Press Release

10/21/2019

Grand Rapids — Gilda’s LaughFest, the nation’s first ever community-wide festival of laughter, and Outback Presents today announced that Jim Gaffigan will bring his “The Pale Tourist” tour to Van Andel Arena in Grand Rapids. Gaffigan will open the 10th year of Gilda’s LaughFest on Thursday, March 5, 2020 at 8:00 PM.

Tickets go on sale to the general public beginning Friday, October 25 at 10:00 AM. Tickets will be available at the Van Andel Arena and DeVos Place box offices and online at Ticketmaster.com. A purchase limit of eight (8) tickets will apply to every order. See Ticketmaster.com for all current pricing and availability.

Gaffigan is the first headliner to be announced for the 2020 festival. Tickets for “The Pale Tourist” will be included in LaughFest ticket packages, which go on sale after LaughFest releases its full lineup on Tuesday, November 19.

“The Pale Tourist” marks the third appearance for Gaffigan at LaughFest. Both of his previous performances sold out.

One of the nation’s top touring comedians, Gaffigan has proven himself as a major talent beloved to a wide range of audiences while achieving accolades and awards for his stand-up comedy, acting, and writing. He has had an unprecedented number of appearances on late night television and has earned nominations for both a Broadband Emmy and a Webby Award for his writing and voice work on the animated series “Pale Force” for Conan. In recent years, Gaffigan has also become a mainstay on the big screen with roles in “Going the Distance," "Away We Go," and "It's Kind of a Funny Story." He appeared alongside Jennifer Connolly, Ed Harris, Pierce Bronson and Greg Kinnear in "Salvation Boulevard,” which premiered at the Sundance Film Festival in 2011. Further broadening his career, Gaffigan starred in the Broadway production, “That Championship Season.”

In addition to today’s “The Pale Tourist” announcement, LaughFest earlier this year announced that Cristela Alonzo will participate in a special 10th anniversary LaughFest “off-season” performance at 7:00 PM on November 22 at the Wealthy Theatre. Tickets for Alonzo’s performance are available at grcmc.org/event/cristela-alonzo-2019.

More information about Gilda’s LaughFest and ticket packages is available at laughfestgr.org, or by calling 616-735-HAHA (4242).

About Gilda’s Club Gilda's Club Grand Rapids is a free emotional health support community of children, adults, families and friends on any kind of cancer journey or those grieving a death due to any cause. Its comprehensive program, delivered by professionals, includes education, structured sharing times, networking, lectures, workshops and social activities. Gilda’s Club Grand Rapids is one of the largest and busiest of the 42 affiliates in North America. The organization runs entirely on charitable donations and currently serves more than 10,000 individuals each year at its clubhouses in Grand Rapids and Lowell, Mich., in various schools and community centers. For more information, visit gildasclubgr.org.

About Gilda’s LaughFest Gilda’s LaughFest, the nation’s first-ever community-wide festival of laughter, has quickly earned a reputation for being one of the nation’s marquee events for both participants and artists. This major 10- day Midwest festival is based in Grand Rapids and includes events throughout West Michigan. Created by Gilda’s Club Grand Rapids and launched in March 2011 to celebrate laughter for the health of it, the festival features stand-up, improv, showcases, and a variety of seriously funny stuff.

We are serious about our “funny” here. LaughFest brings together a diverse audience of children and adults every March to honor laughter as an essential part of emotional health and wellbeing. And what better time for a laughter festival than when it’s typically cold, icy, and distinctly un-funny outside?

All proceeds from LaughFest benefit the programs offered through Gilda’s Club Grand Rapids, a free community with a comprehensive program of education, structured sharing times, networking, lectures, workshops, and social activities designed to support emotional health.

About ASM Global Van Andel Arena is managed by ASM Global. ASM Global is the world’s leading venue management and services company. The company was formed by the combination of AEG Facilities and SMG, global leaders in venue and event strategy and management. The company’s elite venue network spans five continents, with a portfolio of more than 300 of the world’s most prestigious arenas, stadiums, convention and exhibition centers, and performing arts venues. From Aberdeen to Anchorage, and Sydney to Stockholm, its venues connect people through the unique power of live experiences.

ASM Global’s diverse portfolio of clients benefit from the company’s depth of resources and unparalleled experience, expertise and creative problem-solving. Each day, the company’s 61,000 passionate employees around the world deliver locally tailored solutions and cutting-edge technologies to deliver maximum results for venue owners, and operations, and amazing experiences for guests. By consistently looking for new ways to envision, innovate and empower the spaces and places that bring people together, ASM Global elevates the human spirit while delivering the highest value for all stakeholders. For more information, please visit www.asmglobal.com.