LaughFest Adds To Holland Schedule With Free Shows, Events

Gilda’s LaughFest, the nation’s only community-wide festival of laughter, is expanding its schedule in Holland with more free shows and events going to the Lakeshore, including the Kids Joke Time.

Get your kids primed with their best jokes, because the fabled Kids Joke Time is adding a Holland venue, as are several other LaughFest features, as the event expands its line up in the Lakeshore city this year.

“It has been fun to bring a bit of LaughFest to the lakeshore.  We’ve had an overall good turnout for the events hosted in Holland over the last five years,” said Wendy Wigger, president of Gilda’s Club Grand Rapids and LaughFest. “We’re happy to continue this tradition offering a variety of free shows and events once again.”Community shows and events taking place in Holland include:

• The Amateur Stand-Up Showcase, Holland Civic Theatre on Fri., March 11 at 7:30 p.m.
• The Pro Stand-Up Showcase, Holland Civic Theatre on Fri., March 11 at 9:30 p.m.
• As part of the festival’s LaughteRx series, Dr. Jayson Dibble will present “Laughter and Humor: Why Bother?,” on Wed., March 16 at 7 p.m. at Hope College. The presentation will not only answer the question, but provide more insight about the health and social benefits of laughter.
• The Common reACTORS, a theatre company comprised of “older active adults” interested in theatre arts, will perform various scripts, skits and stories on Thurs., March 17 at 7 p.m. at Evergreen Commons.
• Certified Laughter Yoga Leader, Henry “Hank” Lapka will teach his unique laughter yoga class on Sat., March 19 at 10 a.m. at the Holland Civic Theatre.
• Kids Joke Time with special guest Mr. Picklehead who will perform silly and delightful Dilly Songs, will take place on Sat., March 19 at 11 a.m. at the Herrick District Library. Kids are invited to take the stage and tell their funniest joke.
• Led by members of AIGA West Michigan, teens are invited to participate in the Teen Zine Workshop, which is designed to share the history, process and purpose behind Zines. Teens will learn about the basics behind Zine publishing, ranging from assembly and defining content to honing drawing techniques and printing options; this will be held on Sat., March 19 at 1 p.m. at the Herrick District Library. Space is limited. Register online at laughfestgr.org.