Laughfest Will Be Back! March 8-18 2012!

Gilda’s LaughFest will return for a second year in Grand Rapids. This morning, Gilda’s Club of Grand Rapids’ officials announced the 2012 event will start March 8 and run through March 18. Gilda’s LaughFest organizers and community leaders discussed the successes of this year’s event when announcing to continue with it next year.

LaughFest officials estimate that the 10-day festival, including the 10th anniversary celebration that featured Betty White, raised about $330,000 for Gilda’s Club. Attendance for the inaugural year was an amazing 55,376. There were 228 events held at a total of 49 locations in and around the Grand Rapids area. Ticket sales came from 25 states and Canada.

LaughFest included The Bob and Tom Comedy All Star Showcases, including Pat Dixon, Augie Smith, Greg Warren and Tammy Pescatelli, along with Bill Cosby, Betty White, Mike Birbiglia, Kathleen Madigan, Margaret Cho and other seriously funny performers.

WFGR was part of the opening ceremonies where the Guinness World Record for the number of people tossing rubber chickens at once was broken! Festival goers threw 925 chickens onto Rosa Parks Circle in downtown Grand Rapids, breaking the previous record of 265 set in April 2010 near Boston, Mass

Remember the WFGR chicken and Peter Griffin from Family Guy?