ in the world. Each day there are performances throughout the city from street performers and vocal and visual artists. To support the performers, special programs are offered by the nightclubs and live venue theatres in the evenings. The Comedia comedy film festival component, which gives awards for feature and short films, was started in 1996. To celebrate its 25thΒ edition, Just For Laughs launched a festival in Toronto in 2007 and one in Chicago in 2009.

There is also a TV show called β€˜Just For Laughs’ that features highlights from the festival. It also showcases β€˜canned bits’ consisting of visual gags which catch people off-guard as they go about their daily business. These have been shot around Montreal and some in the United Kingdom.

2. Melbourne International Comedy Festival

Where: Melbourne, Australia

When: April

Inaugurated in 1987, this has become the largest cultural event in Australia. It takes place every year throughout the month of April usually commencing on or aroundΒ April Fool’s Day. It is chiefly a platform for stand-up and cabaret acts, but the festival also includes plays, sketches, improvs, debates, art exhibitions and musical shows. This year’s edition played host to over 480 shows! One of the forerunning events is the televised Gala which exhibits brief performances from many award-winning comics.

3. Cat Laughs Comedy Festival

Where: Kilkenny, Ireland

When: June

Cat Laughs was established in 1994 in response to the sprouting wealth of Irish comic talent with no clear national outlet for expression. Held over the first week of June each year, this is a more easy-going festival as there is no competition among the comedians to win awards or sell tickets to shows. It has developed from a small-scale consisting a handful of performances to an internationally acclaimed festival. Majorly featuring stand-up acts, the festival also includes readings by comedy authors, exhibitions of cartoonists and film screenings.

4. SF Sketchfest

Where: San Francisco

When: January & February

Also known asΒ The San Francisco Comedy Festival, this was founded inΒ 2002. Featuring sketch comedy, improvs, solo performers, podcasts, stand-up comedians, and film and television tributes and reunions, SF Sketchfest takes place in a variety of Bay Area venues. It has featured performers from major television comedy shows like Saturday Night Live, Arrested Development, The Simpsons, The Daily Show and more.

5. Manchester Comedy Festival

Where: Manchester, England

When: October

Comprising over 200 shows in 30 individual venues across Manchester, the annual comedy festival takes place during the last two weeks of October. Every year, an assortment of international acts, UK headliners and local comedians participate to create one of the biggest comedy festivals in the UK. The acts who have performed over the years includeΒ Joan Rivers, Jimmy Carr and Lenny HenryΒ among many more.

 

Here is some wit and humor you can find at these festivals:

Montreal Comedy Festival – Danny Bhoy

 

Melbourne International Comedy Festival 2013 Gala – Cal Wilson